---
title: contrary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «contrary» in the school dictionary: Contrary means opposite or very different: «contrary opinions». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# contrary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Contrary, opposite, I, contrary person, others, Contrary bats · **What happens:** mean, use, say, be, bore, love · **To what, where:** opposite, contrary, corridor, three, contrary views · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«contrary» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [contrary in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/contrary.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Contrary means opposite or very different: «contrary opinions».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:m1:1
# text = Contrary means opposite or very different: «contrary opinions».
1	Contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	opinions	opinion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Contrary | opposite |  |  |  |  | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«On the contrary» is used to say the opposite is true: «Bored? On the contrary, I loved it».

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «On the contrary» is used to say the opposite is true: «Bored?

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:m2:1
# text = «On the contrary» is used to say the opposite is true: «Bored?
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	On	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	Bored	bore	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  |  |  | the contrary |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **say** *speech: ask* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | the opposite |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **bore** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* On the contrary, I loved it».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:m2:2
# text = On the contrary, I loved it».
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	contrary	contrary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	loved	love	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | past | I | contrary |  | the contrary |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: said «con-TRAIR-ee» — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A contrary person deliberately does the opposite of what others want.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:m3:1
# text = A contrary person deliberately does the opposite of what others want.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	deliberately	deliberately	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	does	do	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	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | a contrary person | the opposite |  |  |  | deliberately *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent opposite=Eventuality |
| 2 | **want** | present | others |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Contrary to» means against or different from: «contrary to the rules».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:m4:1
# text = «Contrary to» means against or different from: «contrary to the rules».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	against	against	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Contrary |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:x1:1
# text = Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind.
1	Contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	popular	popular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
6	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	blind	blind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Contrary bats |  |  |  |  | blind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Are you tired?» «On the contrary, I'm full of energy.»

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «Are you tired?»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:x2:1
# text = «Are you tired?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* «On the contrary, I'm full of energy.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:x2:2
# text = «On the contrary, I'm full of energy.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	On	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	contrary	contrary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  | the contrary |  | of energy; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Running in the corridor is contrary to the rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:x3:1
# text = Running in the corridor is contrary to the rules.
1	Running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	corridor	corridor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | gerund |  |  |  | the corridor |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in corridor=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is** | present | Running |  |  |  |  | to the rules; contrary *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:x4:1
# text = Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?
1	Mary	Mary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	Mary	Mary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
9	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present · do-support | Mary and Mary |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unless I hear to the contrary, we'll meet at three.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:x5:1
# text = Unless I hear to the contrary, we'll meet at three.
1	Unless	unless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hear	hear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	meet	meet	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | present | I |  |  |  |  | to the contrary | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **meet** | future | we |  |  | three |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two sisters had contrary views.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:x6:1
# text = The two sisters had contrary views.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	sisters	sister	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	views	view	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the two sisters | contrary views |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent view=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"What are you doing, you contrary thief?" said the master.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contrary:x7:1
# text = "What are you doing, you contrary thief?" said the master.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	contrary	contrary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	master	master	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** *in a quote* | present · progressive | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 2 | **thief** *in a quote* |  | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | the master |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=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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