---
title: counterexample — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «counterexample» in the school dictionary: A counterexample is one example that shows a general statement is false. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/counterexample/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/) / counterexample

# counterexample

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** counterexample, that, general statement, primes, you, none · **What happens:** be, show, find, fly, win, end · **To what, where:** one example, 2 counterexample, claim, rectangle, counterexample, argument · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A counterexample is one example that shows a general statement is false.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterexample:m1:1
# text = A counterexample is one example that shows a general statement is false.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	counterexample	counterexample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	appos	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a counterexample | one example |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | present | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | a general statement |  |  |  |  | false *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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
2 is a counterexample to the claim that all primes are odd.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterexample:x1:1
# text = 2 is a counterexample to the claim that all primes are odd.
1	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	counterexample	counterexample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	claim	claim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	primes	prime	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	odd	odd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a 2 counterexample |  |  |  | to the claim | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | all primes | the claim *not said here* |  |  |  | odd *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you find a counterexample to Every square is a rectangle? (There is none.)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Can you find a counterexample to Every square is a rectangle?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterexample:x2:1
# text = Can you find a counterexample to Every square is a rectangle?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	counterexample	counterexample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	rectangle	rectangle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a counterexample to every square | a rectangle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (There is none.)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterexample:x2:2
# text = (There is none.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
3	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	none	none	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | none |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One counterexample shows the rule is false.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterexample:x3:1
# text = One counterexample shows the rule is false.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	counterexample	counterexample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | One counterexample |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | the rule |  |  |  |  | false *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A penguin is a counterexample to All birds can fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterexample:x4:1
# text = A penguin is a counterexample to All birds can fly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	penguin	penguin	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	counterexample	counterexample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a penguin | a counterexample |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fly** | can | all birds |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She found a counterexample and won the argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterexample:x5:1
# text = She found a counterexample and won the argument.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	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	counterexample	counterexample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | She | a counterexample |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent counterexample=Topic |
| 2 | **win** | past | She *not said here* | the argument |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent argument=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Find a counterexample: All numbers ending in 9 are prime. (Answer: 9 itself.)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Find a counterexample: All numbers ending in 9 are prime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterexample:x6:1
# text = Find a counterexample: All numbers ending in 9 are prime.
1	Find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	counterexample	counterexample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
7	ending	end	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obl	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	prime	prime	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | imperative | you *not said here* | a counterexample |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent counterexample=Topic |
| 2 | **end** | gerund | all numbers *not said here* |  |  | 9 |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is** | present | all numbers |  |  |  |  | prime *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (Answer: 9 itself.)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counterexample:x6:2
# text = (Answer: 9 itself.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	appos	_	_
5	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [counterbalance](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/counterbalance/)
- next →: [counterfeit](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/counterfeit/)
- ↑ back to [C in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/)