---
title: liken — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «liken» in the school dictionary: To say that one thing is like another; to compare them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liken/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/) / liken

# liken

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** poet, Scientists, Many people, teacher, story, I · **What happens:** say, compare, use, liken, mean, be · **To what, where:** them, A, B, B., sea, heart · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say that one thing is like another; to compare them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liken:m1:1
# text = To say that one thing is like another; to compare them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	compare	compare	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **compare** | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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 -->
Used with «to»: «liken A to B» means say A is similar to B.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liken:m2:1
# text = Used with «to»: «liken A to B» means say A is similar to B.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	advcl	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	liken	liken	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	csubj	_	_
9	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	B	B	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	ccomp	_	_
15	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	similar	similar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	ccomp	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	B.	B.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **liken** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | A | B |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **is** | present |  |  | B. |  |  | similar *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The poet likens the sea to a hungry dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liken:x1:1
# text = The poet likens the sea to a hungry dog.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	poet	poet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	likens	liken	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	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hungry	hungry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	dog	dog	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 | **liken** | present | the poet | the sea |  |  |  | to a hungry dog | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists liken the heart to a pump.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liken:x2:1
# text = Scientists liken the heart to a pump.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	liken	liken	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pump	pump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **liken** | present | Scientists | the heart |  |  |  | to a pump | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many people liken the city to a giant ant nest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liken:x3:1
# text = Many people liken the city to a giant ant nest.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	liken	liken	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	ant	ant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **liken** | present | Many people | the city |  |  |  | to a giant ant nest | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was often likened to his famous grandfather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liken:x4:1
# text = He was often likened to his famous grandfather.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	likened	liken	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	grandfather	grandfather	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 | **liken** | past · passive |  | He |  |  |  | to his famous grandfather; often *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher likened the brain to a busy library.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liken:x5:1
# text = Our teacher likened the brain to a busy library.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	likened	liken	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	library	library	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 | **liken** | past | Our teacher | the brain |  |  |  | to a busy library | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story likens growing up to climbing a mountain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liken:x6:1
# text = The story likens growing up to climbing a mountain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	likens	liken	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mountain	mountain	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 | **liken** | present | the story |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow up** | gerund | the story *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **climb** | gerund | the story *not said here* | a mountain |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location mountain=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I wouldn't liken a cat to a dog; they are so different.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liken:x7:1
# text = I wouldn't liken a cat to a dog; they are so different.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	liken	liken	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **liken** | would | I | a cat |  |  |  | to a dog | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | they |  |  |  |  | different *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [likely](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/likely/)
- next →: [likeness](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/likeness/)
- ↑ back to [L in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/)