---
title: ascribe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ascribe» in the school dictionary: To say that something was caused by something, as in «ascribe her success to hard work». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ascribe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** certain person, He, his, doctor, Scientists, Athenians · **What happens:** say, cause, ascribe, make, win, create · **To what, where:** something, success, piece, win, poem, cough · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ascribe» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [ascribe in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ascribe.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say that something was caused by something, as in «ascribe her success to hard work».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ascribe:m1:1
# text = To say that something was caused by something, as in «ascribe her success to hard work».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	caused	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	ascribe	ascribe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
14	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	success	success	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cause** | past · passive |  | something |  |  |  | by something | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **ascribe** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | her success |  |  |  | to hard work | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say that a piece of writing, art or saying was made by a certain person.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ascribe:m2:1
# text = To say that a piece of writing, art or saying was made by a certain person.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a certain person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **make** | past · passive | a certain person | a piece of writing and art |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He ascribed his win to lots of practice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ascribe:x1:1
# text = He ascribed his win to lots of practice.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ascribed	ascribe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	win	win	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ascribe** | past | He | his win |  |  |  | to lots of practice | tree rules |
| 2 | **win** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom win «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This poem is ascribed to an unknown monk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ascribe:x2:1
# text = This poem is ascribed to an unknown monk.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	ascribed	ascribe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	unknown	unknown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	monk	monk	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 | **ascribe** | present · passive |  | this poem |  |  |  | to a unknown monk | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor ascribed the cough to the cold weather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ascribe:x3:1
# text = The doctor ascribed the cough to the cold weather.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ascribed	ascribe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cough	cough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ascribe** | past | the doctor | the cough |  |  |  | to the cold weather | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many sayings are wrongly ascribed to famous people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ascribe:x4:1
# text = Many sayings are wrongly ascribed to famous people.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	sayings	saying	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	wrongly	wrongly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	ascribed	ascribe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ascribe** | present · passive |  | Many sayings |  |  |  | to famous people; wrongly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists ascribe the change to pollution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ascribe:x5:1
# text = Scientists ascribe the change to pollution.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ascribe	ascribe	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	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	pollution	pollution	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 | **ascribe** | present | Scientists | the change |  |  |  | to pollution | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The painting is ascribed to a student of the master.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ascribe:x6:1
# text = The painting is ascribed to a student of the master.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	ascribed	ascribe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	student	student	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	master	master	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ascribe** | present · passive |  | the painting |  |  |  | to a student of the master | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Athenians ascribed their victory at Marathon to the alarm which he created among the Persians by his terrible voice.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ascribe:x7:1
# text = The Athenians ascribed their victory at Marathon to the alarm which he created among the Persians by his terrible voice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Athenians	Athenian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ascribed	ascribe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	victory	victory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Marathon	Marathon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
11	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	obj	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	created	create	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	among	among	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Persians	Persian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
19	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ascribe** | past | the Athenians | Athenians's victory |  | Marathon |  | to the alarm | tree rules |
| 2 | **create** | past | Marathon | the alarm |  |  |  | among the Persians; by Marathon's terrible voice | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent which=Result |

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**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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