---
title: frustrate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «frustrate» in the school dictionary: To frustrate someone is to make them feel cross and upset because they cannot do or get what they want. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# frustrate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** they, It, pencil, our, He, puzzle · **What happens:** frustrate, be, feel, not do, get, want · **To what, where:** someone, plan, me, one mistake, escape, traffic

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To frustrate someone is to make them feel cross and upset because they cannot do or get what they want.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:frustrate:m1:1
# text = To frustrate someone is to make them feel cross and upset because they cannot do or get what they want.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	frustrate	frustrate	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	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	cross	cross	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
14	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	conj	_	_
19	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	21	obj	_	_
20	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **frustrate** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | cross *property* | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **do** | can | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **get** | infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 6 | **want** | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=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 frustrate a plan is to stop it from working.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:frustrate:m2:1
# text = To frustrate a plan is to stop it from working.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	frustrate	frustrate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plan	plan	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	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **frustrate** | to-infinitive |  | a plan |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus plan=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | stop *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It frustrates me when my pencil keeps breaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:frustrate:x1:1
# text = It frustrates me when my pencil keeps breaking.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	frustrates	frustrate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **frustrate** | present | It | me |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus i=Experiencer |
| 2 | **keep** | present | my pencil |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **break** | gerund | my pencil *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rain frustrated our plans for a picnic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:frustrate:x2:1
# text = The rain frustrated our plans for a picnic.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	frustrated	frustrated	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	picnic	picnic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plan** |  | our |  |  |  |  | for a picnic | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent for=obl |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He felt frustrated because the puzzle was so hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:frustrate:x3:1
# text = He felt frustrated because the puzzle was so hard.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	frustrated	frustrated	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | He |  |  |  |  | frustrated *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | the puzzle |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let one mistake frustrate you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:frustrate:x4:1
# text = Don't let one mistake frustrate you.
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	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	frustrate	frustrate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	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* | one mistake |  |  |  | frustrate *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Recipient you=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guards frustrated the thief's escape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:frustrate:x5:1
# text = The guards frustrated the thief's escape.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guards	guard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	frustrated	frustrate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	escape	escape	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 | **frustrate** | past | the guards | the thief's escape |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus escape=Experiencer |
| 2 | **escape** |  | the thief |  |  |  |  |  | nom escape «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being stuck in traffic frustrates Dad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:frustrate:x6:1
# text = Being stuck in traffic frustrates Dad.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	csubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	frustrates	frustrate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  | traffic |  | stuck *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **frustrate** | present |  | Dad |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus dad=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When you are frustrated, take a deep breath and try again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:frustrate:x7:1
# text = When you are frustrated, take a deep breath and try again.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	4	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	frustrated	frustrated	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	again	again	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | frustrated *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | imperative | you *not said here* | a deep breath |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent breath=Theme |
| 3 | **try** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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