---
title: perpetrate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «perpetrate» in the school dictionary: To do something wrong, harmful or illegal, such as a crime or a trick. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# perpetrate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** police, two clever boys, History · **What happens:** do, find, perpetrate, investigate, ask, remember · **To what, where:** something, robbery, Crimes, trick, mess, Dad · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do something wrong, harmful or illegal, such as a crime or a trick.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perpetrate:m1:1
# text = To do something wrong, harmful or illegal, such as a crime or a trick.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	illegal	illegal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police found who perpetrated the robbery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perpetrate:x1:1
# text = The police found who perpetrated the robbery.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	perpetrated	perpetrate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	robbery	robbery	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 | **find** | past | the police |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **perpetrate** | past |  | the robbery |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crimes perpetrated during wars must be investigated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perpetrate:x2:1
# text = Crimes perpetrated during wars must be investigated.
1	Crimes	crime	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	perpetrated	perpetrate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	during	during	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	wars	war	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	investigated	investigate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perpetrate** | participle |  | Crimes *not said here* |  |  | during wars |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **investigate** | must · passive |  | Crimes |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trick was perpetrated by two clever boys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perpetrate:x3:1
# text = The trick was perpetrated by two clever boys.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	perpetrated	perpetrate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perpetrate** | past · passive | two clever boys | the trick |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Who perpetrated this mess?" asked Dad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perpetrate:x4:1
# text = "Who perpetrated this mess?" asked Dad.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	perpetrated	perpetrate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	mess	mess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
9	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perpetrate** *in a quote* | past |  | this mess |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past |  |  | Dad |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent dad=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fraud was perpetrated over many years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perpetrate:x5:1
# text = The fraud was perpetrated over many years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fraud	fraud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	perpetrated	perpetrate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perpetrate** | past · passive |  | the fraud |  |  | year |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
History remembers those who perpetrated great cruelty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perpetrate:x6:1
# text = History remembers those who perpetrated great cruelty.
1	History	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	remembers	remember	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	2	obj	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	perpetrated	perpetrate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remember** | present | History | those |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent that=Theme |
| 2 | **perpetrate** | past |  | great cruelty |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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**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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