---
title: deter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deter» in the school dictionary: To deter someone is to make them decide not to do something, often by making them afraid of what will happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** smell, big fence, Rain, Nothing, icy water, water · **What happens:** deter, be, decide, not do, make, happen · **To what, where:** someone, something, them, insects, foxes, chicken run · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To deter someone is to make them decide not to do something, often by making them afraid of what will happen.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deter:m1:1
# text = To deter someone is to make them decide not to do something, often by making them afraid of what will happen.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	deter	deter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	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	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
17	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	xcomp	_	_
19	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
20	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	22	nsubj	_	_
21	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
22	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deter** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer someone=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **decide** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **not** **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 5 | **make** | gerund |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | afraid, often *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset they=Product |
| 6 | **happen** | future |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stop or make something less likely, like a smell that deters insects.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deter:m2:1
# text = To stop or make something less likely, like a smell that deters insects.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
7	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	smell	smell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	deters	deter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 3 | **deter** | present | a smell | insects |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer insect=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The big fence deters foxes from getting into the chicken run.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deter:x1:1
# text = The big fence deters foxes from getting into the chicken run.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	deters	deter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	foxes	fox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	chicken	chicken	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	run	run	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deter** | present | the big fence | foxes |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer fox=Eventuality |
| 2 | **get** | gerund | the big fence *not said here* |  |  | the chicken run |  |  | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme into run=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cameras are put up to deter shoplifters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deter:x2:1
# text = Cameras are put up to deter shoplifters.
1	Cameras	camera	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	deter	deter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	shoplifters	shoplifter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put up** | present · passive |  | Cameras |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: subject=Goal |
| 2 | **deter** | to-infinitive |  | shoplifters |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer shoplifter=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rain did not deter us from going to the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deter:x3:1
# text = Rain did not deter us from going to the beach.
1	Rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	deter	deter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **deter** | past · do-support | Rain | us |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer we=Eventuality |
| 2 | **go** | gerund | Rain *not said here* |  |  | the beach |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to beach=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Garlic is said to deter some garden pests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deter:x4:1
# text = Garlic is said to deter some garden pests.
1	Garlic	garlic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	deter	deter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
7	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	pests	pest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | Garlic |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **deter** | to-infinitive |  | some garden pests |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer pest=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fine is meant to deter people from dropping litter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deter:x5:1
# text = The fine is meant to deter people from dropping litter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fine	fine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	meant	mean	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	deter	deter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	dropping	drop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
10	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present · passive |  | the fine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **deter** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | people |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer people=Eventuality |
| 3 | **drop** | gerund |  | litter |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litter=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing could deter her from finishing the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deter:x6:1
# text = Nothing could deter her from finishing the race.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	deter	deter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	finishing	finish	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deter** | could | Nothing | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer she=Eventuality |
| 2 | **finish** | gerund | Nothing *not said here* | the race |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality race=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The most icy water could not deter him from swimming; he could twist and turn like a fish.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deter:x7:1
# text = The most icy water could not deter him from swimming; he could twist and turn like a fish.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	3	advmod	_	_
3	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	deter	deter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	swimming	swim	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	twist	twist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
17	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **deter** | could | the icy water | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer he=Eventuality |
| 2 | **swim** | gerund | the icy water *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **twist** | could | water |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **turn** | infinitive | water *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a fish | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme 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 -->

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