---
title: impound — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «impound» in the school dictionary: To impound means for the police or officials to take something away and keep it until rules are followed, such as a car, a dog or goods. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# impound

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** police, car, owner, Customs officers, dam, Dad · **What happens:** impound, mean, take away, keep, follow, hold back · **To what, where:** something, it, rules, water, dam, reservoir · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«impound» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [impound in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/impound.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To impound means for the police or officials to take something away and keep it until rules are followed, such as a car, a dog or goods.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impound:m1:1
# text = To impound means for the police or officials to take something away and keep it until rules are followed, such as a car, a dog or goods.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	impound	impound	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	officials	official	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	away	away	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
17	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	followed	follow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
21	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	24	case	_	_
22	as	as	ADP	IN	_	21	fixed	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impound** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for the police or officials | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **take away** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | away *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 4 | **keep** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 5 | **follow** | present · passive |  | rules |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: subject=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 impound water means to hold it back behind a dam or wall, making a reservoir.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impound:m2:1
# text = To impound water means to hold it back behind a dam or wall, making a reservoir.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	impound	impound	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	back	back	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
9	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	reservoir	reservoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impound** | to-infinitive |  | water |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hold back** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | water |  | a dam or wall |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent it=Theme behind dam=Location |
| 4 | **make** | gerund |  | a reservoir |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset reservoir=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police impounded the car because it had no insurance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impound:x1:1
# text = The police impounded the car because it had no insurance.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	impounded	impound	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	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	insurance	insurance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impound** | past | the police | the car |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent car=Patient |
| 2 | **have** | past | car | no insurance |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent insurance=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stray dog was impounded until its owner came.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impound:x2:1
# text = The stray dog was impounded until its owner came.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	stray	stray	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	impounded	impound	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	owner	owner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impound** | past · passive |  | the stray dog |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **come** | past | dog's owner |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Customs officers impounded the fake trainers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impound:x3:1
# text = Customs officers impounded the fake trainers.
1	Customs	custom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	compound	_	_
2	officers	officer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	impounded	impound	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	trainers	trainer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impound** | past | Customs officers | the fake trainers |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trainer=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dam impounds the river to make a reservoir.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impound:x4:1
# text = The dam impounds the river to make a reservoir.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	impounds	impound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	reservoir	reservoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impound** | present | the dam | the river |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent river=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | the dam *not said here* | a reservoir |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset reservoir=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad had to pay a fine to get the car back from the impound.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impound:x5:1
# text = Dad had to pay a fine to get the car back from the impound.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	back	back	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	impound	impound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | a fine |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fine=Asset |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | the car |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer car=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ship was impounded at the port.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impound:x6:1
# text = The ship was impounded at the port.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ship	ship	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	impounded	impound	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	port	port	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impound** | past · passive |  | the ship |  | the port |  |  | vn concealment-16 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Patient at port=Location |

<!-- 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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