---
title: captive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «captive» in the school dictionary: A captive is a person or animal that has been caught and is kept somewhere and not allowed to leave. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# captive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** captive, captive audience, they, pirates, captives, Dad · **What happens:** be, catch, keep, not allow, leave, mean · **To what, where:** person, that, sailors, prince, tower, Captive pandas · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«captive» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [captive in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/captive.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A captive is a person or animal that has been caught and is kept somewhere and not allowed to leave.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:m1:1
# text = A captive is a person or animal that has been caught and is kept somewhere and not allowed to leave.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	captive	captive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	_
15	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	14	advmod	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
18	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	conj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a captive | a person or animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | present · perfect · passive |  | that |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **keep** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  | somewhere *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP» |
| 4 | **not** **allow** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **leave** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
Captive means kept and not free: captive animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:m2:1
# text = Captive means kept and not free: captive animals.
1	Captive	captive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	captive	captive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Captive |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **keep** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A captive audience must listen because they cannot leave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:m3:1
# text = A captive audience must listen because they cannot leave.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	captive	captive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	audience	audience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	listen	listen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **listen** | must | a captive audience |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **leave** | can | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pirates took the sailors captive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:x1:1
# text = The pirates took the sailors captive.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pirates	pirate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	captive	captive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the pirates | the sailors |  |  |  | captive *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sailor=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prince was held captive in a tower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:x2:1
# text = The prince was held captive in a tower.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	captive	captive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past · passive |  | the prince |  | a tower |  | captive *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Theme in tower=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Captive pandas are bred in zoos to save the species.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:x3:1
# text = Captive pandas are bred in zoos to save the species.
1	Captive	captive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	pandas	panda	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	bred	breed	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	zoos	zoo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	species	species	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breed** | present · passive |  | Captive pandas |  | zoos |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **save** | to-infinitive |  | the species |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent species=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The captives escaped at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:x4:1
# text = The captives escaped at night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	captives	captive	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	escaped	escape	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **escape** | past | the captives |  |  |  | night |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On the long bus ride, Dad had a captive audience for his jokes.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:x5:1
# text = On the long bus ride, Dad had a captive audience for his jokes.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	ride	ride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	captive	captive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	audience	audience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Dad | a captive audience |  | the long bus ride |  | for Dad's jokes | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent audience=Patient |
| 2 | **joke** |  | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Bible tells of the Israelites held captive in Babylon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:x6:1
# text = The Bible tells of the Israelites held captive in Babylon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Israelites	Israelite	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
8	captive	captive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Babylon	Babylon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | the Bible |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **hold** | past | the Israelites |  |  |  |  | captive *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Among his captives was a Persian princess, to whom he was warmly attached.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captive:x7:1
# text = Among his captives was a Persian princess, to whom he was warmly attached.
1	Among	among	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	captives	captive	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Persian	persian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	whom	whom	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	appos	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
13	warmly	warmly	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	attached	attach	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past |  | a Persian princess |  |  |  | among his captives | tree rules |
| 2 | **attach** | past · passive |  | he |  |  |  | warmly *property* | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=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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