---
title: coaxing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «coaxing» in the school dictionary: Gently persuading someone to do something by being kind, patient and pleasant. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# coaxing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, lot, kitten, She, Rat, It · **What happens:** persuade, do, be, coax, get, work · **To what, where:** someone, something, coaxing voice, fire, sofa, Mole · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«coaxing» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [coaxing in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/coaxing.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gently persuading someone to do something by being kind, patient and pleasant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:m1:1
# text = Gently persuading someone to do something by being kind, patient and pleasant.
1	Gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	persuading	persuade	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
9	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	patient	patient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	pleasant	pleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persuade** | gerund |  | someone |  |  |  | gently *property* | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent someone=Patient clause=Result |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is** | gerund | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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: adjective — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gentle and persuading: «a coaxing voice».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:m2:1
# text = Gentle and persuading: «a coaxing voice».
1	Gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	persuading	persuade	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	coaxing	coax	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	amod	_	_
8	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persuade** | gerund |  | a coaxing voice |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **coax** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Getting something to work or move by careful, gentle handling: «coaxing a fire to light».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:m3:1
# text = Getting something to work or move by careful, gentle handling: «coaxing a fire to light».
1	Getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	0	root	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	handling	handling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	coaxing	coax	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 2 | **work** | to-infinitive |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **move** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | by careful gentle handling | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme by handling=Trajectory |
| 4 | **coax** *in a quote* | gerund |  | a fire |  |  |  | to light *result* | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent fire=Patient to light=Result |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a lot of coaxing, the kitten came out from under the sofa.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:x1:1
# text = After a lot of coaxing, the kitten came out from under the sofa.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	coaxing	coax	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	out	out	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	under	under	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sofa	sofa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **coax** | gerund | a lot *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **come out** | past | the kitten |  |  | the sofa | after a lot | out *property* | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She spoke in a coaxing voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:x2:1
# text = She spoke in a coaxing voice.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	coaxing	coax	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	voice	voice	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 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  | a coaxing voice |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **coax** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Rat was coaxing the Mole to tell his trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:x3:1
# text = The Rat was coaxing the Mole to tell his trouble.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	coaxing	coax	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Mole	mole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **coax** | past · progressive | the Rat | the Mole |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mole=Patient |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | the Rat *not said here* | Rat's trouble |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent trouble=Recipient |
| 3 | **trouble** |  | Rat |  |  |  |  |  | nom trouble «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It took some coaxing to get my brother into the cold sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:x4:1
# text = It took some coaxing to get my brother into the cold sea.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
4	coaxing	coax	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn require-103 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Precondition |
| 2 | **coax** | gerund | some |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive | some *not said here* | my brother |  | the cold sea |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer brother=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad was coaxing the old car to start.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:x5:1
# text = Dad was coaxing the old car to start.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	coaxing	coax	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **coax** | past · progressive | Dad | the old car |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent car=Patient |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With gentle coaxing, the shy pupil read her poem aloud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:x6:1
# text = With gentle coaxing, the shy pupil read her poem aloud.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	coaxing	coaxing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	shy	shy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | the shy pupil | pupil's poem |  |  |  | with gentle coaxing; aloud *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poem=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Mouse did not need much coaxing, for he was very anxious to see the world and everything in it.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coaxing:x7:1
# text = The Mouse did not need much coaxing, for he was very anxious to see the world and everything in it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Mouse	Mouse	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	need	need	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	much	much	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	coaxing	coax	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	very	very	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	anxious	anxious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	17	conj	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **need** | past · do-support | the Mouse |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **coax** *not said to happen* | gerund | the Mouse *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | past | Mouse |  |  |  |  | anxious *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **see** | to-infinitive | Mouse *not said here* | the world |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer world=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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