---
title: behave — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «behave» in the school dictionary: To act or do things in a certain way: behave well, behave badly, behave strangely. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# behave

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ice, you, class, new puppy, chocolate, cat · **What happens:** act, do, behave, heat, learn, be · **To what, where:** things, certain way, good way, yourself, house, trip

<!-- .vabout -->
«behave» 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: [behave in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/behave.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To act or do things in a certain way: behave well, behave badly, behave strangely.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:m1:1
# text = To act or do things in a certain way: behave well, behave badly, behave strangely.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	act	act	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
11	behave	behave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
12	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	behave	behave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
15	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	behave	behave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
18	strangely	strangely	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | infinitive |  | things |  | a certain way |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 3 | **behave** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **behave** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **behave** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | strangely *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 act in a good, polite and acceptable way: please behave yourself.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:m2:1
# text = To act in a good, polite and acceptable way: please behave yourself.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	act	act	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	acceptable	acceptable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	13	discourse	_	_
13	behave	behave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
14	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a good way |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **behave** | infinitive |  | yourself |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science, how a material or animal acts in certain conditions: how ice behaves when heated.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:m3:1
# text = In science, how a material or animal acts in certain conditions: how ice behaves when heated.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	acts	act	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	conditions	condition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	16	advmod	_	_
15	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	behaves	behave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
17	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	18	mark	_	_
18	heated	heat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | present | ice |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **heat** | participle | ice *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please behave yourself at Grandma's house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:x1:1
# text = Please behave yourself at Grandma's house.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	behave	behave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | imperative | you *not said here* | yourself |  | Grandma's house |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class behaved very well on the trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:x2:1
# text = The class behaved very well on the trip.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	behaved	behave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | past | the class |  |  | the trip |  | well *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our new puppy is learning how to behave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:x3:1
# text = Our new puppy is learning how to behave.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present · progressive | Our new puppy |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **behave** | to-infinitive | Our new puppy *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How does chocolate behave when you heat it?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:x4:1
# text = How does chocolate behave when you heat it?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	heat	heat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | present · do-support | chocolate |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **heat** | present | you | chocolate |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Why is the cat behaving so strangely?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:x5:1
# text = Why is the cat behaving so strangely?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	behaving	behave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	strangely	strangely	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the cat |  |  |  |  | why *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **behave** | gerund | the cat *not said here* |  |  |  |  | strangely *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He behaved like a real friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:x6:1
# text = He behaved like a real friend.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	behaved	behave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | past | He |  |  |  |  | like a real friend | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent like friend=Attribute |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children were well behaved at the museum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:x7:1
# text = The children were well behaved at the museum.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	_
5	behaved	behave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | past · passive |  | the children |  | the museum |  | well *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study how bees behave in the hive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:x8:1
# text = Scientists study how bees behave in the hive.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	behave	behave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hive	hive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **behave** | present | bees |  |  | the hive |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pinocchio promised to study and to behave himself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behave:x9:1
# text = Pinocchio promised to study and to behave himself.
1	Pinocchio	Pinocchio	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	study	study	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
8	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | Pinocchio |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **study** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Pinocchio *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **behave** | to-infinitive | Pinocchio *not said here* | Pinocchio |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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