---
title: confiscate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «confiscate» in the school dictionary: To take something away from someone, usually as a punishment or because a rule says it is not allowed, often keeping it for a while. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# confiscate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rule, teacher, you, I, Customs officers, Police · **What happens:** take away, say, not allow, keep, take, use · **To what, where:** something, someone, rule, property, crime, phone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«confiscate» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [confiscate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/confiscate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To take something away from someone, usually as a punishment or because a rule says it is not allowed, often keeping it for a while.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:m1:1
# text = To take something away from someone, usually as a punishment or because a rule says it is not allowed, often keeping it for a while.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
13	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux:pass	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	often	often	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
23	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	20	conj	_	_
24	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	obj	_	_
25	for	for	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	while	while	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take away** | to-infinitive |  | something |  | someone |  | away *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a rule |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **allow** | present · passive |  | rule |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **keep** | gerund |  | rule |  |  | while | often *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For police or the government to take someone's property officially, for example because it was used in a crime.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:m2:1
# text = For police or the government to take someone's property officially, for example because it was used in a crime.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	property	property	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	officially	officially	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
15	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	advcl	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | to-infinitive |  | someone's property |  |  |  | for example; officially *property* | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent property=Theme for example=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **use** | past · passive |  | property |  | a crime |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher confiscated my phone because it rang in maths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:x1:1
# text = The teacher confiscated my phone because it rang in maths.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	confiscated	confiscate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	rang	ring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confiscate** | past | the teacher | my phone |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent phone=Theme |
| 2 | **ring** | past | teacher |  |  | maths |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in math=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you bring that slime to class again, I'll confiscate it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:x2:1
# text = If you bring that slime to class again, I'll confiscate it.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	bring	bring	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	slime	slime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
10	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	confiscate	confiscate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | that slime |  |  | again |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent slime=Theme |
| 2 | **confiscate** | future | I | slime |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My yo-yo was confiscated until home time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:x3:1
# text = My yo-yo was confiscated until home time.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	yo	yo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	yo	yo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	confiscated	confiscate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	until	until	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confiscate** | past · passive |  | My yo yo |  |  | time |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Customs officers confiscated the fruit at the airport because of the rules on pests.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:x4:1
# text = Customs officers confiscated the fruit at the airport because of the rules on pests.
1	Customs	custom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	compound	_	_
2	officers	officer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	confiscated	confiscate	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	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	airport	airport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	pests	pest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confiscate** | past | Customs officers | the fruit |  | the airport |  | because the rules on pests | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fruit=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police confiscated the stolen bikes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:x5:1
# text = Police confiscated the stolen bikes.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	confiscated	confiscate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	stolen	steal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	bikes	bike	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confiscate** | past | Police | the stolen bikes |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Theme |
| 2 | **steal** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad threatened to confiscate the games console if we kept fighting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:x6:1
# text = Dad threatened to confiscate the games console if we kept fighting.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	threatened	threaten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	confiscate	confiscate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	compound	_	_
7	console	console	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
11	fighting	fight	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **threaten** | past | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **confiscate** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | the games console |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent console=Theme |
| 3 | **keep** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **fight** | gerund | we *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The referee confiscated the ball from the boys who kept kicking it at the windows.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:x7:1
# text = The referee confiscated the ball from the boys who kept kicking it at the windows.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	referee	referee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	confiscated	confiscate	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	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	kicking	kick	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	windows	window	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confiscate** | past | the referee | the ball |  |  |  | from the boys | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent ball=Theme from boy=Source |
| 2 | **keep** | past | the boys |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **kick** | gerund | the boys *not said here* | ball |  | the windows |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent it=Patient at window=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everything he had was confiscated or stolen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confiscate:x8:1
# text = Everything he had was confiscated or stolen.
1	Everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	confiscated	confiscate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	stolen	steal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **confiscate** | past · passive |  | Everything |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **steal** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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