---
title: threatened — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «threatened» in the school dictionary: Threatened is the past form of threaten: someone said they would do something bad to you. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# threatened

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, they, threatened animal, danger, bully, I · **What happens:** threaten, be, say, do, mean, die out · **To what, where:** Threatened past form, something, you, adjective, feeling, danger · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Threatened is the past form of threaten: someone said they would do something bad to you.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:m1:1
# text = Threatened is the past form of threaten: someone said they would do something bad to you.
1	Threatened	threaten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	threaten	threaten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **threaten** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | the Threatened past form |  |  |  | of threaten | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **do** | would | they | something | you |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Threatened (adjective) means feeling in danger or unsafe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:m2:1
# text = Threatened (adjective) means feeling in danger or unsafe.
1	Threatened	threaten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	csubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	unsafe	unsafe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **threaten** | participle |  | adjective |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus adjective=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  | feeling |  |  |  | in danger | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot feeling=Theme in danger=Attribute |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A threatened animal or plant is in danger of dying out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:m3:1
# text = A threatened animal or plant is in danger of dying out.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	threatened	threatened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	dying	die	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a threatened animal or plant |  |  | danger |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **die out** | gerund | danger *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bully threatened him at the bus stop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:x1:1
# text = The bully threatened him at the bus stop.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	threatened	threaten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	stop	stop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **threaten** | past | the bully | him *= he* |  | the bus stop |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus he=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I felt threatened, so I went inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:x2:1
# text = I felt threatened, so I went inside.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	threatened	threaten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **threaten** | participle | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **go** | past | I |  |  |  |  | inside *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tigers are a threatened species.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:x3:1
# text = Tigers are a threatened species.
1	Tigers	tiger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	threatened	threatened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	species	species	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Tigers | a threatened species |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town was threatened by floods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:x4:1
# text = The town was threatened by floods.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	threatened	threaten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	floods	flood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **threaten** | past · passive | floods | the town |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus subject=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A threatened cat arches its back and hisses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:x5:1
# text = A threatened cat arches its back and hisses.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	threatened	threatened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	arches	arch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	hisses	hiss	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arch** | present | a threatened cat | cat's back |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent back=Patient |
| 2 | **hiss** | present | a threatened cat *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She threatened to tell the teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:x6:1
# text = She threatened to tell the teacher.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	threatened	threaten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	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 | **threaten** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  | the teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many frogs are threatened by disease.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:x7:1
# text = Many frogs are threatened by disease.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	threatened	threaten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	disease	disease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **threaten** | present · passive | disease | Many frogs |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus subject=Experiencer |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell an adult if you ever feel threatened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:x8:1
# text = Tell an adult if you ever feel threatened.
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	7	advmod	_	_
7	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
8	threatened	threaten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | a adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **feel** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  | ever |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **threaten** | participle | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He threatened to beat her if she did not hold her tongue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threatened:x9:1
# text = He threatened to beat her if she did not hold her tongue.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	threatened	threaten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	beat	beat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	tongue	tongue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **threaten** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **beat** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location she=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **hold** *a condition, not said to happen* | past · do-support | she | her tongue |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tongue=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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