---
title: contradictory — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «contradictory» in the school dictionary: Contradictory statements or ideas cannot both be true because they say opposite things. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# contradictory

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Contradictory statements, statements, contradictory person, others, two witnesses, It · **What happens:** not be, say, give, account, rain, not rain · **To what, where:** opposite things, opposite, contradictory accounts, crash, contradictory statements, contradictory instructions · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«contradictory» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [contradictory in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/contradictory.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Contradictory statements or ideas cannot both be true because they say opposite things.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:m1:1
# text = Contradictory statements or ideas cannot both be true because they say opposite things.
1	Contradictory	contradictory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	statements	statement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
7	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	nsubj	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
13	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | can | Contradictory statements or ideas |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | statements *= statement* | opposite things |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |

<!-- .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 contradictory person often says the opposite of what others say, or of what they themselves said before.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:m2:1
# text = A contradictory person often says the opposite of what others say, or of what they themselves said before.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	contradictory	contradictory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nmod	_	_
10	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	obl	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
17	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	16	nmod:unmarked	_	_
18	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	acl:relcl	_	_
19	before	before	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a contradictory person | the opposite |  |  |  | often *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent opposite=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | others |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | others *= other* |  |  |  |  | before *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two witnesses gave contradictory accounts of the crash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:x1:1
# text = The two witnesses gave contradictory accounts of the crash.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	witnesses	witness	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	contradictory	contradictory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	accounts	account	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the two witnesses | contradictory accounts of the crash |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent account=Theme |
| 2 | **account** |  |  | the crash |  |  |  |  | nom account «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«It is raining» and «it is not raining» are contradictory statements.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:x2:1
# text = «It is raining» and «it is not raining» are contradictory statements.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
13	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	contradictory	contradictory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	statements	statement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** *in a quote* | present · progressive | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 2 | **not** **rain** *in a quote* | present · progressive | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 3 | **is a** | present | raining | contradictory statements |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum and Dad gave me contradictory instructions about bedtime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:x3:1
# text = Mum and Dad gave me contradictory instructions about bedtime.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	contradictory	contradictory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	bedtime	bedtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | Mum and Dad | contradictory instructions | me |  |  | about bedtime | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient instruction=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The experiment gave contradictory results, so we repeated it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:x4:1
# text = The experiment gave contradictory results, so we repeated it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	contradictory	contradictory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	repeated	repeat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the experiment | contradictory results |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent result=Theme |
| 2 | **repeat** | past | we | experiment |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rules on the sign were contradictory: «Keep left» and «Keep right».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:x5:1
# text = The rules on the sign were contradictory: «Keep left» and «Keep right».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	contradictory	contradictory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
11	left	left	X	GW	_	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
16	right	right	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the rules on the sign | contradictory |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **keep** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | right *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His contradictory answers made the detective suspicious.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:x6:1
# text = His contradictory answers made the detective suspicious.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	contradictory	contradictory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	answers	answer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	suspicious	suspicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His contradictory answers | the detective |  |  |  | suspicious *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset detective=Product |
| 2 | **answer** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puzzle has two contradictory clues, so one of the twins must be lying.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:x7:1
# text = The puzzle has two contradictory clues, so one of the twins must be lying.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	contradictory	contradictory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	appos	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
13	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	aux	_	_
15	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the puzzle |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lie** | must · progressive | two contradictory clues |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of a contradictory woman the Russian peasants affirm that, "If you say 'shaved' she'll say 'cut.'"

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contradictory:x8:1
# text = Of a contradictory woman the Russian peasants affirm that, "If you say 'shaved' she'll say 'cut.'"
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	contradictory	contradictory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Russian	Russian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	peasants	peasant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	affirm	affirm	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	advcl	_	_
15	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	shaved	shave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	_
18	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
20	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
21	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **affirm** | present | the Russian peasants |  |  |  |  | of a contradictory woman | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **shave** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | future | woman | cut |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent cut=Topic |

<!-- 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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