---
title: covet — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «covet» in the school dictionary: To covet something is to want very much something that belongs to someone else. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# covet

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** You, people, telling, coveted prize, many people, Ten Commandments · **What happens:** covet, be, belong, not covet, tell, not long · **To what, where:** something, one, new bike, coveted prize, coveted place, school orchestra · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To covet something is to want very much something that belongs to someone else.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:m1:1
# text = To covet something is to want very much something that belongs to someone else.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	covet	covet	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
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	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	much	much	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	belongs	belong	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obl	_	_
14	else	else	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **covet** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | want *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **belong** | present |  |  |  |  |  | to someone | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=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: Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«You shall not covet» is the last of the Ten Commandments, telling people not to long for their neighbour's house, wife or belongings.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:m2:1
# text = «You shall not covet» is the last of the Ten Commandments, telling people not to long for their neighbour's house, wife or belongings.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	covet	covet	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	Ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	Commandments	commandment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	19	csubj	_	_
16	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	long	long	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	parataxis	_	_
20	for	for	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
21	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	's	's	PART	POS	_	22	case	_	_
24	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
26	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	belongings	belonging	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **covet** *in a quote* | shall | You |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | of the Ten Commandments; last *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **not** **long** | to-infinitive | telling |  |  |  |  | for people's neighbour's house and wife or belongings | vn long-32.2 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Pivot for house=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A coveted prize or place is one that many people want.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:m3:1
# text = A coveted prize or place is one that many people want.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	coveted	covet	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obj	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **covet** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a coveted prize or place | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **want** | present | many people |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot that=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Ten Commandments say, «You shall not covet».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:x1:1
# text = The Ten Commandments say, «You shall not covet».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	Commandments	commandment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	covet	covet	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the Ten Commandments |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **covet** *in a quote* | shall | You |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He coveted his friend's new bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:x2:1
# text = He coveted his friend's new bike.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	coveted	covet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **covet** | past | He | his friend's new bike |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot bike=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gold cup is the most coveted prize in the league.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:x3:1
# text = The gold cup is the most coveted prize in the league.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	7	advmod	_	_
7	coveted	covet	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	league	league	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **covet** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the gold cup | the coveted prize |  |  |  | in the league | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She won a coveted place in the school orchestra.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:x4:1
# text = She won a coveted place in the school orchestra.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	won	win	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	coveted	covet	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | She | a coveted place |  | the school orchestra |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent place=Eventuality |
| 2 | **covet** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coveting what others have can make you unhappy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:x5:1
# text = Coveting what others have can make you unhappy.
1	Coveting	covet	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
3	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	unhappy	unhappy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **covet** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | others |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | can | Coveting | you |  |  |  | unhappy *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset you=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dragon coveted the king's treasure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:x6:1
# text = The dragon coveted the king's treasure.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	coveted	covet	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	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **covet** | past | the dragon | the king's treasure |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot treasure=Theme |
| 2 | **treasure** |  | the king |  |  |  |  |  | nom treasure «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try to be thankful instead of coveting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:x7:1
# text = Try to be thankful instead of coveting.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	thankful	thankful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
5	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	7	mark	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	coveting	covet	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | thankful *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **covet** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not even in nightmares had she ever seen such horrible creatures as her much-coveted box contained.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covet:x8:1
# text = Not even in nightmares had she ever seen such horrible creatures as her much-coveted box contained.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
2	even	even	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	nightmares	nightmare	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	8	advmod	_	_
8	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	xcomp	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	horrible	horrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	creatures	creature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
13	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
14	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	coveted	covet	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	amod	_	_
17	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
18	contained	contain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | nightmares |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | participle | she | such horrible creatures |  |  | ever | as her much coveted box | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer creature=Stimulus as box=Attribute |
| 3 | **covet** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 4 | **contain** | participle |  | her much coveted box *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |

<!-- 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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