---
title: oblige — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «oblige» in the school dictionary: To oblige someone means to force them to do something by law, a rule or duty. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# oblige

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** them, they, I, law, she, you · **What happens:** oblige, mean, force, do, help, ask · **To what, where:** someone, them, something, you, Drivers, red lights · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«oblige» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [oblige in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/oblige.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To oblige someone means to force them to do something by law, a rule or duty.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:m1:1
# text = To oblige someone means to force them to do something by law, a rule or duty.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	oblige	oblige	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	force	force	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	duty	duty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oblige** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **force** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent they=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | something |  |  |  | by law | 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 oblige means to help someone by doing what they ask.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:m2:1
# text = To oblige means to help someone by doing what they ask.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	oblige	oblige	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	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	obj	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	ask	ask	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oblige** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **help** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  | someone |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **do** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent what=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I'm much obliged" (formal, old-fashioned) means "thank you very much".

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:m3:1
# text = "I'm much obliged" (formal, old-fashioned) means "thank you very much".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	much	much	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	obliged	oblige	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	_
14	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	ccomp	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	very	very	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	much	much	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oblige** *in a quote* | present · passive | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **thank** *speech: thank* *in a quote* | present |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Drivers are obliged by law to stop at red lights.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:x1:1
# text = Drivers are obliged by law to stop at red lights.
1	Drivers	driver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	obliged	oblige	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oblige** | present · passive | law | Drivers |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | law *not said here* |  |  | red lights |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at light=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I felt obliged to help after she helped me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:x2:1
# text = I felt obliged to help after she helped me.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	obliged	oblige	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **oblige** | participle | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **help** | past | she |  | me |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Could you pass the salt?" "Happy to oblige."

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Could you pass the salt?" "

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:x3:1
# text = "Could you pass the salt?" "
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** *in a quote* | could | you | the salt |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme salt=Trajectory |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Happy to oblige."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:x3:2
# text = Happy to oblige."
1	Happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	oblige	oblige	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oblige** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Much obliged for your help, sir.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:x4:1
# text = Much obliged for your help, sir.
1	Much	much	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	obliged	oblige	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	sir	sir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oblige** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for your help and sir | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **help** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom help «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rules oblige us to wear helmets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:x5:1
# text = The rules oblige us to wear helmets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	oblige	oblige	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	wear	wear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	helmets	helmet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oblige** | present | the rules | us |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent we=Patient |
| 2 | **wear** | to-infinitive | the rules *not said here* | helmets |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent helmet=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The singer obliged the fans with one more song.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oblige:x6:1
# text = The singer obliged the fans with one more song.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	singer	singer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	obliged	oblige	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	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	song	song	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 | **oblige** | past | the singer | the fans |  |  |  | with one more song | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fan=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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