soften Who acts: face, you, sun, Dad, Heat, ice cream · What happens: soften, mean, become, make, leave out, bake · To what, where: something, butter, blow, chocolate, pocket, kitten · Speech: someone speaks here
«soften» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: soften in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 To soften means to become softer or to make something softer («soften the butter»).
The tree, 14 words mark csubj mark xcomp xcomp cc mark conj obj xcomp punct punct conj det obj punct punct punct root To PART soften VERB means VERB to PART become VERB softer ADJ or CCONJ to PART make VERB something PRON softer ADJ ( PUNCT « PUNCT soften VERB the DET butter NOUN » PUNCT ) PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 soften mark 2 soften soften VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 means csubj 3 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 to to PART _ 5 become mark 5 become become VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 means xcomp 6 softer soft ADJ Degree=Cmp 5 become xcomp 7 or or CCONJ _ 9 make cc 8 to to PART _ 9 make mark 9 make make VERB VerbForm=Inf 5 become conj 10 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 9 make obj 11 softer soft ADJ Degree=Cmp 9 make xcomp 12 ( ( PUNCT _ 14 soften punct 13 « « PUNCT _ 14 soften punct 14 soften soften VERB VerbForm=Inf 9 make conj 15 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 16 butter det 16 butter butter NOUN Number=Sing 14 soften obj 17 » » PUNCT _ 14 soften punct 18 ) ) PUNCT _ 14 soften punct 19 . . PUNCT _ 3 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 soften to-infinitive vn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient 2 mean present vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 3 become not said to happen to-infinitive soft property vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient 4 make to-infinitive something soft property vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product 5 soften in a quote infinitive the butter vn other_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent butter=Patient
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 To soften means to become or make something gentler, kinder or less strong («soften the blow», «her face softened»).
The tree, 19 words mark csubj mark xcomp cc conj obj xcomp punct conj cc advmod conj punct punct conj det obj punct punct punct nmod:poss nsubj parataxis punct punct punct root To PART soften VERB means VERB to PART become VERB or CCONJ make VERB something PRON gentler ADJ , PUNCT kinder ADJ or CCONJ less ADV strong ADJ ( PUNCT « PUNCT soften VERB the DET blow NOUN » PUNCT , PUNCT « PUNCT her PRON face NOUN softened VERB » PUNCT ) PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 soften mark 2 soften soften VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 means csubj 3 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 to to PART _ 5 become mark 5 become become VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 means xcomp 6 or or CCONJ _ 7 make cc 7 make make VERB VerbForm=Inf 5 become conj 8 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 7 make obj 9 gentler gentle ADJ Degree=Cmp 7 make xcomp 10 , , PUNCT _ 11 kinder punct 11 kinder kind ADJ Degree=Cmp 9 gentler conj 12 or or CCONJ _ 14 strong cc 13 less less ADV Degree=Cmp 14 strong advmod 14 strong strong ADJ Degree=Pos 11 kinder conj 15 ( ( PUNCT _ 17 soften punct 16 « « PUNCT _ 17 soften punct 17 soften soften VERB VerbForm=Inf 7 make conj 18 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 19 blow det 19 blow blow NOUN Number=Sing 17 soften obj 20 » » PUNCT _ 17 soften punct 21 , , PUNCT _ 25 softened punct 22 « « PUNCT _ 25 softened punct 23 her her PRON Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 24 face nmod:poss 24 face face NOUN Number=Sing 25 softened nsubj 25 softened soften VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 17 soften parataxis 26 » » PUNCT _ 25 softened punct 27 ) ) PUNCT _ 17 soften punct 28 . . PUNCT _ 3 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 soften to-infinitive vn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient 2 mean present vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 3 become not said to happen to-infinitive vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient 4 make infinitive something gentle property vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product 5 soften in a quote infinitive the blow vn other_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent blow=Patient 6 soften in a quote past her face vn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient
Example 1 Leave the butter out to soften before baking.
det obj compound:prt mark advcl mark advcl punct root Leave VERB the DET butter NOUN out ADP to PART soften VERB before SCONJ baking VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Leave leave VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 butter det 3 butter butter NOUN Number=Sing 1 Leave obj 4 out out ADP _ 1 Leave compound:prt 5 to to PART _ 6 soften mark 6 soften soften VERB VerbForm=Inf 1 Leave advcl 7 before before SCONJ _ 8 baking mark 8 baking bake VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 6 soften advcl 9 . . PUNCT _ 1 Leave punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 leave out imperative you not said here the butter vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent butter=Theme 2 soften to-infinitive you not said here vn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient 3 bake gerund you not said here vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient
Example 2 The sun softened the chocolate in my pocket.
det nsubj det obj case nmod:poss obl punct root The DET sun NOUN softened VERB the DET chocolate NOUN in ADP my PRON pocket NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 sun det 2 sun sun NOUN Number=Sing 3 softened nsubj 3 softened soften VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 5 chocolate det 5 chocolate chocolate NOUN Number=Sing 3 softened obj 6 in in ADP _ 8 pocket case 7 my my PRON Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 8 pocket nmod:poss 8 pocket pocket NOUN Number=Sing 3 softened obl 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 softened punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 soften past the sun the chocolate my pocket vn other_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent chocolate=Patient
Example 3 Her face softened when she saw the kitten.
nmod:poss nsubj advmod nsubj ccomp det obj punct root Her PRON face NOUN softened VERB when ADV she PRON saw VERB the DET kitten NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Her her PRON Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 2 face nmod:poss 2 face face NOUN Number=Sing 3 softened nsubj 3 softened soften VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 when when ADV PronType=Int 6 saw advmod 5 she she PRON Case=Nom Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 6 saw nsubj 6 saw see VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 softened ccomp 7 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 8 kitten det 8 kitten kitten NOUN Number=Sing 6 saw obj 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 softened punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 soften past Her face tree rules 2 see past face the kitten vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer kitten=Stimulus
Example 4 Soak the beans to soften them.
det obj mark advcl obj punct root Soak VERB the DET beans NOUN to PART soften VERB them PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Soak soak VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 beans det 3 beans bean NOUN Number=Plur 1 Soak obj 4 to to PART _ 5 soften mark 5 soften soften VERB VerbForm=Inf 1 Soak advcl 6 them they PRON Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 5 soften obj 7 . . PUNCT _ 1 Soak punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 soak imperative you not said here the beans vn wipe_manner-10.4.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent bean=Theme 2 soften to-infinitive you not said here beans = bean vn other_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent they=Patient
Example 5 Try to soften your voice when you speak to the baby.
mark xcomp nmod:poss obj mark nsubj advcl case det obl punct root Try VERB to PART soften VERB your PRON voice NOUN when SCONJ you PRON speak VERB to ADP the DET baby NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Try try VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 to to PART _ 3 soften mark 3 soften soften VERB VerbForm=Inf 1 Try xcomp 4 your your PRON Case=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 5 voice nmod:poss 5 voice voice NOUN Number=Sing 3 soften obj 6 when when SCONJ _ 8 speak mark 7 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 8 speak nsubj 8 speak speak VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 3 soften advcl 9 to to ADP _ 11 baby case 10 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 11 baby det 11 baby baby NOUN Number=Sing 8 speak obl 12 . . PUNCT _ 1 Try punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 try imperative you not said here vn try-61.1 «NP V S_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality 2 soften not said to happen to-infinitive you not said here your voice vn other_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent voice=Patient 3 speak speech: other present you to the baby vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to baby=Co-Agent
Example 6 Dad softened the bad news with a hug.
nsubj det amod obj case det obl punct root Dad NOUN softened VERB the DET bad ADJ news NOUN with ADP a DET hug NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Dad dad NOUN Number=Sing 2 softened nsubj 2 softened soften VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 5 news det 4 bad bad ADJ Degree=Pos 5 news amod 5 news news NOUN Number=Sing 2 softened obj 6 with with ADP _ 8 hug case 7 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 8 hug det 8 hug hug NOUN Number=Sing 2 softened obl 9 . . PUNCT _ 2 softened punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 soften past Dad the bad news with a hug vn other_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent news=Patient with hug=Instrument
Example 7 Heat softens the wax so you can shape it.
nsubj det obj mark nsubj aux advcl obj punct root Heat NOUN softens VERB the DET wax NOUN so SCONJ you PRON can AUX shape VERB it PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Heat heat NOUN Number=Sing 2 softens nsubj 2 softens soften VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 4 wax det 4 wax wax NOUN Number=Sing 2 softens obj 5 so so SCONJ _ 8 shape mark 6 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 8 shape nsubj 7 can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 8 shape aux 8 shape shape VERB VerbForm=Inf 2 softens advcl 9 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 8 shape obj 10 . . PUNCT _ 2 softens punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 soften present Heat the wax vn other_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent wax=Patient 2 shape can you wax vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Product
Example 8 The ice cream softened quickly on the warm plate.
det compound nsubj advmod case det amod obl punct root The DET ice NOUN cream NOUN softened VERB quickly ADV on ADP the DET warm ADJ plate NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 cream det 2 ice ice NOUN Number=Sing 3 cream compound 3 cream cream NOUN Number=Sing 4 softened nsubj 4 softened soften VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 5 quickly quickly ADV _ 4 softened advmod 6 on on ADP _ 9 plate case 7 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 plate det 8 warm warm ADJ Degree=Pos 9 plate amod 9 plate plate NOUN Number=Sing 4 softened obl 10 . . PUNCT _ 4 softened punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 soften past the ice cream the warm plate quickly property vn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient
Example 9 The eyes of women brightened and softened when they looked at me.
det nsubj case nmod advcl cc conj advmod nsubj case obl punct root The DET eyes NOUN of ADP women NOUN brightened VERB and CCONJ softened VERB when ADV they PRON looked VERB at ADP me PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 eyes det 2 eyes eye NOUN Number=Plur 10 looked nsubj 3 of of ADP _ 4 women case 4 women woman NOUN Number=Plur 2 eyes nmod 5 brightened brighten VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 10 looked advcl 6 and and CCONJ _ 7 softened cc 7 softened soften VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 5 brightened conj 8 when when ADV PronType=Int 10 looked advmod 9 they they PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 10 looked nsubj 10 looked look VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 11 at at ADP _ 12 me case 12 me I PRON Case=Acc Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 10 looked obl 13 . . PUNCT _ 10 looked punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 brighten participle the eyes of women not said here vn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient 2 soften participle the eyes of women not said here vn other_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient 3 look past the eyes of women at me vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at i=Theme
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.
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