---
title: sweeten — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sweeten» in the school dictionary: To sweeten food or drink is to make it taste sweeter, for example by adding sugar, honey or fruit. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sweeten

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, fresh air, We, Mum, Ripe apples, shop · **What happens:** sweeten, be, taste, add, mean, make · **To what, where:** food, sugar, it, room, deal, something · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sweeten» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [sweeten in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sweeten.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sweeten food or drink is to make it taste sweeter, for example by adding sugar, honey or fruit.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:m1:1
# text = To sweeten food or drink is to make it taste sweeter, for example by adding sugar, honey or fruit.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sweeten	sweeten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	taste	taste	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	sweeter	sweet	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
15	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	adding	add	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
17	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	honey	honey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sweeten** | to-infinitive |  | food or drink |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent food=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for example; make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **taste** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | sweet *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | sugar and honey or fruit |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sugar=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 sweeten something can mean to make it nicer or more pleasant: «The fresh air sweetened the room».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:m2:1
# text = To sweeten something can mean to make it nicer or more pleasant: «The fresh air sweetened the room».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sweeten	sweeten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	nicer	nice	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	_
12	pleasant	pleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	fresh	fresh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	sweetened	sweeten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sweeten** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | can | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | something *not said here* | it |  |  |  | nice *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 4 | **sweeten** *in a quote* | past | the fresh air | the room |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent room=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sweeten a deal or offer is to make it more attractive, often by adding something extra.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:m3:1
# text = To sweeten a deal or offer is to make it more attractive, often by adding something extra.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sweeten	sweeten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	deal	deal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	offer	offer	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	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	_
12	attractive	attractive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	adding	add	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
17	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	obj	_	_
18	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sweeten** | to-infinitive |  | a deal or offer |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent deal=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | attractive, make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | something |  |  |  | often *property* | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We sweetened the porridge with banana.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:x1:1
# text = We sweetened the porridge with banana.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sweetened	sweeten	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	porridge	porridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	banana	banana	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum sweetens her tea with honey.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:x2:1
# text = Mum sweetens her tea with honey.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sweetens	sweeten	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	honey	honey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sweeten** | present | Mum | Mum's tea |  |  |  | with honey | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent tea=Patient with honey=Instrument |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many fizzy drinks are sweetened with lots of sugar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:x3:1
# text = Many fizzy drinks are sweetened with lots of sugar.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	fizzy	fizzy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	drinks	drink	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	sweetened	sweeten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sweeten** | present · passive |  | Many fizzy drinks |  |  |  | with lots of sugar | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: subject=Patient with lot=Instrument |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ripe apples can sweeten a crumble without extra sugar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:x4:1
# text = Ripe apples can sweeten a crumble without extra sugar.
1	Ripe	ripe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	sweeten	sweeten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crumble	crumble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	without	without	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sweeten** | can | Ripe apples | a crumble |  |  |  | without extra sugar | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent crumble=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sweeten the deal, the shop added free batteries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:x5:1
# text = To sweeten the deal, the shop added free batteries.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sweeten	sweeten	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	deal	deal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	added	add	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	batteries	battery	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sweeten** | to-infinitive |  | the deal |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent deal=Patient |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | past | the shop | free batteries |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent battery=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad bought flowers to sweeten Mum's mood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:x6:1
# text = Dad bought flowers to sweeten Mum's mood.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sweeten	sweeten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	Mum	Mum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	mood	mood	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 | **buy** | past | Dad | flowers |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flower=Theme |
| 2 | **sweeten** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | Mum's mood |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent mood=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And when she went away for some honey to sweeten it with, he poured out the drink, and so made the old wife think he had drunk it.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sweeten:x7:1
# text = And when she went away for some honey to sweeten it with, he poured out the drink, and so made the old wife think he had drunk it.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
2	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	_
5	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	honey	honey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	sweeten	sweeten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
14	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	poured	pour	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
16	out	out	ADP	RP	_	15	compound:prt	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	so	so	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nsubj	_	_
26	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	xcomp	_	_
27	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	29	nsubj	_	_
28	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	29	aux	_	_
29	drunk	drink	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	26	ccomp	_	_
30	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go away** | past | she |  |  |  |  | for some honey; away *property* | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for honey=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **sweeten** | to-infinitive | she *not said here* | honey |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 3 | **pour out** | past | he | the drink |  |  |  |  | vn preparing-26.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drink=Patient |
| 4 | **make** | past | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **think** *speech: other* | present | the old wife |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 6 | **drink** | past · perfect | he | drink |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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