---
title: coercion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «coercion» in the school dictionary: Making someone do something by using force or threats, so they have no real choice. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# coercion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, force, Pressure, He, Bullying, promise · **What happens:** make, do, use, have, be, force · **To what, where:** someone, something, force, real choice, paper, coercion · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«coercion» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [coercion in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/coercion.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making someone do something by using force or threats, so they have no real choice.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coercion:m1:1
# text = Making someone do something by using force or threats, so they have no real choice.
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	threats	threat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
14	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	16	det	_	_
15	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **use** | gerund | someone *not said here* | force or threats |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent force=Patient |
| 4 | **have** | present | force | no real choice |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent choice=Patient |

<!-- .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: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pressure that is against the law, such as forcing someone to sign something or controlling someone by threats.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coercion:m2:1
# text = Pressure that is against the law, such as forcing someone to sign something or controlling someone by threats.
1	Pressure	pressure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	forcing	force	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	advcl	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	sign	sign	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	controlling	control	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	conj	_	_
17	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	obj	_	_
18	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	threats	threat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Pressure |  |  |  |  | against the law | tree rules |
| 2 | **force** | gerund | Pressure *not said here* |  | someone |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |
| 3 | **sign** | to-infinitive | Pressure *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent something=Destination |
| 4 | **control** | gerund | Pressure *not said here* | someone |  |  |  | by threats | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He only signed the paper under coercion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coercion:x1:1
# text = He only signed the paper under coercion.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	signed	sign	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	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	coercion	coercion	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 | **sign** | past | He | the paper |  | coercion |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent paper=Theme under coercion=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bullying can include coercion, like "Do this or else".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coercion:x2:1
# text = Bullying can include coercion, like "Do this or else".
1	Bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	include	include	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	coercion	coercion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
9	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	else	else	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **include** | can | Bullying | coercion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | this |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent this=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A promise made under coercion is not a free promise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coercion:x3:1
# text = A promise made under coercion is not a free promise.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	coercion	coercion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a promise *not said here* |  | coercion |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | a promise | a free promise |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king ruled by coercion, not by kindness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coercion:x4:1
# text = The king ruled by coercion, not by kindness.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	ruled	rule	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	coercion	coercion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rule** | participle |  | the king *not said here* |  |  |  | by coercion and kindness | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If someone online pressures you, it is coercion — tell a trusted adult.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coercion:x5:1
# text = If someone online pressures you, it is coercion — tell a trusted adult.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
3	online	online	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	pressures	pressure	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	coercion	coercion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
11	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	parataxis	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	amod	_	_
14	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pressure** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | someone |  | you |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | it | coercion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  | a trusted adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |
| 4 | **trust** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Persuasion uses reasons; coercion uses threats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coercion:x6:1
# text = Persuasion uses reasons; coercion uses threats.
1	Persuasion	persuasion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	coercion	coercion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	threats	threat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Persuasion | reasons |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reason=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | present | coercion | threats |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent threat=Patient |

<!-- 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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