---
title: straighten — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «straighten» in the school dictionary: To make something straight, or to become straight. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# straighten

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Braces, picture, 's, He, Mum · **What happens:** make, become, stand up, fix, straighten, sit · **To what, where:** something, place tidy, problem, back, desk, books · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something straight, or to become straight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:m1:1
# text = To make something straight, or to become straight.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	become	become	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **become** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | straight *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stand up straight, or to make a place tidy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:m2:1
# text = To stand up straight, or to make a place tidy.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stand	stand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	tidy	tidy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | straight *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a place tidy |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tidy=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To fix a problem or misunderstanding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:m3:1
# text = To fix a problem or misunderstanding.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	fix	fix	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	misunderstanding	misunderstanding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fix** | to-infinitive |  | a problem or misunderstanding |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent problem=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Straighten your back when you sit at your desk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:x1:1
# text = Straighten your back when you sit at your desk.
1	Straighten	straighten	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	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sit	sit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	desk	desk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **straighten** | imperative | you *not said here* | your back |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent back=Patient |
| 2 | **sit** | present | you |  |  | your desk |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent at desk=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please straighten the books on the shelf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:x2:1
# text = Please straighten the books on the shelf.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	straighten	straighten	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shelf	shelf	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 | **straighten** | imperative | you *not said here* | the books |  | the shelf |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent book=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Braces will straighten your teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:x3:1
# text = Braces will straighten your teeth.
1	Braces	brace	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	straighten	straighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **straighten** | future | Braces | your teeth |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tooth=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The picture is crooked — can you straighten it?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:x4:1
# text = The picture is crooked — can you straighten it?
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	crooked	crooked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	straighten	straighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the picture |  |  |  |  | crooked *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **straighten** | can | you | picture |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's straighten out this misunderstanding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:x5:1
# text = Let's straighten out this misunderstanding.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	straighten	straighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	misunderstanding	misunderstanding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **straighten out** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | this misunderstanding |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent misunderstanding=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He straightened up and smiled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:x6:1
# text = He straightened up and smiled.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	straightened	straighten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	smiled	smile	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **straighten up** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **smile** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Straighten the wire before you use it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:x7:1
# text = Straighten the wire before you use it.
1	Straighten	straighten	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **straighten** | imperative | you *not said here* | the wire |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent wire=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | present | you | wire |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum told us to straighten up the playroom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:straighten:x8:1
# text = Mum told us to straighten up the playroom.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	straighten	straighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	playroom	playroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | Mum |  | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **straighten up** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Mum *not said here* | the playroom |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent playroom=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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