---
title: contaminate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «contaminate» in the school dictionary: To make something dirty, impure or harmful by adding something bad to it, such as germs, poison or chemicals. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# contaminate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, someone, Raw chicken, you, oil spill, Sewage · **What happens:** make, add, spoil, let, get in, have · **To what, where:** something, experiment, bad influence, thinking, other food, hands

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something dirty, impure or harmful by adding something bad to it, such as germs, poison or chemicals.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contaminate:m1:1
# text = To make something dirty, impure or harmful by adding something bad to it, such as germs, poison or chemicals.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	impure	impure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	adding	add	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	18	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	poison	poison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	chemicals	chemical	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | dirty *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |

<!-- .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: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spoil an experiment or sample by letting something unwanted get in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contaminate:m2:1
# text = To spoil an experiment or sample by letting something unwanted get in.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spoil	spoil	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	sample	sample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	unwanted	unwanted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
11	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
12	in	in	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spoil** | to-infinitive |  | a experiment or sample |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **let** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **get in** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To have a bad influence on something (contaminate someone's thinking).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contaminate:m3:1
# text = To have a bad influence on something (contaminate someone's thinking).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	influence	influence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	contaminate	contaminate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | to-infinitive |  | a bad influence |  | something |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent influence=Patient |
| 2 | **contaminate** | infinitive |  | someone's thinking |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme thinking=Destination |
| 3 | **think** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom thinking «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Raw chicken can contaminate other food with bacteria.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contaminate:x1:1
# text = Raw chicken can contaminate other food with bacteria.
1	Raw	raw	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	chicken	chicken	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	contaminate	contaminate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contaminate** | can | Raw chicken | other food |  |  |  | with bacteria | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent food=Destination with bacterium=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wash your hands so you don't contaminate the food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contaminate:x2:1
# text = Wash your hands so you don't contaminate the food.
1	Wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	contaminate	contaminate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **contaminate** | present · do-support | you | the food |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent food=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An oil spill contaminated the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contaminate:x3:1
# text = An oil spill contaminated the beach.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	oil	oil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	spill	spill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	contaminated	contaminate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contaminate** | past | a oil spill | the beach |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme beach=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sewage contaminated the river after the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contaminate:x4:1
# text = Sewage contaminated the river after the storm.
1	Sewage	Sewage	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	contaminated	contaminate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contaminate** | past | Sewage | the river |  |  | after the storm |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent river=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't touch the sample or you'll contaminate it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contaminate:x5:1
# text = Don't touch the sample or you'll contaminate it.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sample	sample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	contaminate	contaminate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **touch** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the sample |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme sample=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **contaminate** | future | you | sample |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chemicals from the old factory contaminated the soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contaminate:x6:1
# text = Chemicals from the old factory contaminated the soil.
1	Chemicals	chemical	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	contaminated	contaminate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contaminate** | past | Chemicals from the old factory | the soil |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme soil=Destination |

<!-- 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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