---
title: ensure — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ensure» in the school dictionary: To ensure means to make certain that something happens or is true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ensure

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, Ensure, you, name, your, We · **What happens:** ensure, mean, make, happen, be, lock · **To what, where:** instructions, door, page, pencil, name, top · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To ensure means to make certain that something happens or is true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:m1:1
# text = To ensure means to make certain that something happens or is true.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ensure	ensure	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	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
9	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensure** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 4 | **happen** | present | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"please ensure the door is locked".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:m1e:1
# text = "please ensure the door is locked".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	_
3	ensure	ensure	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	locked	lock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensure** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition clause=Theme |
| 2 | **lock** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | the door |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ensure is common in instructions and exam papers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:m2:1
# text = Ensure is common in instructions and exam papers.
1	Ensure	ensure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	papers	paper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Ensure |  |  | instructions and exam papers |  | common *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"ensure your name is on every page".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:m2e:1
# text = "ensure your name is on every page".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	ensure	ensure	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	page	page	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensure** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | your name |  |  | every page |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **name** *in a quote* |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please ensure you have a pencil and a ruler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:x1:1
# text = Please ensure you have a pencil and a ruler.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	ensure	ensure	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensure** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition clause=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | you | a pencil and a ruler |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ensure your name is written at the top of the paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:x2:1
# text = Ensure your name is written at the top of the paper.
1	Ensure	ensure	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	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	ccomp	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensure** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition clause=Theme |
| 2 | **write** | present · passive |  | your name |  | the top of the paper |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **name** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We washed our hands to ensure they were clean.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:x3:1
# text = We washed our hands to ensure they were clean.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	washed	wash	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	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	ensure	ensure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	clean	clean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | past | We | our hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **ensure** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition |
| 3 | **is** | past | hands *= hand* |  |  |  |  | clean *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lifeguard ensures that everyone is safe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:x4:1
# text = The lifeguard ensures that everyone is safe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lifeguard	lifeguard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ensures	ensure	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensure** | present | the lifeguard |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition |
| 2 | **is** | present | everyone |  |  |  |  | safe *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hard practice ensured our team's win.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:x5:1
# text = Hard practice ensured our team's win.
1	Hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ensured	ensure	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	win	win	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 | **ensure** | past | Hard practice | our team's win |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition win=Theme |
| 2 | **win** |  | our team |  |  |  |  |  | nom win «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ensure that the lid is on tight before shaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:x6:1
# text = Ensure that the lid is on tight before shaking.
1	Ensure	ensure	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	on	on	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	tight	tight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	ccomp	_	_
8	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	shaking	shake	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensure** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition |
| 2 | **is** | present | the lid |  |  |  |  | tight *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **shake** | gerund | the lid *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Check your answer to ensure it makes sense.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:x7:1
# text = Check your answer to ensure it makes sense.
1	Check	check	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	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	ensure	ensure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
8	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | imperative | you *not said here* | your answer |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |
| 2 | **ensure** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition clause=Theme |
| 3 | **make** | present | answer | sense |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material sense=Product |
| 4 | **answer** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The best intentions will not always ensure success.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensure:x8:1
# text = The best intentions will not always ensure success.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	intentions	intention	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	7	advmod	_	_
7	ensure	ensure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	success	success	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **ensure** | future | the best intentions | success |  |  |  | always *property* | vn ensure-99 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition success=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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