---
title: compelling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «compelling» in the school dictionary: So interesting or exciting that you want to keep watching or reading. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# compelling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, someone, book, I, compelling evidence, exercise · **What happens:** want, keep, watch, read, have, believe · **To what, where:** someone, something, book, compelling evidence, compelling reason, start

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So interesting or exciting that you want to keep watching or reading.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:m1:1
# text = So interesting or exciting that you want to keep watching or reading.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	interesting	interesting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	watching	watch	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **watch** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **read** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
So strong or convincing that you have to believe or agree, like a compelling reason or argument.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:m2:1
# text = So strong or convincing that you have to believe or agree, like a compelling reason or argument.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	convincing	convincing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	agree	agree	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	compelling	compelling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **believe** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **agree** *speech: agree* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a compelling reason or argument | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Forcing someone to do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:m3:1
# text = Forcing someone to do something.
1	Forcing	force	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **force** | gerund |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The book was so compelling I couldn't put it down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:x1:1
# text = The book was so compelling I couldn't put it down.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	compelling	compelling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	down	down	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the book |  |  |  |  | compelling *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **put down** | could | I | book |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent it=Goal |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is compelling evidence that exercise is good for you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:x2:1
# text = There is compelling evidence that exercise is good for you.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	compelling	compelling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	exercise	exercise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|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 | **be** | present | compelling evidence |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | exercise | compelling evidence *not said here* |  |  |  | for you; good *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a compelling reason for being late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:x3:1
# text = She gave a compelling reason for being late.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	compelling	compelling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
8	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a compelling reason |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reason=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | a compelling reason *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film's story was compelling from start to end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:x4:1
# text = The film's story was compelling from start to end.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	compelling	compel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compel** | past · progressive | the film's story |  |  | start | to end |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His argument was compelling, so we agreed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:x5:1
# text = His argument was compelling, so we agreed.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	compelling	compel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	agreed	agree	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compel** | past · progressive | His argument |  |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **agree** *speech: agree* | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **argue** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom argument «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective found compelling proof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:x6:1
# text = The detective found compelling proof.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	compelling	compelling	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	proof	proof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the detective | compelling proof |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent proof=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hunger was compelling them to keep looking for food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compelling:x7:1
# text = Hunger was compelling them to keep looking for food.
1	Hunger	hunger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	compelling	compel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compel** | past · progressive | Hunger | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | Hunger *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **look** | gerund | Hunger *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for food | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for food=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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