---
title: solve — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «solve» in the school dictionary: To solve a problem is to find the answer to it or the way to make it right. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# solve

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** equation, you, detective, We, them, She · **What happens:** solve, be, make, happen, answer, talk · **To what, where:** problem, mystery, puzzle, sum, them, argument · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To solve a problem is to find the answer to it or the way to make it right.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:m1:1
# text = To solve a problem is to find the answer to it or the way to make it right.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	problem	problem	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	find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	acl	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | to-infinitive |  | a problem |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | find *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | problem |  |  |  | right *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |

<!-- .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 solve a mystery or crime is to find out what really happened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:m2:1
# text = To solve a mystery or crime is to find out what really happened.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	mystery	mystery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	nsubj	_	_
12	really	really	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | to-infinitive |  | a mystery or crime |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mystery=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | find *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To solve a puzzle, riddle or equation is to work out its answer.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:m3:1
# text = To solve a puzzle, riddle or equation is to work out its answer.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	equation	equation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	work	work	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
13	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | to-infinitive |  | a puzzle and riddle or equation |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puzzle=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | work *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **answer** |  | equation |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you solve this sum?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:x1:1
# text = Can you solve this sum?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	sum	sum	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 | **solve** | can | you | this sum |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sum=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective solved the mystery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:x2:1
# text = The detective solved the mystery.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	solved	solve	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	mystery	mystery	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 | **solve** | past | the detective | the mystery |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mystery=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We solved the puzzle together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:x3:1
# text = We solved the puzzle together.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	solved	solve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	together	together	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | past | We | the puzzle |  |  |  | together *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puzzle=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Talking helped them solve the argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:x4:1
# text = Talking helped them solve the argument.
1	Talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **help** | past |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent they=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **solve** | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | the argument |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent argument=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Solve the equation: x + 5 = 9.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:x5:1
# text = Solve the equation: x + 5 = 9.
1	Solve	solve	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	equation	equation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	x	x	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	1	obl	_	_
6	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	7	cc	_	_
7	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	conj	_	_
8	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	9	case	_	_
9	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | imperative | you *not said here* | the equation |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent equation=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She solved the riddle in one minute.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:x6:1
# text = She solved the riddle in one minute.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	solved	solve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	minute	minute	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 | **solve** | past | She | the riddle |  |  | minute |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent riddle=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists try to solve big problems like pollution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:x7:1
# text = Scientists try to solve big problems like pollution.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	pollution	pollution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present | Scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **solve** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* | big problems |  |  |  | like pollution | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the clues to solve the case.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:x8:1
# text = Use the clues to solve the case.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the clues |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clue=Patient |
| 2 | **solve** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the case |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent case=Topic |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The man who thinks he can solve the problem is named Robert Fulton.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solve:x9:1
# text = The man who thinks he can solve the problem is named Robert Fulton.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
12	Robert	Robert	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	xcomp	_	_
13	Fulton	Fulton	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | the man |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **solve** | can | man | the problem |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |
| 3 | **name** | present · passive |  | the man |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

<!-- 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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