---
title: entertain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «entertain» in the school dictionary: To entertain people is to amuse them and keep them interested, for example with a show, a joke or a game. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# entertain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** your, clown, Mum, you, I, puppy · **What happens:** entertain, be, keep, give, mean, mind · **To what, where:** people, guests, food, idea, feeling, mind · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«entertain» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [entertain in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/entertain.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To entertain people is to amuse them and keep them interested, for example with a show, a joke or a game.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:m1:1
# text = To entertain people is to amuse them and keep them interested, for example with a show, a joke or a game.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	entertain	entertain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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	amuse	amuse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	interested	interested	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entertain** | to-infinitive |  | people |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus people=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | amuse *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **keep** | infinitive |  | people |  |  |  | for example; with a show and a joke or a game; interested *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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 entertain guests is to invite them and give them food and drink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:m2:1
# text = To entertain guests is to invite them and give them food and drink.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	entertain	entertain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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	invite	invite	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	iobj	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entertain** | to-infinitive |  | guests |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus guest=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | invite *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** | infinitive |  | food and drink | guests *= guest* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient food=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To entertain an idea is to think about it seriously.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:m3:1
# text = To entertain an idea is to think about it seriously.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	entertain	entertain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	think	think	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	_
10	seriously	seriously	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entertain** | to-infinitive |  | a idea |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus idea=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | about idea; seriously, think *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To entertain an feeling, such as hatred or dislike, means to keep it in your mind.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:m4:1
# text = To entertain an feeling, such as hatred or dislike, means to keep it in your mind.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	entertain	entertain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	csubj	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	hatred	hatred	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	dislike	dislike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
12	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entertain** | to-infinitive |  | a feeling |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus feeling=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | feeling |  | your mind |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent it=Theme in mind=Location |
| 4 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clown entertained the children with tricks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:x1:1
# text = The clown entertained the children with tricks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clown	clown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	entertained	entertain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	tricks	trick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entertain** | past | the clown | the children |  |  |  | with tricks | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus child=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum and Dad love to entertain friends at weekends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:x2:1
# text = Mum and Dad love to entertain friends at weekends.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	entertain	entertain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	weekends	weekend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | Mum and Dad |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **entertain** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Mum and Dad *not said here* | friends |  |  | weekend |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus friend=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you entertain your brother while I cook?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:x3:1
# text = Can you entertain your brother while I cook?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	entertain	entertain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	cook	cook	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entertain** | can | you | your brother |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus brother=Experiencer |
| 2 | **cook** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy kept us entertained for hours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:x4:1
# text = The puppy kept us entertained for hours.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	entertained	entertained	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the puppy | us |  |  | hour | entertained *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent we=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The street musician entertained the crowd.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:x5:1
# text = The street musician entertained the crowd.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	musician	musician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	entertained	entertain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entertain** | past | the street musician | the crowd |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus crowd=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Books can entertain us and teach us too.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:x6:1
# text = Books can entertain us and teach us too.
1	Books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	entertain	entertain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	teach	teach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entertain** | can | Books | us |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus we=Experiencer |
| 2 | **teach** *speech: other* | infinitive | Books *not said here* |  | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent we=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She would not entertain the idea of giving up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:x7:1
# text = She would not entertain the idea of giving up.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	entertain	entertain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **entertain** | would | She | the idea |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus idea=Experiencer |
| 2 | **give up** | gerund | the idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who is there that entertains enmity against you?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:entertain:x8:1
# text = Who is there that entertains enmity against you?"
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	entertains	entertain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	enmity	enmity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | that |  |  | there |  | against you; entertain *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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