---
title: scare — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scare» in the school dictionary: To scare someone is to make them feel afraid. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scare

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Scared, scare, many people, You, I, loud bang · **What happens:** scare, be, feel, mean, scare away, go away · **To what, where:** someone, sudden fright, worry, me, birds, baby

<!-- .vabout -->
«scare» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [scare in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scare.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To scare someone is to make them feel afraid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:m1:1
# text = To scare someone is to make them feel afraid.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scare** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | afraid *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
«Scared» means afraid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:m2:1
# text = «Scared» means afraid.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Scared |  |  |  |  | afraid *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A scare is a sudden fright, or a worry that many people feel about a danger: a health scare.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:m3:1
# text = A scare is a sudden fright, or a worry that many people feel about a danger: a health scare.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scare	scare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fright	fright	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	obj	_	_
12	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	about	about	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	health	health	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	scare	scare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a scare | a sudden fright and a health scare |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | present | many people | a worry |  |  |  | about a danger | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent that=Theme about danger=Location |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To scare away or off is to make an animal or person go away by frightening them.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:m4:1
# text = To scare away or off is to make an animal or person go away by frightening them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	csubj	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	off	off	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
14	away	away	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	frightening	frightening	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	parataxis	_	_
17	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scare away** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **go away** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You scared me!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:x1:1
# text = You scared me!
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	scared	scare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scare** | past | You | me |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus i=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm scared of the dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:x2:1
# text = I'm scared of the dark.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dark	dark	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 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | of the dark; scared *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The loud bang scared the birds away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:x3:1
# text = The loud bang scared the birds away.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	scared	scare	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	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scare away** | past | the loud bang | the birds |  |  |  | away *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus bird=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't scare the baby.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:x4:1
# text = Don't scare the baby.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	scare	scare	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **scare** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the baby |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus baby=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had a scare when the dog ran off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:x5:1
# text = We had a scare when the dog ran off.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	scare	scare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | a scare |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scare=Patient |
| 2 | **run off** | past | the dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clap your hands to scare off the geese.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:x6:1
# text = Clap your hands to scare off the geese.
1	Clap	clap	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	off	off	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	geese	goose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clap** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location hand=Theme |
| 2 | **scare off** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the geese |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus goose=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film was too scary for my sister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:x7:1
# text = The film was too scary for my sister.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	scary	scary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the film |  |  |  |  | for my sister; scary *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's okay to feel scared.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:x8:1
# text = It's okay to feel scared.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	okay	okay	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | okay *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | scared *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He expected to scare the Cranes just by swinging the sling in the air, and shouting loudly at them.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scare:x9:1
# text = He expected to scare the Cranes just by swinging the sling in the air, and shouting loudly at them.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	expected	expect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Cranes	Crane	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	swinging	swing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sling	sling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
18	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	at	at	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **expect** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **scare** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the Cranes |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus crane=Experiencer |
| 3 | **swing** | gerund | He *not said here* | the sling |  | the air |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V NP.theme PP»: agent=Agent sling=Theme in air=Location |
| 4 | **shout** *speech: express* | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at Cranes *= crane*; loudly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

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