---
title: strengthen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «strengthen» in the school dictionary: To strengthen something is to make it stronger. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# strengthen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Swimming, We, Working, Milk, builders, kind words · **What happens:** strengthen, be, work together, help, word, need · **To what, where:** something, feeling, arms, paper bridge, wind, friendship

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To strengthen something is to make it stronger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:m1:1
# text = To strengthen something is to make it stronger.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	strengthen	strengthen	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	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .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 strengthen is to become stronger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:m2:1
# text = To strengthen is to become stronger.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	strengthen	strengthen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To strengthen a feeling, idea or friendship is to make it firmer or more certain.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:m3:1
# text = To strengthen a feeling, idea or friendship is to make it firmer or more certain.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	strengthen	strengthen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	friendship	friendship	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	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	firmer	firm	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	xcomp	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	conj	_	_
16	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Swimming strengthens your arms and legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:x1:1
# text = Swimming strengthens your arms and legs.
1	Swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	strengthens	strengthen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strengthen** | present | Swimming | your arms and legs |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent arm=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We strengthened the paper bridge with triangles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:x2:1
# text = We strengthened the paper bridge with triangles.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	strengthened	strengthen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	triangles	triangle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strengthen** | past | We | the paper bridge |  |  |  | with triangles | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent bridge=Patient with triangle=Instrument |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind strengthened during the night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:x3:1
# text = The wind strengthened during the night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	strengthened	strengthen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	during	during	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strengthen** | participle |  | the wind *not said here* |  |  | night |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Working together strengthened our friendship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:x4:1
# text = Working together strengthened our friendship.
1	Working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	together	together	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	strengthened	strengthen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	friendship	friendship	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 | **work together** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **strengthen** | participle | Working | our friendship |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent friendship=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Milk helps to strengthen bones and teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:x5:1
# text = Milk helps to strengthen bones and teeth.
1	Milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	strengthen	strengthen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The builders strengthened the old wall with steel bars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:x6:1
# text = The builders strengthened the old wall with steel bars.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	builders	builder	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	strengthened	strengthen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	steel	steel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strengthen** | past | the builders | the old wall |  |  |  | with steel bars | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent wall=Patient with bar=Instrument |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her kind words strengthened my courage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:x7:1
# text = Her kind words strengthened my courage.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	strengthened	strengthen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	courage	courage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strengthen** | past | Her kind words | my courage |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent courage=Patient |
| 2 | **word** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new evidence strengthened the detective's idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:x8:1
# text = The new evidence strengthened the detective's idea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	strengthened	strengthen	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	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strengthen** | past | the new evidence | the detective's idea |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent idea=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You must be needing something to strengthen you after that turn.’

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strengthen:x9:1
# text = You must be needing something to strengthen you after that turn.’
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux	_	_
4	needing	need	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	strengthen	strengthen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	after	after	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	turn	turn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | must · progressive | You | something |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot something=Theme |
| 2 | **strengthen** | to-infinitive | You *not said here* | you |  |  | after that turn |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent you=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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