---
title: instigate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «instigate» in the school dictionary: To start something or make it happen, such as an inquiry, a plan or changes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# instigate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** council, teacher, Jake, school, Police · **What happens:** start, make, happen, change, stir up, encourage · **To what, where:** something, it, trouble, background, plan, park · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To start something or make it happen, such as an inquiry, a plan or changes.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigate:m1:1
# text = To start something or make it happen, such as an inquiry, a plan or changes.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **happen** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | such a inquiry | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **change** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 stir up or encourage trouble, a fight or bad behaviour, often while staying in the background.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigate:m2:1
# text = To stir up or encourage trouble, a fight or bad behaviour, often while staying in the background.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stir	stir	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	encourage	encourage	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	staying	stay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stir up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition |
| 2 | **encourage** | infinitive |  | trouble and a fight or bad behaviour |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trouble=Theme |
| 3 | **stay** | gerund |  |  |  | the background |  | often *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in background=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council instigated a plan to make the park safer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigate:x1:1
# text = The council instigated a plan to make the park safer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	instigated	instigate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	safer	safe	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **instigate** | past | the council | a plan |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition plan=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | the council *not said here* | the park |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset park=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher wanted to know who had instigated the food fight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigate:x2:1
# text = The teacher wanted to know who had instigated the food fight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	instigated	instigate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	ccomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **know** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the teacher *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **instigate** | past · perfect |  | the food fight |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition fight=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jake didn't throw anything, but he instigated the whole argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigate:x3:1
# text = Jake didn't throw anything, but he instigated the whole argument.
1	Jake	Jake	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	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	throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	instigated	instigate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **throw** | past · do-support | Jake | anything |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Theme |
| 2 | **instigate** | past | Jake | the whole argument |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition argument=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school instigated a new reading programme for every class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigate:x4:1
# text = The school instigated a new reading programme for every class.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	instigated	instigate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	programme	programme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **instigate** | past | the school | a new reading programme |  |  |  | for every class | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition programme=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police instigated an investigation after the window was smashed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigate:x5:1
# text = Police instigated an investigation after the window was smashed.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	instigated	instigate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	investigation	investigation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	smashed	smash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **instigate** | past | Police | a investigation |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition investigation=Patient |
| 2 | **smash** | past · passive |  | the window |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was accused of instigating the trouble on the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigate:x6:1
# text = She was accused of instigating the trouble on the bus.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	accused	accuse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	instigating	instigate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **accuse** | past · passive |  | She |  |  |  |  | vn suspect-81 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **instigate** | gerund |  | the trouble |  | the bus |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition trouble=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The changes were made at the instigation of the parents' group.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigate:x7:1
# text = The changes were made at the instigation of the parents' group.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	changes	change	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	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	instigation	instigation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	'	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | the changes |  | the instigation of the parents's group |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 2 | **instigate** |  |  | the parents's group |  |  |  |  | nom instigation «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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