---
title: respond — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «respond» in the school dictionary: To respond means to answer, by speaking or writing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# respond

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Plants, firefighters, She, I, her · **What happens:** respond, mean, answer, speak, react, do · **To what, where:** something, name, character respond · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«respond» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [respond in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/respond.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To respond means to answer, by speaking or writing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:m1:1
# text = To respond means to answer, by speaking or writing.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	respond	respond	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **answer** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To respond means to react to something by doing something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:m2:1
# text = To respond means to react to something by doing something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	respond	respond	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	react	react	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **react** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | to something | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to something=Theme |
| 4 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To respond to treatment means to start getting better.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:m3:1
# text = To respond to treatment means to start getting better.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	respond	respond	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	treatment	treatment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | to treatment | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to treatment=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **start** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **get** *not said to happen* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please respond to the email.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:x1:1
# text = Please respond to the email.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	respond	respond	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	email	email	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the email | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to email=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plants respond to light by growing towards it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:x2:1
# text = Plants respond to light by growing towards it.
1	Plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	respond	respond	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | present | Plants |  |  |  |  | to light | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to light=Theme |
| 2 | **grow** | gerund | Plants *not said here* |  |  |  |  | towards light | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firefighters responded to the call in minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:x3:1
# text = The firefighters responded to the call in minutes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	responded	respond	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	call	call	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | past | the firefighters |  |  |  | minute | to the call | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to call=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She didn't respond when I called her name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:x4:1
# text = She didn't respond when I called her name.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|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	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	respond	respond	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **respond** *speech: other* | past · do-support | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **call** | past | I | her name |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent name=Recipient |
| 3 | **name** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The patient is responding well to the medicine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:x5:1
# text = The patient is responding well to the medicine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	patient	patient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	responding	respond	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | present · progressive | the patient |  |  |  |  | to the medicine; well *property* | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to medicine=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How did the character respond to the bad news?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:x6:1
# text = How did the character respond to the bad news?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	respond	respond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past |  | the character respond |  |  |  | to the bad news | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent respond=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Yes, sir," responded Charley, gravely, "dat's so."

<!-- fold The tree, 8 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:respond:x7:1
# text = "Yes, sir," responded Charley, gravely, "dat's so."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	sir	sir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	responded	respond	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	Charley	Charley	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	gravely	gravely	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	dat	dat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | past | Charley |  |  |  |  | gravely *property* | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | dat |  |  |  |  | so *property* | 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 -->

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