---
title: lengthen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lengthen» in the school dictionary: To lengthen something means to make it longer: «lengthen a skirt», «lengthen a sentence». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lengthen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** days, Mum, I, you, shadows, Runners · **What happens:** lengthen, mean, make, become, grow, go down · **To what, where:** something, it, skirt, sentence, trousers, shadows · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To lengthen something means to make it longer: «lengthen a skirt», «lengthen a sentence».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:m1:1
# text = To lengthen something means to make it longer: «lengthen a skirt», «lengthen a sentence».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	lengthen	lengthen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	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	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	longer	long	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	lengthen	lengthen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	skirt	skirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	lengthen	lengthen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | long *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 4 | **lengthen** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a skirt |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent skirt=Patient |
| 5 | **lengthen** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a sentence |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent sentence=Patient |

<!-- .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 lengthen means to become longer: «The days lengthen in spring».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:m2:1
# text = To lengthen means to become longer: «The days lengthen in spring».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	lengthen	lengthen	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	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	lengthen	lengthen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **become** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **lengthen** *in a quote* | present | the days |  |  |  | spring |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The days lengthen after midwinter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:x1:1
# text = The days lengthen after midwinter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lengthen	lengthen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	midwinter	midwinter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | present | the days |  |  |  | after midwinter |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum lengthened my trousers because I grew.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:x2:1
# text = Mum lengthened my trousers because I grew.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lengthened	lengthen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	trousers	trousers	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | participle | Mum | my trousers |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent trousers=Patient |
| 2 | **grow** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you lengthen this sentence with an adjective?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:x3:1
# text = Can you lengthen this sentence with an adjective?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lengthen	lengthen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | can | you | this sentence |  |  |  | with a adjective | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent sentence=Patient with adjective=Instrument |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shadows lengthened as the sun went down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:x4:1
# text = The shadows lengthened as the sun went down.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shadows	shadow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	lengthened	lengthen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	down	down	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | participle |  | the shadows *not said here* |  |  |  | as the sun | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **go down** | past | the shadows |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Runners lengthen their stride to go faster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:x5:1
# text = Runners lengthen their stride to go faster.
1	Runners	runner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lengthen	lengthen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	stride	stride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | present | Runners | Runners's stride |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent stride=Patient |
| 2 | **go** | to-infinitive | Runners *not said here* |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **stride** |  | Runners *= runner* |  |  |  |  |  | nom stride «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher lengthened break time because of the sunshine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:x6:1
# text = The teacher lengthened break time because of the sunshine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	lengthened	lengthen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	break	break	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sunshine	sunshine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | participle |  | the teacher *not said here* |  |  | time | because the sunshine | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We lengthened the rope by tying two together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:x7:1
# text = We lengthened the rope by tying two together.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lengthened	lengthen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	tying	tie	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	obj	_	_
8	together	together	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | past | We | the rope |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent rope=Patient |
| 2 | **tie** | gerund | We *not said here* | two |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent two=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The queue lengthened as more people came.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lengthen:x8:1
# text = The queue lengthened as more people came.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	queue	queue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	lengthened	lengthen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lengthen** | participle |  | the queue *not said here* |  |  |  | as more people | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **come** | past | the queue |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

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