---
title: boast — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «boast» in the school dictionary: To boast means to talk too proudly about yourself, what you have or what you can do. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# boast

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, boast, town, He, it, hare · **What happens:** boast, mean, talk, have, do, be · **To what, where:** something, proud statement, big park, fastest animal, mile, huge library · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«boast» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [boast in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/boast.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To boast means to talk too proudly about yourself, what you have or what you can do.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:m1:1
# text = To boast means to talk too proudly about yourself, what you have or what you can do.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	boast	boast	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	proudly	proudly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	obj	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	18	obj	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
17	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boast** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **talk** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about yourself; proudly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about yourself=Topic |
| 4 | **have** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Patient |
| 5 | **do** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
To boast can mean to have something good that you are proud of.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:m2:1
# text = To boast can mean to have something good that you are proud of.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	boast	boast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	proud	proud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	acl	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | boast |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | boast *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | proud *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town boasts a big park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:m2e:1
# text = The town boasts a big park.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	boasts	boast	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	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boast** *speech: other* | present | the town | a big park |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A boast is a proud statement about yourself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:m3:1
# text = A boast is a proud statement about yourself.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boast	boast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	proud	proud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a boast | a proud statement |  |  |  | about yourself | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He always boasts about his new bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:x1:1
# text = He always boasts about his new bike.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	3	advmod	_	_
3	boasts	boast	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boast** *speech: other* | present | He |  |  |  |  | about his new bike; always *property* | vn complain-37.8 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about bike=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop boasting; it isn't nice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:x2:1
# text = Stop boasting; it isn't nice.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	boasting	boast	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **boast** *speech: other* | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | nice *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hare boasted that he was the fastest animal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:x3:1
# text = The hare boasted that he was the fastest animal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hare	hare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	boasted	boast	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	fastest	fast	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boast** *speech: other* | past | the hare |  |  |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | hare | the fastest animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She boasted that she could swim a mile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:x4:1
# text = She boasted that she could swim a mile.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	boasted	boast	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mile	mile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boast** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **swim** | could | she | a mile |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme mile=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school boasts a huge library.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:x5:1
# text = Our school boasts a huge library.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	boasts	boast	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	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boast** *speech: other* | present | Our school | a huge library |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His boast that he could eat ten pizzas was not true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:x6:1
# text = His boast that he could eat ten pizzas was not true.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	boast	boast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
7	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	pizzas	pizza	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | could | he | ten pizzas |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pizza=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **is** | past | His boast |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **boast** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom boast «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's fine to be proud, but don't boast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:x7:1
# text = It's fine to be proud, but don't boast.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	proud	proud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	boast	boast	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | fine *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | proud *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **boast** *speech: other* | infinitive · do-support |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be sure of your pedigree before you boast of it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boast:x8:1
# text = Be sure of your pedigree before you boast of it.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	pedigree	pedigree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	boast	boast	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of your pedigree; sure *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **boast** *speech: other* | present | you |  |  |  |  | of pedigree | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
- ← previous: [boardwalk](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/boardwalk/)
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