---
title: affirmation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «affirmation» in the school dictionary: Saying firmly that something is true or that you agree with it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# affirmation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, you, encouragement, someone, She, I · **What happens:** say, be, agree, help, feel, word · **To what, where:** someone, support, truth, nod, affirmation, positive affirmation · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying firmly that something is true or that you agree with it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:m1:1
# text = Saying firmly that something is true or that you agree with it.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	csubj	_	_
2	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	agree	agree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | firmly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **agree** *speech: agree* | present | you |  |  |  |  | with it | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V PP.co-agent how S»: agent=Agent with it=Co-Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Words of support or encouragement that help someone feel good about themselves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:m2:1
# text = Words of support or encouragement that help someone feel good about themselves.
1	Words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	encouragement	encouragement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
11	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | encouragement | someone |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent someone=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **word** |  |  | support or encouragement |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A promise to tell the truth, made instead of a religious oath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:m3:1
# text = A promise to tell the truth, made instead of a religious oath.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
9	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	oath	oath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | the truth *not said here* |  |  |  | instead a religious oath | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a nod of affirmation when I asked if she was ready.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:x1:1
# text = She gave a nod of affirmation when I asked if she was ready.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	nod	nod	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	affirmation	affirmation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a nod of affirmation |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nod=Theme |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | she |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **nod** |  |  | affirmation |  |  |  |  | nom nod «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class writes a positive affirmation on the board each morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:x2:1
# text = Our class writes a positive affirmation on the board each morning.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	writes	write	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	positive	positive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	affirmation	affirmation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present | Our class | a positive affirmation |  | the board | morning |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent affirmation=Theme on board=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I can do hard things" is a good affirmation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:x3:1
# text = "I can do hard things" is a good affirmation.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	csubj	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	affirmation	affirmation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** *in a quote* | can | I | hard things |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a good affirmation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach's words were an affirmation that we had played well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:x4:1
# text = The coach's words were an affirmation that we had played well.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	affirmation	affirmation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl:relcl	_	_
12	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the coach's words | a affirmation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | past · perfect · passive |  | a affirmation |  |  |  | well *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **word** |  | the coach |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In court, he made an affirmation instead of swearing on the Bible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:x5:1
# text = In court, he made an affirmation instead of swearing on the Bible.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	affirmation	affirmation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	swearing	swear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	advcl	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | he | a affirmation |  | court |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent affirmation=Product |
| 2 | **swear** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  | the Bible |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The award was an affirmation of all her hard work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:x6:1
# text = The award was an affirmation of all her hard work.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	award	award	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	affirmation	affirmation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	10	det:predet	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the award | a affirmation |  |  |  | of her hard work | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum's hug was all the affirmation I needed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmation:x7:1
# text = Mum's hug was all the affirmation I needed.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	hug	hug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	7	det:predet	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	affirmation	affirmation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Mum's hug | all affirmation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | past | I | all affirmation *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot affirmation=Theme |
| 3 | **hug** |  | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | nom hug «act transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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