---
title: kidnap — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «kidnap» in the school dictionary: To take a person away by force or by tricking them, and keep them against their will, often to demand money. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# kidnap

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, villain, they, mum, police, kidnappers · **What happens:** take away, trick, keep, demand, incriminate, plan · **To what, where:** person, them, money, kidnapping, princess, car · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«kidnap» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [kidnap in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/kidnap.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To take a person away by force or by tricking them, and keep them against their will, often to demand money.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:m1:1
# text = To take a person away by force or by tricking them, and keep them against their will, often to demand money.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	tricking	trick	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	against	against	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	often	often	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	demand	demand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
23	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take away** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a person |  |  |  | by force; away *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 2 | **trick** | gerund | you *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 3 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |
| 4 | **demand** *speech: request* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | money |  |  |  | often *property* | vn require-103-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme money=Precondition |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crime of kidnapping.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:m2:1
# text = The crime of kidnapping.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	kidnapping	kidnapping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incriminate** |  |  | kidnapping |  |  |  |  | nom crime «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villain planned to kidnap the princess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:x1:1
# text = The villain planned to kidnap the princess.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	planned	plan	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	kidnap	kidnap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plan** | past | the villain |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **kidnap** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the villain *not said here* | the princess |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent princess=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never get into a stranger's car, even if they say your mum sent them.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:x2:1
# text = Never get into a stranger's car, even if they say your mum sent them.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	even	even	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **get** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | a stranger's car |  |  | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme into car=Destination |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *a condition, not said to happen* | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **send** | past | your mum | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police rescued the kidnapped boy within a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:x3:1
# text = The police rescued the kidnapped boy within a day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rescued	rescue	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	kidnapped	kidnap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	within	within	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rescue** | past | the police | the kidnapped boy |  |  | day |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boy=Theme |
| 2 | **kidnap** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kidnappers asked for a ransom of one million dollars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:x4:1
# text = The kidnappers asked for a ransom of one million dollars.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kidnappers	kidnapper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ransom	ransom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	compound	_	_
9	million	million	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the kidnappers |  |  |  |  | for a ransom of million dollars | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **ransom** |  |  | million dollars |  |  |  |  | nom ransom «possession transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the book, pirates kidnap the hero and take him to sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:x5:1
# text = In the book, pirates kidnap the hero and take him to sea.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	pirates	pirate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	kidnap	kidnap	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
11	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kidnap** | present | pirates | the hero |  | the book |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hero=Theme |
| 2 | **take** | infinitive | pirates *not said here* | him *= he* |  | sea |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent he=Theme to sea=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The news reported a failed kidnap attempt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:x6:1
# text = The news reported a failed kidnap attempt.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	reported	report	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	failed	fail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
6	kidnap	kidnap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	attempt	attempt	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 | **report** | past | the news | a failed kidnap attempt |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attempt=Patient |
| 2 | **fail** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother «kidnapped» my teddy, but I got it back!

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:x7:1
# text = My little brother «kidnapped» my teddy, but I got it back!
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	kidnapped	kidnap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	teddy	teddy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	back	back	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kidnap** *in a quote* | past | My little brother | my teddy |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teddy=Theme |
| 2 | **get back** | past | I | teddy |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Captain,” said Smee, “could we not kidnap these boys’ mother and make her our mother?”

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kidnap:x8:1
# text = “Captain,” said Smee, “could we not kidnap these boys’ mother and make her our mother?”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	Smee	Smee	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
10	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	kidnap	kidnap	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
13	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	14	det	_	_
14	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	’	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
19	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | Captain |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **kidnap** *in a quote* | could | we | this boys's mother |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mother=Theme |
| 3 | **make** *in a quote* | infinitive | we *not said here* | our mother | Smee |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: agent=Asset she=Beneficiary mother=Product |

<!-- 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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