---
title: argument — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «argument» in the school dictionary: An argument is an angry talk or quarrel between people who disagree. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# argument

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** argument, people, something, sister, They, you · **What happens:** be, disagree, give, show, have, make up · **To what, where:** angry talk, reason, reasons, argument, good argument, arguments · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An argument is an angry talk or quarrel between people who disagree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:m1:1
# text = An argument is an angry talk or quarrel between people who disagree.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	quarrel	quarrel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	between	between	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	disagree	disagree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a argument | a angry talk or quarrel between people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **disagree** | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «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 -->
An argument is a reason or set of reasons given to show that something is right or true.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:m2:1
# text = An argument is a reason or set of reasons given to show that something is right or true.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	ccomp	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a argument | a reason or set of reasons |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | reasons *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister and I had an argument about the TV.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:x1:1
# text = My sister and I had an argument about the TV.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	conj	_	_
5	had	have	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	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | My sister | a argument |  |  |  | about the TV | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent argument=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They made up after the argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:x2:1
# text = They made up after the argument.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make up** | past | They |  |  |  | after the argument |  | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Give a good argument for your opinion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:x3:1
# text = Give a good argument for your opinion.
1	Give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	opinion	opinion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | imperative | you *not said here* | a good argument |  |  |  | for your opinion | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent argument=Theme for opinion=Asset |
| 2 | **opine** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom opinion «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What is the best argument for a longer break?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:x4:1
# text = What is the best argument for a longer break?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	longer	long	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	break	break	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the best argument for a longer break |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An argument can be solved by talking calmly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:x5:1
# text = An argument can be solved by talking calmly.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	solved	solve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	calmly	calmly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | can · passive |  | a argument |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |
| 2 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | calmly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her argument was full of good facts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:x6:1
# text = Her argument was full of good facts.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her argument |  |  |  |  | of good facts; full *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **argue** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom argument «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The argument got loud, so a teacher came over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:x7:1
# text = The argument got loud, so a teacher came over.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	over	over	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | the argument |  |  |  |  | loud *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **come over** | past | a teacher |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are arguments for and against school uniform.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:x8:1
# text = There are arguments for and against school uniform.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	arguments	argument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	uniform	uniform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | arguments for school uniform |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“But I like arguments,” said the Rocket.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:argument:x9:1
# text = “But I like arguments,” said the Rocket.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
5	arguments	argument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Rocket	rocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** *in a quote* | present | the Rocket *= rocket* | arguments |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot argument=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the Rocket |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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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