---
title: befriend — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «befriend» in the school dictionary: To become a friend to someone, especially someone who is new, lonely or needs help. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# befriend

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** animal, Maya, little dog, We, robin, you · **What happens:** become, be, need, make, trust, befriend · **To what, where:** friend, help, friends, you, new girl, lonely old man

<!-- .vabout -->
«befriend» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [befriend in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/befriend.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To become a friend to someone, especially someone who is new, lonely or needs help.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:m1:1
# text = To become a friend to someone, especially someone who is new, lonely or needs help.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	become	become	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	appos	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	lonely	lonely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
17	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | to-infinitive |  | a friend |  |  |  | to someone | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | new *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **need** | present |  | help |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot help=Theme |

<!-- .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 make friends with an animal so it trusts you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:m2:1
# text = To make friends with an animal so it trusts you.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	trusts	trust	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | friends |  |  |  | with a animal | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset friend=Product |
| 2 | **trust** | present | animal | you |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maya befriended the new girl on her first day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:x1:1
# text = Maya befriended the new girl on her first day.
1	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	befriended	befriend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **befriend** | past | Maya | the new girl |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lonely old man was befriended by a little dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:x2:1
# text = The lonely old man was befriended by a little dog.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	lonely	lonely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	befriended	befriend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **befriend** | past · passive | a little dog | the lonely old man |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We befriended a robin that came to our window every morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:x3:1
# text = We befriended a robin that came to our window every morning.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	befriended	befriend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	robin	robin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **befriend** | past | We | a robin |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | past | a robin |  |  | our window | morning |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to window=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful if a stranger online tries to befriend you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:x4:1
# text = Be careful if a stranger online tries to befriend you.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
6	online	online	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
7	tries	try	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	befriend	befriend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **befriend** *a condition, not said to happen* | to-infinitive | stranger tries | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He befriended a boy who sat alone at lunch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:x5:1
# text = He befriended a boy who sat alone at lunch.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	befriended	befriend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **befriend** | past | He | a boy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sit** | past | a boy |  |  | lunch |  | alone *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent at lunch=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children befriended the shy horse with carrots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:x6:1
# text = The children befriended the shy horse with carrots.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	befriended	befriend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	shy	shy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	carrots	carrot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **befriend** | past | the children | the shy horse |  |  |  | with carrots | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the mouse befriends the lion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:x7:1
# text = In the story, the mouse befriends the lion.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	befriends	befriend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lion	lion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **befriend** | present | the mouse | the lion |  | the story |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I was going to befriend you, and you repay me by trying to kill me.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:befriend:x8:1
# text = "I was going to befriend you, and you repay me by trying to kill me.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	befriend	befriend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	repay	repay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	kill	kill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
17	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** *in a quote* | past · progressive | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **befriend** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **repay** *in a quote* | present | you |  | me |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent i=Recipient |
| 4 | **try** *in a quote* | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **kill** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | me |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |

<!-- 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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