---
title: enlist — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «enlist» in the school dictionary: To enlist means to join the army, navy or air force. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# enlist

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** them, someone, great grandad, grandad, She, We · **What happens:** enlist, mean, join, ask, help, get · **To what, where:** army, help, them, you, someone, group · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To enlist means to join the army, navy or air force.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:m1:1
# text = To enlist means to join the army, navy or air force.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	enlist	enlist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	navy	navy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enlist** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn volunteer-95.4-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **join** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | the army and navy or air force |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent army=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To enlist someone's help means to ask them to help you and get them to agree.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:m2:1
# text = To enlist someone's help means to ask them to help you and get them to agree.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	enlist	enlist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	iobj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	agree	agree	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enlist** | to-infinitive |  | someone's help |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent help=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent they=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **help** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary |
| 5 | **get** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **agree** *speech: agree* | to-infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 7 | **help** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom help «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To enlist someone can also mean to get them to join a group or take on a job, such as standing guard.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:m3:1
# text = To enlist someone can also mean to get them to join a group or take on a job, such as standing guard.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	enlist	enlist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	23	case	_	_
21	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	fixed	_	_
22	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	23	amod	_	_
23	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enlist** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **get** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **join** | to-infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | a group |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent group=Patient |
| 5 | **take** | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  | a job and standing guard |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on job=Destination |
| 6 | **stand** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My great-grandad enlisted in the navy when he was eighteen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:x1:1
# text = My great-grandad enlisted in the navy when he was eighteen.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	grandad	grandad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	enlisted	enlist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	navy	navy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	eighteen	eighteen	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enlist** | past | My great grandad |  |  | the navy |  |  | vn volunteer-95.4-1 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent in navy=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **is a** | past | grandad | eighteen |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thousands of men enlisted in 1914.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:x2:1
# text = Thousands of men enlisted in 1914.
1	Thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	enlisted	enlist	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	1914	1914	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enlist** | participle |  | men *not said here* |  | 1914 |  |  | vn volunteer-95.4-1 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent in 1914=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She enlisted in the air force after school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:x3:1
# text = She enlisted in the air force after school.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	enlisted	enlist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enlist** | past | She |  |  | the air force | after school |  | vn volunteer-95.4-1 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent in force=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We enlisted our neighbour to help find the cat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:x4:1
# text = We enlisted our neighbour to help find the cat.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	enlisted	enlist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enlist** | past | We | our neighbour |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent neighbour=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **find** | infinitive | We *not said here* | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher enlisted parents to run the bake sale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:x5:1
# text = The teacher enlisted parents to run the bake sale.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	enlisted	enlist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	bake	bake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	sale	sale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enlist** | past | the teacher | parents |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent parent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **run** | to-infinitive | the teacher *not said here* | the bake sale |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme sale=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some boys lied about their age to enlist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:x6:1
# text = Some boys lied about their age to enlist.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lied	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	age	age	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	enlist	enlist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | past | some boys |  |  |  | about boys's age |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent about age=Location |
| 2 | **enlist** | to-infinitive | some boys *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn volunteer-95.4-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At length he collected himself enough to say:—“If this young man will enlist in my army I will let him off.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enlist:x7:1
# text = At length he collected himself enough to say:—“If this young man will enlist in my army I will let him off.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	length	length	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	collected	collect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	obj	_	_
6	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
13	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	15	det	_	_
14	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
16	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	enlist	enlist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	_
21	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
22	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
23	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	ccomp	_	_
24	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	obj	_	_
25	off	off	ADP	RP	_	23	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | past | he | himself *= he* |  | length |  | enough *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **enlist** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | future | this young man |  |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent clause=Attribute |
| 4 | **let off** *in a quote* | future | I | man |  | my army |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=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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