---
title: confrontation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «confrontation» in the school dictionary: A confrontation is an angry argument or fight between people or groups who disagree. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# confrontation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** confrontation, groups, someone, act, Sam, story · **What happens:** be, fight, disagree, face, talk, face up · **To what, where:** angry argument, meeting, person, act, confrontation, calm confrontation

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A confrontation is an angry argument or fight between people or groups who disagree.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confrontation:m1:1
# text = A confrontation is an angry argument or fight between people or groups who disagree.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	confrontation	confrontation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	between	between	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	disagree	disagree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a confrontation | a angry argument |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fight** | infinitive | a confrontation *not said here* |  |  |  |  | between people or groups | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **disagree** | present | groups |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «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 -->
A confrontation is a meeting where someone faces a person or problem directly, for example to talk about something wrong.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confrontation:m2:1
# text = A confrontation is a meeting where someone faces a person or problem directly, for example to talk about something wrong.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	confrontation	confrontation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
8	faces	face	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	directly	directly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	acl	_	_
19	about	about	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	18	obl	_	_
21	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a confrontation | a meeting |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **face** | present | someone |  | a person or problem |  |  | for example; directly *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent person=Destination |
| 3 | **talk** | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about something | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about something=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Confrontation is the act of facing up to danger or a difficult situation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confrontation:m3:1
# text = Confrontation is the act of facing up to danger or a difficult situation.
1	Confrontation	confrontation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	facing	face	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Confrontation | the act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **face up** | gerund | the act *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to danger or a difficult situation | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sam wanted to avoid a confrontation with the older boys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confrontation:x1:1
# text = Sam wanted to avoid a confrontation with the older boys.
1	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	confrontation	confrontation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | Sam |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **avoid** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Sam *not said here* | a confrontation |  |  |  | with the older boys | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent confrontation=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story ends with a confrontation between the knight and the dragon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confrontation:x2:1
# text = The story ends with a confrontation between the knight and the dragon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	confrontation	confrontation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | present | the story |  |  |  |  | with a confrontation between the knight and the dragon | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector with confrontation=Subeventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a confrontation between fans after the match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confrontation:x3:1
# text = There was a confrontation between fans after the match.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	confrontation	confrontation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a confrontation between fans after the match |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher had a calm confrontation with the boy about the broken window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confrontation:x4:1
# text = The teacher had a calm confrontation with the boy about the broken window.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	confrontation	confrontation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	broken	broken	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the teacher | a calm confrontation |  |  |  | with the boy about the broken window | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent confrontation=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Walking away from a confrontation can be the bravest choice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confrontation:x5:1
# text = Walking away from a confrontation can be the bravest choice.
1	Walking	walk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	confrontation	confrontation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	bravest	brave	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	choice	choice	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 | **walk away** | gerund |  |  |  | a confrontation |  | away *property* | vn resign-10.11-1 «NP V PP.source»: agent=Agent from confrontation=Source |
| 2 | **is a** | can | Walking | the bravest choice |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The protest ended in a confrontation with police.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confrontation:x6:1
# text = The protest ended in a confrontation with police.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	protest	protest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	confrontation	confrontation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | the protest |  |  | a confrontation with police |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

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