---
title: attract — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «attract» in the school dictionary: To attract means to pull something towards itself: magnets attract iron. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# attract

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** magnets, people, bright flowers, them, you, north pole · **What happens:** attract, mean, pull, make, want, come · **To what, where:** something, itself, iron, attention, bees, someone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«attract» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [attract in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/attract.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To attract means to pull something towards itself: magnets attract iron.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:m1:1
# text = To attract means to pull something towards itself: magnets attract iron.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	attract	attract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	pull	pull	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	magnets	magnet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	attract	attract	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
12	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **pull** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  | itself *= it* |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent something=Theme towards itself=Destination |
| 4 | **attract** | present | magnets | iron |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent iron=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To attract means to make people or animals want to come near or pay attention: bright flowers attract bees.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:m2:1
# text = To attract means to make people or animals want to come near or pay attention: bright flowers attract bees.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	attract	attract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	near	near	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
15	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
19	attract	attract	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
20	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **want** | present | people or animals |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 5 | **come** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | people or animals *not said here* |  |  |  |  | near *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **pay** | infinitive | people or animals *not said here* | attention |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attention=Asset |
| 7 | **attract** | present | bright flowers | bees |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bee=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To attract someone can mean to make them like you or find you nice-looking.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:m3:1
# text = To attract someone can mean to make them like you or find you nice-looking.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	attract	attract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **like** *not said to happen* | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot you=Theme |
| 5 | **find** | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Agent you=Attribute clause=Theme |
| 6 | **look** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Magnets attract paper clips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:x1:1
# text = Magnets attract paper clips.
1	Magnets	magnet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	attract	attract	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	clips	clip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | present | Magnets | paper clips |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clip=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The north pole of a magnet attracts the south pole of another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:x2:1
# text = The north pole of a magnet attracts the south pole of another.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	north	north	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pole	pole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	magnet	magnet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	attracts	attract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	south	South	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	pole	pole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | present | the north pole of a magnet | the south pole of another |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pole=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bright flowers attract bees and butterflies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:x3:1
# text = Bright flowers attract bees and butterflies.
1	Bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	attract	attract	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	butterflies	butterfly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | present | Bright flowers | bees and butterflies |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bee=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sweet drinks attract wasps in summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:x4:1
# text = Sweet drinks attract wasps in summer.
1	Sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	drinks	drink	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	attract	attract	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	wasps	wasp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | present | Sweet drinks | wasps |  |  | summer |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wasp=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wave your arms to attract the lifeguard's attention.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:x5:1
# text = Wave your arms to attract the lifeguard's attention.
1	Wave	wave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	attract	attract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lifeguard	lifeguard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wave** | imperative | you *not said here* | your arms |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arm=Patient |
| 2 | **attract** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the lifeguard's attention |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attention=Patient |
| 3 | **attend** |  | the lifeguard |  |  |  |  |  | nom attention «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new playground attracts lots of children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:x6:1
# text = The new playground attracts lots of children.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	playground	playground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	attracts	attract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | present | the new playground | lots of children |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Earth's gravity attracts everything towards it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:x7:1
# text = The Earth's gravity attracts everything towards it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	gravity	gravity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	attracts	attract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	obj	_	_
7	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attract** | present | the Earth's gravity | everything |  |  |  | towards Earth | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent everything=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaving food out attracts ants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:x8:1
# text = Leaving food out attracts ants.
1	Leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
4	attracts	attract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave out** | gerund |  | food |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Theme |
| 2 | **attract** | present | Leaving | ants |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ant=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Two pictures, placed side by side, attracted a large number of spectators.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attract:x9:1
# text = Two pictures, placed side by side, attracted a large number of spectators.
1	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	placed	place	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	attracted	attract	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	spectators	spectator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **place** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **attract** | past | Two pictures  placed side by side | a large number of spectators |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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