---
title: confide — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «confide» in the school dictionary: To confide in someone is to tell them a secret or a private worry because you trust them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# confide

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, their, She, something, He, Grandma · **What happens:** confide, be, trust, care, not confide, spread · **To what, where:** someone, them, secret, something, care, family secret · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To confide in someone is to tell them a secret or a private worry because you trust them.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:m1:1
# text = To confide in someone is to tell them a secret or a private worry because you trust them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	confide	confide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
15	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	trust	trust	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
18	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confide** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | someone |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  | them *= they* |  |  | tell *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **trust** | present | you | secret |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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 confide something is to say it privately, as a secret.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:m2:1
# text = To confide something is to say it privately, as a secret.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	confide	confide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	privately	privately	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confide** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | as a secret; privately, say *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To confide something to someone is to give it into their care.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:m3:1
# text = To confide something to someone is to give it into their care.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	confide	confide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	care	care	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confide** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | something | someone |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent something=Topic to someone=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | their care |  | give *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **care** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom care «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She confided in her best friend about the bullying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:x1:1
# text = She confided in her best friend about the bullying.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	confided	confide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confide** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  |  |  | in her best friend about the bullying | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You can always confide in your teacher if something is wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:x2:1
# text = You can always confide in your teacher if something is wrong.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	4	advmod	_	_
4	confide	confide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confide** *speech: other* | can | You |  |  |  |  | in your teacher; always *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | something |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He confided that he was scared of the dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:x3:1
# text = He confided that he was scared of the dark.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	confided	confide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dark	dark	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 | **confide** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | he |  |  |  |  | of the dark; scared *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma confided a family secret to me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:x4:1
# text = Grandma confided a family secret to me.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	confided	confide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confide** *speech: other* | past | Grandma | a family secret | me |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent secret=Topic to i=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I don't confide in people who spread gossip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:x5:1
# text = I don't confide in people who spread gossip.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	confide	confide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **confide** *speech: other* | present · do-support | I |  |  |  |  | in people | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **spread** | past | people | gossip |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location gossip=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king confided the treasure to his loyal knight. (formal)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* The king confided the treasure to his loyal knight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:x6:1
# text = The king confided the treasure to his loyal knight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	confided	confide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	loyal	loyal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confide** *speech: other* | past | the king | the treasure | king's loyal knight |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent treasure=Topic to knight=Recipient |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (formal)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confide:x6:2
# text = (formal)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- 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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