---
title: obtain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «obtain» in the school dictionary: To get something, especially by effort or by asking. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# obtain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** She, You, results, I, scientist, He · **What happens:** get, ask, exist, be, obtain, leave · **To what, where:** something, use, 18 points, 20, permission, results

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To get something, especially by effort or by asking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obtain:m1:1
# text = To get something, especially by effort or by asking.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | by effort | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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: formal, rare — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To exist or be in use (of rules).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obtain:m2:1
# text = To exist or be in use (of rules).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	exist	exist	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **exist** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  | use |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She obtained 18 points out of 20.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obtain:x1:1
# text = She obtained 18 points out of 20.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	obtained	obtain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	18	18	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obtain** | past | She | 18 points |  | 20 |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent point=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You must obtain permission before you leave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obtain:x2:1
# text = You must obtain permission before you leave.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	obtain	obtain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obtain** | must | You | permission |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent permission=Theme |
| 2 | **leave** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The results obtained in the test were surprising.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obtain:x3:1
# text = The results obtained in the test were surprising.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
3	obtained	obtain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	surprising	surprising	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obtain** | participle |  | the results *not said here* |  | the test |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **is** | past | the results |  |  |  |  | surprising *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Where can I obtain a library card?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obtain:x4:1
# text = Where can I obtain a library card?
1	Where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	4	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	obtain	obtain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obtain** | can | I | a library card |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent card=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add the numbers to obtain the total.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obtain:x5:1
# text = Add the numbers to obtain the total.
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	obtain	obtain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	total	total	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | the numbers |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Patient |
| 2 | **obtain** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the total |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset total=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist obtained a sample of sea water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obtain:x6:1
# text = The scientist obtained a sample of sea water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	obtained	obtain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sample	sample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obtain** | past | the scientist | a sample of sea water |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sample=Theme |
| 2 | **sample** |  |  | sea water |  |  |  |  | nom sample «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He obtained what he wanted, and flew away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obtain:x7:1
# text = He obtained what he wanted, and flew away.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	obtained	obtain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	2	obj	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	away	away	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obtain** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme |
| 2 | **want** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 3 | **fly away** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «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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