---
title: inspire — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «inspire» in the school dictionary: To inspire someone means to give them the wish and the energy to do something good or creative. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# inspire

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, something, invention, visit, astronaut, bravery · **What happens:** inspire, mean, give, do, make, feel · **To what, where:** someone, wish, them, something, feeling, people · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To inspire someone means to give them the wish and the energy to do something good or creative.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:m1:1
# text = To inspire someone means to give them the wish and the energy to do something good or creative.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	inspire	inspire	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	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	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wish	wish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	_
16	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	creative	creative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **give** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | the wish and the energy | them *= they* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient wish=Theme |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 inspire a feeling means to make people feel it: «inspire confidence», «inspire fear».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:m2:1
# text = To inspire a feeling means to make people feel it: «inspire confidence», «inspire fear».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	inspire	inspire	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	inspire	inspire	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
14	confidence	confidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	inspire	inspire	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
19	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | 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 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **feel** *not said to happen* | infinitive | people *not said here* | feeling |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 5 | **inspire** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | confidence |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus confidence=Experiencer |
| 6 | **inspire** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | fear |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus fear=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If something inspired a story, picture or invention, it gave the idea for it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:m3:1
# text = If something inspired a story, picture or invention, it gave the idea for it.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nsubj	_	_
3	inspired	inspire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	advcl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	invention	invention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** *a condition, not said to happen* | participle | something | a story and picture or invention |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus story=Experiencer |
| 2 | **give** | past | invention | the idea |  |  |  | for idea | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent idea=Theme for it=Asset |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To inspire means to breathe in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:m4:1
# text = To inspire means to breathe in.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	inspire	inspire	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	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **breathe in** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The astronaut's visit inspired me to study science.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:x1:1
# text = The astronaut's visit inspired me to study science.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	astronaut	astronaut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	visit	visit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	inspired	inspire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	study	study	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
9	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | past | the astronaut's visit | me |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus i=Experiencer |
| 2 | **study** | to-infinitive | the astronaut's visit *not said here* | science |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent science=Topic |
| 3 | **visit** |  | the astronaut |  |  |  |  |  | nom visit «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her bravery inspires us all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:x2:1
# text = Her bravery inspires us all.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	bravery	bravery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	inspires	inspire	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | present | Her bravery | us |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus we=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story was inspired by a real shipwreck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:x3:1
# text = The story was inspired by a real shipwreck.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	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	inspired	inspire	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	shipwreck	shipwreck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | past · passive |  | the story |  |  |  | by a real shipwreck | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good teachers inspire their pupils.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:x4:1
# text = Good teachers inspire their pupils.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	inspire	inspire	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | present | Good teachers | teachers's pupils |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus pupil=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The music inspired her to dance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:x5:1
# text = The music inspired her to dance.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	inspired	inspire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	dance	dance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | past | the music | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dance** | to-infinitive | the music *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The captain's calm voice inspired confidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:x6:1
# text = The captain's calm voice inspired confidence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
6	inspired	inspired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	confidence	confidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confide** |  | the captain |  |  |  |  |  | nom confidence «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What inspired you to write this poem?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inspire:x7:1
# text = What inspired you to write this poem?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	2	nsubj	_	_
2	inspired	inspire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | past |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus you=Experiencer |
| 2 | **write** | to-infinitive |  | this poem |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poem=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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