---
title: affirmative — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «affirmative» in the school dictionary: Affirmative means saying "yes" or agreeing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# affirmative

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Affirmative, affirmative sentence, I, informal, way, Affirmative action · **What happens:** mean, say, agree, be, like, not like · **To what, where:** positive statement, grammar, cats, way, policies, groups · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«affirmative» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [affirmative in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/affirmative.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Affirmative means saying "yes" or agreeing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:m1:1
# text = Affirmative means saying "yes" or agreeing.
1	Affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	agreeing	agree	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Affirmative |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | gerund | Affirmative *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent yes=Topic |
| 3 | **agree** *speech: agree* | gerund | Affirmative *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
In grammar, an affirmative sentence is a positive statement, not a negative one ("I like cats" not "I don't like cats").

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:m2:1
# text = In grammar, an affirmative sentence is a positive statement, not a negative one ("I like cats" not "I don't like cats").
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	grammar	grammar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	positive	positive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	negative	negative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
16	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	acl:relcl	_	_
20	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	27	punct	_	_
22	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	27	advmod	_	_
23	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	27	nsubj	_	_
25	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	27	advmod	_	_
27	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	parataxis	_	_
28	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a affirmative sentence | a positive statement |  | grammar |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **like** *in a quote* | present | I | cats |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot cat=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **like** *in a quote* | present · do-support | I | cats |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot cat=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Affirmative!" (informal) is a way of saying yes, as in films with soldiers or pilots.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Affirmative!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:m3:1
# text = "Affirmative!"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (informal) is a way of saying yes, as in films with soldiers or pilots.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:m3:2
# text = (informal) is a way of saying yes, as in films with soldiers or pilots.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	films	film	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	pilots	pilot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | informal | a way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as films with soldiers or pilots | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent yes=Topic |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Affirmative action (USA) means policies to help groups who have been treated unfairly.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:m4:1
# text = Affirmative action (USA) means policies to help groups who have been treated unfairly.
1	Affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	policies	policy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
10	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	treated	treat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	unfairly	unfairly	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Affirmative action | policies |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent policy=Topic |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | Affirmative action *not said here* | groups |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent group=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **treat** | present · perfect · passive |  | groups |  |  |  | unfairly *property* | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I can swim" is an affirmative sentence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:x1:1
# text = "I can swim" is an affirmative sentence.
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	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** *in a quote* | can | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a affirmative sentence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She answered in the affirmative: yes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:x2:1
# text = She answered in the affirmative: yes.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	2	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | She |  |  | the affirmative |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Affirmative, captain!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:x3:1
# text = "Affirmative, captain!"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The affirmative team spoke first in the debate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:x4:1
# text = The affirmative team spoke first in the debate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	debate	debate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the affirmative team |  |  | the debate |  | first *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Change the negative sentence into the affirmative.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:x5:1
# text = Change the negative sentence into the affirmative.
1	Change	change	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	negative	negative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | imperative | you *not said here* | the negative sentence |  |  |  | into the affirmative *result* | vn turn-26.6.1-1 «NP V NP.patient PP.result»: agent=Agent sentence=Patient into affirmative=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He nodded, an affirmative sign.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:x6:1
# text = He nodded, an affirmative sign.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nodded	nod	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nod** | past | He | a affirmative sign |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She fancied she heard answers in the affirmative, and then again she wasn’t sure.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affirmative:x7:1
# text = She fancied she heard answers in the affirmative, and then again she wasn’t sure.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fancied	fancy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	answers	answer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	affirmative	affirmative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
11	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	12	advmod	_	_
12	again	again	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
13	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	n’t	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fancy** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **hear** | past | she | answers |  | the affirmative |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer answer=Stimulus |
| 3 | **not** **is** | past | she |  |  |  | again | sure *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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