---
title: allege — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «allege» in the school dictionary: To allege something is to say it is true, especially that someone did something wrong, without proving it yet. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# allege

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, someone, newspaper, mayor, boy, sister · **What happens:** allege, be, do, prove, break, take · **To what, where:** something, it, rules, sweets, car, ghost · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To allege something is to say it is true, especially that someone did something wrong, without proving it yet.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:allege:m1:1
# text = To allege something is to say it is true, especially that someone did something wrong, without proving it yet.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	allege	allege	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	nsubj	_	_
14	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	_
16	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
19	proving	prove	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	advcl	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	_
21	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allege** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **be** *speech: assert* | present |  |  |  |  |  | say *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **do** | past | someone | something |  |  |  | especially *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 5 | **prove** | gerund | someone *not said here* | it |  |  | yet |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The newspaper alleges that the mayor broke the rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:allege:x1:1
# text = The newspaper alleges that the mayor broke the rules.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	newspaper	newspaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	alleges	allege	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mayor	mayor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allege** *speech: other* | present | the newspaper |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **break** | past | the mayor | the rules |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer rule=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boy alleged that his sister had taken his sweets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:allege:x2:1
# text = The boy alleged that his sister had taken his sweets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	alleged	allege	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	ccomp	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allege** *speech: other* | past | the boy |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **take** | past · perfect | boy's sister | boy's sweets |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police allege the man stole a car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:allege:x3:1
# text = Police allege the man stole a car.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	allege	allege	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	stole	steal	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allege** *speech: other* | present | Police |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **steal** | past | the man | a car |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location car=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is alleged that the money went missing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:allege:x4:1
# text = It is alleged that the money went missing.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	alleged	allege	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allege** *speech: other* | present · passive |  | It |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |
| 2 | **go** | past | the money |  |  |  |  | missing *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The alleged thief said he was innocent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:allege:x5:1
# text = The alleged thief said he was innocent.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	alleged	alleged	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	innocent	innocent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the alleged thief |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | thief |  |  |  |  | innocent *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She alleged she had seen a ghost, but nobody believed her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:allege:x6:1
# text = She alleged she had seen a ghost, but nobody believed her.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	alleged	allege	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	5	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	11	nsubj	_	_
11	believed	believe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allege** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **see** | past · perfect | she | a ghost |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ghost=Stimulus |
| 3 | **believe** | past | nobody | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer she=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The accused merchant saw by this time that his condemnation was certain, and tried to allege something in his defence.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:allege:x7:1
# text = The accused merchant saw by this time that his condemnation was certain, and tried to allege something in his defence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	accused	accuse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	merchant	merchant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	condemnation	condemnation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	allege	allege	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	17	obj	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **accuse** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn suspect-81 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **see** | past | the accused merchant |  |  |  | time |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | past | merchant's condemnation |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **try** | past | the accused merchant *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **allege** *speech: other* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the accused merchant *not said here* | something |  | merchant's defence |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 6 | **condemn** |  | merchant |  |  |  |  |  | nom condemnation «communication transitive»: poss=agent |
| 7 | **defend** |  | merchant |  |  |  |  |  | nom defence «process 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 -->

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