---
title: criticise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «criticise» in the school dictionary: To say what you think is bad or wrong about someone or something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# criticise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, coach, friend, local people, Critics, We · **What happens:** say, think, be, judge, review, point · **To what, where:** good points, work, book, team, drawing, new road · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«criticise» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [criticise in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/criticise.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say what you think is bad or wrong about someone or something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:criticise:m1:1
# text = To say what you think is bad or wrong about someone or something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	7	nsubj	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | about someone; bad *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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 judge the good and bad points of a book, film or work (to review it).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:criticise:m2:1
# text = To judge the good and bad points of a book, film or work (to review it).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	judge	judge	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	review	review	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **judge** | to-infinitive |  | the good points of a book and film or work |  |  |  |  | vn estimate-34.2-1-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Agent point=Value |
| 2 | **review** | to-infinitive |  | work |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 3 | **point** |  |  | a book and film or work |  |  |  |  | nom point «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach criticised the team for being late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:criticise:x1:1
# text = The coach criticised the team for being late.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	criticised	criticise	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	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
8	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **criticise** | past | the coach | the team |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | the coach *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't criticise your friend's drawing; help instead.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:criticise:x2:1
# text = Don't criticise your friend's drawing; help instead.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	criticise	criticise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	drawing	drawing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	help	help	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **criticise** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | your friend's drawing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | instead *property* | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **draw** |  | your friend |  |  |  |  |  | nom drawing «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new road was criticised by local people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:criticise:x3:1
# text = The new road was criticised by local people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	criticised	criticise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	local	local	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **criticise** | past · passive | local people | the new road |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Critics criticised the film for being too long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:criticise:x4:1
# text = Critics criticised the film for being too long.
1	Critics	critic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	criticised	criticise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
7	too	too	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **criticise** | past | Critics | the film |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's easy to criticise but hard to do better.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:criticise:x5:1
# text = It's easy to criticise but hard to do better.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	criticise	criticise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	better	well	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **criticise** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned to criticise arguments, not the person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:criticise:x6:1
# text = We learned to criticise arguments, not the person.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	criticise	criticise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	arguments	argument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **criticise** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | arguments |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

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