---
title: convince — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «convince» in the school dictionary: To convince someone is to make them believe that something is true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# convince

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, Convinced, I, She, butler, you · **What happens:** convince, be, believe, do, mean, finish · **To what, where:** someone, it, Mum, brother, sweets, detective · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To convince someone is to make them believe that something is true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:m1:1
# text = To convince someone is to make them believe that something is true.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	convince	convince	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **convince** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **believe** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | 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 -->
To convince someone to do something is to persuade them to do it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:m2:1
# text = To convince someone to do something is to persuade them to do it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	convince	convince	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	persuade	persuade	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **convince** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive · do-support |  |  |  |  |  | persuade *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Convinced (adjective) means completely sure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:m3:1
# text = Convinced (adjective) means completely sure.
1	Convinced	convinced	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I convinced Mum that I had finished my homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:x1:1
# text = I convinced Mum that I had finished my homework.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	convinced	convince	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	finished	finish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **convince** | past | I | Mum |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus mum=Experiencer |
| 2 | **finish** | past · perfect · passive |  | Mum |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She convinced her brother to share his sweets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:x2:1
# text = She convinced her brother to share his sweets.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	convinced	convince	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **convince** | past | She | her brother |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus brother=Experiencer |
| 2 | **share** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | his sweets |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective was convinced the butler was lying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:x3:1
# text = The detective was convinced the butler was lying.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	convinced	convince	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **convince** | past · passive |  | the detective |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: subject=Patient clause=Result |
| 2 | **lie** | past · progressive | the butler |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write a letter to convince the head teacher to have a longer break.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:x4:1
# text = Write a letter to convince the head teacher to have a longer break.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	convince	convince	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	longer	long	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	amod	_	_
13	break	break	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a letter |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Theme |
| 2 | **convince** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the head teacher |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus teacher=Experiencer |
| 3 | **have** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a longer break |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent break=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist showed the photos to convince people the comet was real.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:x5:1
# text = The scientist showed the photos to convince people the comet was real.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	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	photos	photo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	convince	convince	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	iobj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	comet	comet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the scientist | the photos |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent photo=Recipient |
| 2 | **convince** | to-infinitive | the scientist *not said here* |  | people |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus people=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | past | the comet |  |  |  |  | real *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let anyone convince you to keep a secret that makes you feel unsafe.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:x6:1
# text = Don't let anyone convince you to keep a secret that makes you feel unsafe.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	convince	convince	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	unsafe	unsafe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | anyone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **convince** | infinitive | anyone *not said here* |  | you |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Patient clause=Result |
| 3 | **keep** | to-infinitive | anyone *not said here* | a secret |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Theme |
| 4 | **make** | present | a secret | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **feel** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | unsafe *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm not convinced this answer is right; let's check it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:x7:1
# text = I'm not convinced this answer is right; let's check it.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	convinced	convinced	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	check	check	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | convinced *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | this answer |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **let** | infinitive | I *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **check** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | answer |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His wife did all she could to convince him she was extremely glad of his speedy return.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convince:x8:1
# text = His wife did all she could to convince him she was extremely glad of his speedy return.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	obj	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	convince	convince	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	extremely	extremely	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	glad	glad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	ccomp	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
16	speedy	speedy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	return	return	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | His wife | all |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent all=Eventuality |
| 2 | **convince** | to-infinitive | His wife *not said here* | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus he=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | past | wife |  |  |  |  | of his speedy return; extremely, glad *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **return** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom return «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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