---
title: compete — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «compete» in the school dictionary: To compete means to try to win against others in a race, game or contest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# compete

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** example shops, living things, Ten runners, school, Plants, Shops · **What happens:** compete, mean, try, win, be, live · **To what, where:** race, nature, football, prices, more fun, This · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«compete» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [compete in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/compete.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To compete means to try to win against others in a race, game or contest.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:m1:1
# text = To compete means to try to win against others in a race, game or contest.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	compete	compete	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	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	against	against	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compete** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **try** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **win** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a race and game or contest |  | against others | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V PP.eventuality S\_ING»: agent=Agent in race=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 compete means to try to be more successful than others, for example shops competing for customers.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:m2:1
# text = To compete means to try to be more successful than others, for example shops competing for customers.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	compete	compete	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	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
8	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	_
9	successful	successful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	_
16	competing	compete	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	acl	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compete** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **try** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **is** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | than others for example shops; successful *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **compete** | gerund | example shops *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for customers | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In nature, living things compete for food, water, light and space.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:m3:1
# text = In nature, living things compete for food, water, light and space.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	compete	compete	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	space	space	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **compete** | present | living things |  |  | nature |  | for food and water and light and space | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ten runners will compete in the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:x1:1
# text = Ten runners will compete in the race.
1	Ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	runners	runner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	compete	compete	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compete** | future | Ten runners |  |  | the race |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school competes against other schools in football.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:x2:1
# text = Our school competes against other schools in football.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	competes	compete	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	schools	school	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	football	football	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 | **compete** | present | Our school |  |  | football |  | against other schools | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plants compete for sunlight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:x3:1
# text = Plants compete for sunlight.
1	Plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	compete	compete	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	sunlight	sunlight	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 | **compete** | present | Plants |  |  |  |  | for sunlight | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shops compete for customers by lowering prices.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:x4:1
# text = Shops compete for customers by lowering prices.
1	Shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	compete	compete	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	lowering	lower	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	prices	price	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compete** | present | Shops |  |  |  |  | for customers | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lower** | gerund | Shops *not said here* | prices |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent price=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She competed in the spelling bee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:x5:1
# text = She competed in the spelling bee.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	competed	compete	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bee	bee	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 | **compete** | past | She |  |  |  |  | in the spelling bee | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's more fun to compete fairly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:x6:1
# text = It's more fun to compete fairly.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	compete	compete	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	fairly	fairly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | more fun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **compete** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | fairly *property* | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birds compete for the best nesting places.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:x7:1
# text = Birds compete for the best nesting places.
1	Birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	compete	compete	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
6	nesting	nesting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compete** | present | Birds |  |  |  |  | for the best nesting places | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This was reported to the man who declared he would compete, ‘but,’ he said, ‘I shall let my servant run for me.’

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compete:x8:1
# text = This was reported to the man who declared he would compete, ‘but,’ he said, ‘I shall let my servant run for me.’
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	reported	report	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	declared	declare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	compete	compete	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	‘	‘	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
22	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
23	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	ccomp	_	_
24	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	servant	servant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	_
26	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	xcomp	_	_
27	for	for	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
28	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **report** | past · passive |  | This | the man |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: subject=Topic to man=Recipient |
| 2 | **declare** *speech: other* | past | the man |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **compete** | would | man |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **‘** | infinitive | man *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | man |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 6 | **let** | shall | I | my servant |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **run** | infinitive | my servant *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for me | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for i=Beneficiary |

<!-- 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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