---
title: obstruct — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «obstruct» in the school dictionary: To block a road, path, pipe or opening so things cannot pass. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# obstruct

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pipe, things, you, bags, fallen tree, tall man · **What happens:** block, open, not pass, try, stop, happen · **To what, where:** road, view, something, it, police, player

<!-- .vabout -->
«obstruct» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [obstruct in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/obstruct.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To block a road, path, pipe or opening so things cannot pass.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:m1:1
# text = To block a road, path, pipe or opening so things cannot pass.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	block	block	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	pipe	pipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	opening	open	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
13	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **block** | to-infinitive |  | a road and path and pipe |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer road=Theme |
| 2 | **open** | gerund | pipe *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **pass** | can | things |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 block a view.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:m2:1
# text = To block a view.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	block	block	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	view	view	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **block** | to-infinitive |  | a view |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer view=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To try to stop something happening or to make it hard (obstruct the police).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:m3:1
# text = To try to stop something happening or to make it hard (obstruct the police).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	obstruct	obstruct	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl:relcl	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **stop** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **happen** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 5 | **obstruct** | infinitive |  | the police |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer police=Eventuality |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To block another player unfairly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:m4:1
# text = To block another player unfairly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	block	block	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	unfairly	unfairly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **block** | to-infinitive |  | another player |  |  |  | unfairly *property* | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer player=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't leave bags where they obstruct the fire exit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:x1:1
# text = Don't leave bags where they obstruct the fire exit.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	leave	leave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	7	advmod	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	obstruct	obstruct	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	exit	exit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **leave** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | bags |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bag=Theme |
| 2 | **obstruct** | present | bags *= bag* | the fire exit |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer exit=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fallen tree obstructed the road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:x2:1
# text = A fallen tree obstructed the road.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	obstructed	obstruct	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **obstruct** | past | a fallen tree | the road |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer road=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tall man obstructed my view of the stage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:x3:1
# text = The tall man obstructed my view of the stage.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	obstructed	obstruct	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	view	view	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obstruct** | past | the tall man | my view of the stage |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer view=Eventuality |
| 2 | **view** |  | my | the stage |  |  |  |  | nom view «cognition transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Food can obstruct the airway, so chew well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:x4:1
# text = Food can obstruct the airway, so chew well.
1	Food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	obstruct	obstruct	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	airway	airway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	chew	chew	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
9	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obstruct** | can | Food | the airway |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer airway=Eventuality |
| 2 | **chew** | infinitive | Food *not said here* |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn chew-39.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was penalised for obstructing another player.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:x5:1
# text = He was penalised for obstructing another player.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	penalised	penalis	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	obstructing	obstruct	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
7	player	player	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 | **penalis** | past · passive |  | He |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **obstruct** | gerund |  | another player |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer player=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Parked cars must not obstruct the school gate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstruct:x6:1
# text = Parked cars must not obstruct the school gate.
1	Parked	park	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	obstruct	obstruct	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **park** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **obstruct** | must | Parked cars | the school gate |  |  |  |  | vn discourage-64.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer gate=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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