---
title: entangle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «entangle» in the school dictionary: To catch something in a tangle of string, net, rope, hair or wire so it cannot get free. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# entangle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** wire, you, kite string, headphone wires, He, their · **What happens:** catch, not get, twist, get, entangle, not let · **To what, where:** something, tangle, things, mess, someone, turtle

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To catch something in a tangle of string, net, rope, hair or wire so it cannot get free.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:m1:1
# text = To catch something in a tangle of string, net, rope, hair or wire so it cannot get free.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	catch	catch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tangle	tangle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	net	net	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
19	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	21	advmod	_	_
21	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
22	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  | something |  | a tangle of string and net and rope and hair or wire |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **get** | can | wire |  |  |  |  | free *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 twist things together in a mess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:m2:1
# text = To twist things together in a mess.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	twist	twist	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	together	together	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mess	mess	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 | **twist** | to-infinitive |  | things |  | a mess |  | together *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To get someone involved in a difficult or messy situation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:m3:1
# text = To get someone involved in a difficult or messy situation.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	involved	involved	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | involved *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer someone=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The turtle became entangled in an old fishing net.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:x1:1
# text = The turtle became entangled in an old fishing net.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	turtle	turtle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	entangled	entangle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	fishing	fishing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	net	net	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entangle** | past · passive |  | the turtle |  |  |  | in a old fishing net | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in net=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let the kite string entangle the branches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:x2:1
# text = Don't let the kite string entangle the branches.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	kite	kite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	entangle	entangle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the kite string |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **entangle** | infinitive | the kite string *not said here* | the branches |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent branch=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My headphone wires always entangle in my bag.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:x3:1
# text = My headphone wires always entangle in my bag.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	headphone	headphone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	wires	wire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	5	advmod	_	_
5	entangle	entangle	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	bag	bag	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 | **entangle** | present | My headphone wires |  |  |  |  | in my bag; always *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent in bag=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fly was entangled in the spider's web.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:x4:1
# text = The fly was entangled in the spider's web.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fly	fly	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	entangled	entangle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	web	web	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entangle** | past · passive |  | the fly |  |  |  | in the spider's web | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in web=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cut plastic rings so birds cannot get entangled in them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:x5:1
# text = Cut plastic rings so birds cannot get entangled in them.
1	Cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	rings	ring	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	get	get	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	entangled	entangle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | imperative | you *not said here* | plastic rings |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset ring=Product |
| 2 | **not** **entangle** | can · passive |  | birds |  |  |  | in rings *= ring* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in they=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He didn't want to entangle himself in their argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:x6:1
# text = He didn't want to entangle himself in their argument.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	entangle	entangle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **want** | past · do-support | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **entangle** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | himself *= he* |  |  |  | in their argument | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent himself=Destination in argument=Theme |
| 3 | **argue** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom argument «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vines entangle the old fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entangle:x7:1
# text = The vines entangle the old fence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vines	vine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	entangle	entangle	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entangle** | present | the vines | the old fence |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fence=Patient |

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**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.

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