---
title: repent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «repent» in the school dictionary: To repent is to feel truly sorry for something wrong you have done and to want to change. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# repent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Gospels John, He, his, thief, John · **What happens:** repent, be, do, want, change, turn away · **To what, where:** sin, God, people, choice, thief, money · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«repent» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [repent in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/repent.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To repent is to feel truly sorry for something wrong you have done and to want to change.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:m1:1
# text = To repent is to feel truly sorry for something wrong you have done and to want to change.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	repent	repent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	truly	truly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	_
10	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repent** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | feel, sorry *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | present · perfect | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **want** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 5 | **change** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «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: church, Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To turn away from sin and turn back to God: in the Gospels John the Baptist and Jesus called people to repent.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:m2:1
# text = To turn away from sin and turn back to God: in the Gospels John the Baptist and Jesus called people to repent.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	advcl	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sin	sin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	back	back	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	Gospels	Gospel	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	15	compound	_	_
15	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	Baptist	Baptist	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	flat	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
20	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
21	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	repent	repent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn away** | to-infinitive | Gospels John and Jesus *not said here* |  |  | sin |  | away *property* | vn banish-10.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent from sin=Source |
| 2 | **turn back** | present | Gospels John and Jesus *not said here* |  | God |  |  |  | vn banish-10.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent to god=Destination |
| 3 | **call** | past | Gospels John and Jesus |  | people |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent people=Recipient |
| 4 | **repent** | to-infinitive | Gospels John and Jesus *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To regret a choice: «He repented of his decision».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:m3:1
# text = To regret a choice: «He repented of his decision».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	regret	regret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	repented	repent	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **regret** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | a choice |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer choice=Stimulus |
| 2 | **repent** *in a quote* | past | He |  |  |  |  | of his decision | tree rules |
| 3 | **decide** *in a quote* |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom decision «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thief repented and gave the money back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:x1:1
# text = The thief repented and gave the money back.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	repented	repent	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
5	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	back	back	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repent** | participle |  | the thief *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give back** | past | the thief | the money |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
John the Baptist told the people to repent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:x2:1
# text = John the Baptist told the people to repent.
1	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Baptist	Baptist	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
4	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	iobj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	repent	repent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | John |  | the people |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent people=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **repent** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | John *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She repented of the mean things she had said.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:x3:1
# text = She repented of the mean things she had said.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	repented	repent	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repent** | past | She |  |  |  |  | of the mean things | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past · perfect | she | the mean things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe God forgives those who truly repent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:x4:1
# text = Christians believe God forgives those who truly repent.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	forgives	forgive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	4	obj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	truly	truly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	repent	repent	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **forgive** | present | God | those |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |
| 3 | **repent** | present |  |  |  |  |  | truly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The giant repented and became the village's friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:x5:1
# text = The giant repented and became the village's friend.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	repented	repent	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repent** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **become** | past |  | the village's friend |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Marry in haste, repent at leisure, says the old proverb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:x6:1
# text = Marry in haste, repent at leisure, says the old proverb.
1	Marry	marry	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	haste	haste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	repent	repent	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	leisure	leisure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	proverb	proverb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **marry** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | haste |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **repent** | infinitive |  |  |  | leisure |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present |  | the old proverb |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent proverb=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He did not repent until he saw how sad his friend was.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:x7:1
# text = He did not repent until he saw how sad his friend was.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	repent	repent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
9	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **repent** | past · do-support | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | past | his friend |  |  |  |  | sad *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Act in haste and repent at leisure--and often in pain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:repent:x8:1
# text = Act in haste and repent at leisure--and often in pain.
1	Act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	haste	haste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	repent	repent	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	leisure	leisure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repent** | present | Act in haste |  |  | leisure |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->
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