---
title: sharpen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sharpen» in the school dictionary: To sharpen something is to make its edge or point sharper, like sharpening a pencil or a knife. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sharpen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** picture, feeling, you, Dad, Practising, your · **What happens:** sharpen, be, become, practise, spell, not need · **To what, where:** something, pencil, skill, kitchen knives, stone, spelling

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sharpen something is to make its edge or point sharper, like sharpening a pencil or a knife.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:m1:1
# text = To sharpen something is to make its edge or point sharper, like sharpening a pencil or a knife.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sharpen	sharpen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	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	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	sharper	sharp	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	sharpening	sharpen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sharpen** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make, sharp *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **sharpen** | gerund |  | a pencil or a knife |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent pencil=Patient |

<!-- .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 sharpen a skill is to make it better by practice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:m2:1
# text = To sharpen a skill is to make it better by practice.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sharpen	sharpen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sharpen** | to-infinitive |  | a skill |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent skill=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | good, make *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When a picture, sound or feeling sharpens, it becomes clearer or stronger.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:m3:1
# text = When a picture, sound or feeling sharpens, it becomes clearer or stronger.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	sharpens	sharpen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	becomes	become	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	clearer	clear	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	xcomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sharpen** | present | a picture and sound or feeling |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **become** | present | feeling |  |  |  |  | clear *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please sharpen your pencil before the test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:x1:1
# text = Please sharpen your pencil before the test.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	sharpen	sharpen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sharpen** | imperative | you *not said here* | your pencil |  |  | before the test |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent pencil=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad sharpens the kitchen knives on a stone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:x2:1
# text = Dad sharpens the kitchen knives on a stone.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sharpens	sharpen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	knives	knife	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sharpen** | present | Dad | the kitchen knives |  | a stone |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent knife=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Practising every day will sharpen your spelling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:x3:1
# text = Practising every day will sharpen your spelling.
1	Practising	practise	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl:unmarked	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	sharpen	sharpen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | gerund |  |  |  |  | day |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sharpen** | future | Practising | your spelling |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent spelling=Patient |
| 3 | **spell** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom spelling «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The eagle's eyes are sharp; it doesn't need to sharpen them!

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:x4:1
# text = The eagle's eyes are sharp; it doesn't need to sharpen them!
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	eagle	eagle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	need	need	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	parataxis	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	sharpen	sharpen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the eagle's eyes |  |  |  |  | sharp *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **need** | present · do-support | eagle |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **sharpen** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | eagle *not said here* | eyes *= eye* |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The picture sharpened when I turned the lens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:x5:1
# text = The picture sharpened when I turned the lens.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sharpened	sharpen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lens	lens	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sharpen** | past | the picture |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **turn** | past | I | the lens |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent lens=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I need to sharpen my coloured pencils.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:x6:1
# text = I need to sharpen my coloured pencils.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	sharpen	sharpen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	coloured	coloured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pencils	pencil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **sharpen** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | my coloured pencils |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent pencil=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quiz games help sharpen your memory.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:x7:1
# text = Quiz games help sharpen your memory.
1	Quiz	quiz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sharpen	sharpen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Quiz games |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **sharpen** | infinitive | Quiz games *not said here* | your memory |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent memory=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The beaver sharpened the end of the stick with its teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:x8:1
# text = The beaver sharpened the end of the stick with its teeth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	beaver	beaver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sharpened	sharpen	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	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sharpen** | past | the beaver | the end of the stick with beaver's teeth |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent end=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then he sat down and began sharpening his knife again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sharpen:x9:1
# text = Then he sat down and began sharpening his knife again.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	sharpening	sharpen	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit down** | past | he |  |  |  | then |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **begin** | past | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **sharpen** | gerund | he *not said here* | his knife |  |  | again |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent knife=Patient |

<!-- 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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