---
title: decorate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «decorate» in the school dictionary: To make something look nicer by adding pretty things: decorate the cake with icing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# decorate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, We, Dad, One tin, wall · **What happens:** make, look, add, decorate, paint, put up · **To what, where:** something, things, cake, walls, wallpaper, room

<!-- .vabout -->
«decorate» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [decorate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/decorate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something look nicer by adding pretty things: decorate the cake with icing.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:m1:1
# text = To make something look nicer by adding pretty things: decorate the cake with icing.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	nicer	nice	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	adding	add	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	pretty	pretty	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
11	decorate	decorate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	icing	icing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | nice *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund | you *not said here* | things |  |  |  | pretty *property* | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 4 | **decorate** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the cake |  |  |  | with icing | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent cake=Destination with icing=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 paint walls or put up wallpaper in a room (mainly UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:m2:1
# text = To paint walls or put up wallpaper in a room (mainly UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	paint	paint	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	wallpaper	wallpaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	NZ	NZ	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | to-infinitive |  | walls |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent wall=Destination |
| 2 | **put up** | infinitive |  | wallpaper |  | a room |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent wallpaper=Theme in room=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To give someone a medal or honour: the soldier was decorated for bravery.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:m3:1
# text = To give someone a medal or honour: the soldier was decorated for bravery.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	medal	medal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	honour	honour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	decorated	decorate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	bravery	bravery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | to-infinitive |  | a medal or honour | someone |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient medal=Theme |
| 2 | **decorate** | past · passive |  | the soldier |  |  |  | for bravery | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Destination |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We decorated the classroom for the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:x1:1
# text = We decorated the classroom for the party.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decorated	decorate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	classroom	classroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	party	party	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 | **decorate** | past | We | the classroom |  |  |  | for the party | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent classroom=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Decorate your cake with sprinkles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:x2:1
# text = Decorate your cake with sprinkles.
1	Decorate	decorate	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	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sprinkles	sprinkle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decorate** | imperative | you *not said here* | your cake |  |  |  | with sprinkles | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent cake=Destination with sprinkle=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad is decorating my bedroom this weekend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:x3:1
# text = Dad is decorating my bedroom this weekend.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	decorating	decorate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bedroom	bedroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	weekend	weekend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decorate** | present · progressive | Dad | my bedroom |  |  | weekend |  | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bedroom=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firefighter was decorated for saving the children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:x4:1
# text = The firefighter was decorated for saving the children.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefighter	firefighter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	decorated	decorate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	saving	save	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decorate** | past · passive |  | the firefighter |  |  |  |  | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Destination |
| 2 | **save** | gerund |  | the children |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We decorated eggs with bright paints.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:x5:1
# text = We decorated eggs with bright paints.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decorated	decorate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	paints	paint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decorate** | past | We | eggs |  |  |  | with bright paints | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent egg=Destination with paint=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One tin of paint covers 12 square metres, so a wall of 36 square metres needs 3 tins to decorate.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:x6:1
# text = One tin of paint covers 12 square metres, so a wall of 36 square metres needs 3 tins to decorate.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	covers	cover	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	36	36	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	16	nummod	_	_
15	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	_
17	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
18	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	tins	tin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	decorate	decorate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | present | One tin of paint | 12 square metres |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme metre=Destination |
| 2 | **need** | present | a wall of 36 square metres | 3 tins |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot tin=Theme |
| 3 | **decorate** | to-infinitive | a wall of 36 square metres *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The palace was elegantly decorated for the occasion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decorate:x7:1
# text = The palace was elegantly decorated for the occasion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	elegantly	elegantly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	decorated	decorate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	occasion	occasion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decorate** | past · passive |  | the palace |  |  |  | for the occasion; elegantly *property* | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP»: subject=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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