---
title: certain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «certain» in the school dictionary: Certain means sure, with no doubt: «I am certain». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# certain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Certain, I, certain thing, It, ball, balls · **What happens:** mean, be, happen, not name, think, rise · **To what, where:** one, particular one, some, 12, door · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Certain means sure, with no doubt: «I am certain».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:m1:1
# text = Certain means sure, with no doubt: «I am certain».
1	Certain	certain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
7	doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Certain |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A certain thing is one that will happen for sure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:m2:1
# text = A certain thing is one that will happen for sure.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a certain thing | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | future |  |  |  |  |  | for sure | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A certain» means a particular one that is not named: «a certain boy in our class».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:m3:1
# text = «A certain» means a particular one that is not named: «a certain boy in our class».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	particular	particular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	advcl	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a certain | a particular one |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **name** | present · passive |  | a particular one |  |  |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: that=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Certain» before a plural means some: «certain foods».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:m4:1
# text = «Certain» before a plural means some: «certain foods».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Certain	certain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	plural	plural	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	foods	food	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Certain before a plural | some |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent some=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is certain that the ball is red if all balls are red.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:x1:1
# text = It is certain that the ball is red if all balls are red.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
9	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	balls	ball	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the ball |  |  |  |  | red *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | all balls |  |  |  |  | red *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A certain number plus 5 is 12.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:x2:1
# text = A certain number plus 5 is 12.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	plus	plus	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a certain number | 12 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is it certain, possible or impossible?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:x3:1
# text = Is it certain, possible or impossible?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	possible	possible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He thinks of a certain number.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:x4:1
# text = He thinks of a certain number.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	number	number	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 | **think** *speech: other* | present | He |  |  |  |  | of a certain number | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is certain that the sun will rise tomorrow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:x5:1
# text = It is certain that the sun will rise tomorrow.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	rise	rise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	tomorrow	tomorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **rise** | future | the sun |  |  |  | tomorrow |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Are you certain you locked the door?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:x6:1
# text = Are you certain you locked the door?
1	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	locked	lock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **lock** | past | you | the door |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent door=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Certain plants are poisonous to dogs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:x7:1
# text = Certain plants are poisonous to dogs.
1	Certain	certain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Certain plants |  |  |  |  | to dogs; poisonous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rain is likely but not certain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:x8:1
# text = Rain is likely but not certain.
1	Rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Rain |  |  |  |  | likely *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **be** |  | Rain *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“A schoolmate of his, a certain Pinocchio.”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:certain:x9:1
# text = “A schoolmate of his, a certain Pinocchio.”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	schoolmate	schoolmate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	Pinocchio	Pinocchio	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- 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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