---
title: tighten — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tighten» in the school dictionary: To make something tighter or firmer. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tighten

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, grip, His, school, Dad, jar · **What happens:** make, become, tighten, grip, ride, not leak · **To what, where:** something, rules, screw, shoelaces, helmet strap, wheel nuts

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something tighter or firmer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:m1:1
# text = To make something tighter or firmer.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	tighter	tight	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	firmer	firm	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	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 |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Tighten the screw", "Tighten your shoelaces."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:m1e:1
# text = "Tighten the screw", "Tighten your shoelaces."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Tighten	tighten	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	screw	screw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Tighten	tighten	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	shoelaces	shoelace	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | the screw |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent screw=Patient |
| 2 | **tighten** *in a quote* | infinitive | you *not said here* | your shoelaces |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent shoelace=Patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To become tighter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:m2:1
# text = To become tighter.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	become	become	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tighter	tight	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | tight *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"His grip tightened."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:m2e:1
# text = "His grip tightened."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	grip	grip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tightened	tighten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** *in a quote* | participle | His grip |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **grip** *in a quote* |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom grip «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make rules stricter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:m3:1
# text = To make rules stricter.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	stricter	strict	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | rules |  |  |  | strict *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rule=Product |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The school tightened the rules."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:m3e:1
# text = "The school tightened the rules."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tightened	tighten	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	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** *in a quote* | past | the school | the rules |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent rule=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tighten your helmet strap before riding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:x1:1
# text = Tighten your helmet strap before riding.
1	Tighten	tighten	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	helmet	helmet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	strap	strap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	riding	ride	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** | imperative | you *not said here* | your helmet strap |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent strap=Patient |
| 2 | **ride** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad tightened the wheel nuts on the car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:x2:1
# text = Dad tightened the wheel nuts on the car.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tightened	tighten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	nuts	nut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** | past | Dad | the wheel nuts |  | the car |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent nut=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tighten the lid so the jar does not leak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:x3:1
# text = Tighten the lid so the jar does not leak.
1	Tighten	tighten	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	jar	jar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	leak	leak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** | imperative | you *not said here* | the lid |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent lid=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **leak** | present · do-support | the jar |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rope tightened as the boat pulled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:x4:1
# text = The rope tightened as the boat pulled.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	tightened	tighten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	pulled	pull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** | participle |  | the rope *not said here* |  |  |  | as the boat | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **pull** | past | the rope |  |  |  |  |  | vn slide-11.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rules were tightened after the accident.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:x5:1
# text = The rules were tightened after the accident.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	tightened	tighten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** | past · passive |  | the rules |  |  | after the accident |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn the screw clockwise to tighten it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:x6:1
# text = Turn the screw clockwise to tighten it.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	screw	screw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	clockwise	clockwise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	tighten	tighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	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 | **turn** | imperative | you *not said here* | the screw |  |  |  | clockwise *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent screw=Theme |
| 2 | **tighten** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | screw |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rudy tightened it, and thus secured the bird alive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tighten:x7:1
# text = Rudy tightened it, and thus secured the bird alive.
1	Rudy	Rudy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tightened	tighten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	thus	thus	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	secured	secure	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	alive	alive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tighten** | past | Rudy | it |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 2 | **secure** | past | Rudy *not said here* | the bird |  |  |  | alive, thus *property* | vn ensure-99 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition bird=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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