---
title: portend — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «portend» in the school dictionary: To be a sign or warning that something important, often bad, is going to happen: «Dark clouds portend a storm.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/portend/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / portend

# portend

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, Dark clouds, howling wind, comet, Falling sales, forest · **What happens:** be, go, happen, portend, mean, point · **To what, where:** sign, warning, storm, something, war, old stories · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be a sign or warning that something important, often bad, is going to happen: «Dark clouds portend a storm.».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:portend:m1:1
# text = To be a sign or warning that something important, often bad, is going to happen: «Dark clouds portend a storm.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	nsubj	_	_
9	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	acl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	Dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nsubj	_	_
22	portend	portend	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | a sign or warning |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present · progressive | something | warning *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **happen** | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **portend** *in a quote* | present | Dark clouds | a storm |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To mean or point to something in the future.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:portend:m2:1
# text = To mean or point to something in the future.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	mean	mean	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	point	point	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	future	future	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **point** | infinitive |  |  | something |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to something=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The howling wind seemed to portend a terrible night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:portend:x1:1
# text = The howling wind seemed to portend a terrible night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	howling	howling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	portend	portend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the howling wind |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **portend** | to-infinitive | the howling wind *not said here* |  |  |  | night |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old stories a comet in the sky portended war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:portend:x2:1
# text = In old stories a comet in the sky portended war.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	comet	comet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	portended	portend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **portend** | past | a comet in the sky | war |  | old stories |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Falling sales may portend hard times for the shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:portend:x3:1
# text = Falling sales may portend hard times for the shop.
1	Falling	fall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	amod	_	_
2	sales	sale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	portend	portend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **portend** | may | Falling sales |  |  |  | time | for the shop | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sudden quiet in the forest portended danger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:portend:x4:1
# text = The sudden quiet in the forest portended danger.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	portended	portend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **portend** | participle | the forest *not said here* | danger |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People once believed that a red sky portended bad weather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:portend:x5:1
# text = People once believed that a red sky portended bad weather.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	advmod	_	_
3	believed	believe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	portended	portend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
9	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | past | People |  |  |  |  | once *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **portend** | past | a red sky | bad weather |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nobody knew what the strange letter portended.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:portend:x6:1
# text = Nobody knew what the strange letter portended.
1	Nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
2	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	2	ccomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
7	portended	portend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | past | Nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **portend** | participle |  | the strange letter *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I ordered you to be put to death because I thought your dream portended the loss of my crown.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:portend:x7:1
# text = I ordered you to be put to death because I thought your dream portended the loss of my crown.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ordered	order	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	dream	dream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	portended	portend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	ccomp	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	loss	loss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	crown	crown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **order** | past | I |  | you |  |  |  | vn order-58.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **put** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive · passive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to death | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP» |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **portend** | past | your dream | the loss of my crown |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **dream** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom dream «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |
| 6 | **crown** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom crown «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [porte](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/porte/)
- next →: [portent](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/portent/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)