---
title: compensate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «compensate» in the school dictionary: To pay someone or give them something because they have lost something, been hurt or done work: «The company compensated the family for the damage.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# compensate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** company, they, speed, airline, glasses, you · **What happens:** pay, give, lose, hurt, do, compensate · **To what, where:** someone, something, them, work, family, us

<!-- .vabout -->
«compensate» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [compensate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/compensate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pay someone or give them something because they have lost something, been hurt or done work: «The company compensated the family for the damage.».

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compensate:m1:1
# text = To pay someone or give them something because they have lost something, been hurt or done work: «The company compensated the family for the damage.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
6	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	conj	_	_
18	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
23	compensated	compensate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	_
26	for	for	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	23	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | to-infinitive | the company *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Asset |
| 2 | **give** | infinitive | the company *not said here* | something | them *= they* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient something=Theme |
| 3 | **lose** | present · perfect | they | something |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **hurt** | participle · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle» |
| 5 | **do** | participle |  | work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |
| 6 | **compensate** *in a quote* | past | the company | the family |  |  |  | for the damage | vn equip-13.4.2-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme family=Recipient |

<!-- .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 up for something bad or missing with something good: «His speed compensated for his size.».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compensate:m2:1
# text = To make up for something bad or missing with something good: «His speed compensated for his size.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
6	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
11	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	compensated	compensate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for something | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **compensate** *in a quote* | past | His speed |  |  |  |  | for speed's size | vn equip-13.4.2-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pay for work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compensate:m3:1
# text = To pay for work.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pay	pay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for work | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent for work=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The airline compensated us for the lost suitcase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compensate:x1:1
# text = The airline compensated us for the lost suitcase.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	airline	airline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	compensated	compensate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	suitcase	suitcase	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 | **compensate** | past | the airline |  | us |  |  | for the lost suitcase | vn equip-13.4.2-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme we=Recipient |
| 2 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My glasses compensate for my poor eyesight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compensate:x2:1
# text = My glasses compensate for my poor eyesight.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	compensate	compensate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	eyesight	eyesight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compensate** | present | My glasses |  |  |  |  | for my poor eyesight | vn equip-13.4.2-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To add 99, add 100 and compensate by taking away 1.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compensate:x3:1
# text = To add 99, add 100 and compensate by taking away 1.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
3	99	99	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	compensate	compensate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
11	away	away	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | 99 |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 99=Patient |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | 100 |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 100=Patient |
| 3 | **compensate** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **take away** | gerund | you *not said here* | 1 |  |  |  | away *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 1=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He worked extra hard to compensate for missing a week of school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compensate:x4:1
# text = He worked extra hard to compensate for missing a week of school.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	extra	extra	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	compensate	compensate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	missing	miss	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | He |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **compensate** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **miss** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  | week |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop compensated her with a free cake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compensate:x5:1
# text = The shop compensated her with a free cake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	compensated	compensate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cake	cake	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 | **compensate** | past | the shop |  | her *= she* |  |  | with a free cake | vn equip-13.4.2-1-1 «NP V NP-Fulfilling PP»: agent=Agent she=Recipient with cake=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing can compensate for losing a friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compensate:x6:1
# text = Nothing can compensate for losing a friend.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	compensate	compensate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compensate** | can | Nothing |  |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1-1 «NP.theme V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **lose** | gerund | Nothing *not said here* | a friend |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friend=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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