---
title: placate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «placate» in the school dictionary: To make someone feel less angry or upset, often by giving them something or saying something kind. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# placate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, She, shop, Nothing, Ancient people, He · **What happens:** make, feel, give, say, try, placate · **To what, where:** someone, something, them, brother, free gift, angry customer · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make someone feel less angry or upset, often by giving them something or saying something kind.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:placate:m1:1
# text = To make someone feel less angry or upset, often by giving them something or saying something kind.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	feel	feel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	iobj	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	conj	_	_
17	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	obj	_	_
18	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset someone=Product |
| 2 | **feel** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | angry *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **give** | gerund | you *not said here* | something | them *= they* |  |  | often *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient something=Theme |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
She tried to placate her brother with a biscuit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:placate:x1:1
# text = She tried to placate her brother with a biscuit.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	placate	placate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **placate** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | her brother |  |  |  | with a biscuit | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus brother=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop gave a free gift to placate the angry customer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:placate:x2:1
# text = The shop gave a free gift to placate the angry customer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	gift	gift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	placate	placate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	customer	customer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the shop | a free gift |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gift=Theme |
| 2 | **placate** | to-infinitive | the shop *not said here* | the angry customer |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus customer=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing could placate the furious teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:placate:x3:1
# text = Nothing could placate the furious teacher.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	placate	placate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	furious	furious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **placate** | could | Nothing | the furious teacher |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus teacher=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient people offered gifts to placate their gods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:placate:x4:1
# text = Ancient people offered gifts to placate their gods.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	offered	offer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	gifts	gift	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	placate	placate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	gods	god	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **offer** | past | Ancient people | gifts |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent gift=Theme |
| 2 | **placate** | to-infinitive | Ancient people *not said here* | people's gods |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus god=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He apologised to placate his friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:placate:x5:1
# text = He apologised to placate his friend.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	apologised	apologise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	placate	placate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apologise** *speech: apologize* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **placate** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | his friend |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus friend=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The manager placated the fans with free tickets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:placate:x6:1
# text = The manager placated the fans with free tickets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	placated	placate	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	_	8	case	_	_
7	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tickets	ticket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **placate** | past | the manager | the fans |  |  |  | with free tickets | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus fan=Experiencer |

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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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