---
title: propel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «propel» in the school dictionary: To push or drive something forward. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# propel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** them, engine, Oars, Air, great voice, burning fuel · **What happens:** push, drive, send, make, do, propel · **To what, where:** something, someone, new situation, them, boat, water

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To push or drive something forward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propel:m1:1
# text = To push or drive something forward.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	push	push	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	drive	drive	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **drive** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme something=Trajectory |

<!-- .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 send someone into a new situation, or make them do something: propelled to fame.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propel:m2:1
# text = To send someone into a new situation, or make them do something: propelled to fame.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	send	send	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
15	propelled	propel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	fame	fame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  | a new situation |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **propel** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **fame** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The engine propels the boat through the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propel:x1:1
# text = The engine propels the boat through the water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	propels	propel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **propel** | present | the engine | the boat |  | the water |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oars propel a rowing boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propel:x2:1
# text = Oars propel a rowing boat.
1	Oars	oar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	propel	propel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	rowing	rowing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **propel** | present | Oars | a rowing boat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Air rushing out of the balloon propelled it across the room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propel:x3:1
# text = Air rushing out of the balloon propelled it across the room.
1	Air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	rushing	rush	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	balloon	balloon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	propelled	propel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	across	across	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rush out** | gerund | Air *not said here* | the balloon |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme balloon=Trajectory |
| 2 | **propel** | past | Air | balloon |  | the room |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her great voice propelled her to fame.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propel:x4:1
# text = Her great voice propelled her to fame.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	propelled	propel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	fame	fame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **propel** | past | Her great voice | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fame** | to-infinitive | Her great voice *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rockets are propelled by burning fuel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propel:x5:1
# text = Rockets are propelled by burning fuel.
1	Rockets	rocket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	propelled	propel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	burning	burn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	fuel	fuel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **propel** | present · passive | burning fuel | Rockets |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **burn** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind propelled the yacht faster than we expected.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propel:x6:1
# text = The wind propelled the yacht faster than we expected.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	propelled	propel	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	yacht	yacht	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
7	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	expected	expect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **propel** | past | the wind | the yacht |  |  |  | fast *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **expect** | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He imagines that one can propel things by means of steam."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:propel:x7:1
# text = He imagines that one can propel things by means of steam."
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	imagines	imagine	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	one	one	PRON	PRP	Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	propel	propel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imagine** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **propel** | can | one | things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | of steam | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

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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.

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