---
title: debater — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «debater» in the school dictionary: A person who takes part in a debate: a formal argument where speakers give reasons for and against an idea. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# debater

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, speakers, Anyone, Maya, debater, debaters · **What happens:** take, give, be, argue, have, speak · **To what, where:** part, debate, reasons, point, best debater, class · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who takes part in a debate: a formal argument where speakers give reasons for and against an idea.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:debater:m1:1
# text = A person who takes part in a debate: a formal argument where speakers give reasons for and against an idea.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	debate	debate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
13	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	15	advmod	_	_
14	speakers	speaker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
16	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
19	against	against	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | a person | part |  | a debate |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent part=Value in debate=Location |
| 2 | **give** | present | speakers | reasons |  |  |  | for a idea | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent reason=Theme for idea=Asset |

<!-- .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 -->
Anyone who is good at arguing a point clearly with reasons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:debater:m2:1
# text = Anyone who is good at arguing a point clearly with reasons.
1	Anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	arguing	argue	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	obl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Anyone |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | gerund |  | a point |  |  |  | with reasons; clearly *property* | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V NP PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent point=Topic with reason=Co-Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maya is the best debater in our class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:debater:x1:1
# text = Maya is the best debater in our class.
1	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	debater	debater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Maya | the best debater |  | our class |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each debater had three minutes to speak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:debater:x2:1
# text = Each debater had three minutes to speak.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	debater	debater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | each debater |  |  |  | minute |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | each debater *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The debaters on our team argued that school should start later.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:debater:x3:1
# text = The debaters on our team argued that school should start later.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	debaters	debater	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	argued	argue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
11	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | past | the debaters on our team |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **start** | should | school |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good debater listens to the other side carefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:debater:x4:1
# text = A good debater listens to the other side carefully.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	debater	debater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	listens	listen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **listen** | present | a good debater |  |  |  |  | to the other side; carefully *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to side=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge praised both debaters for their politeness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:debater:x5:1
# text = The judge praised both debaters for their politeness.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	praised	praise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	debaters	debater	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	politeness	politeness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **praise** | past | the judge | both debaters |  |  |  | for debaters's politeness | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent debater=Theme for politeness=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is a fierce debater at the dinner table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:debater:x6:1
# text = He is a fierce debater at the dinner table.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	debater	debater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | a fierce debater |  | the dinner table |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school's debaters won the regional final.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:debater:x7:1
# text = Our school's debaters won the regional final.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	debaters	debater	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	regional	regional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	final	final	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | Our school's debaters | the regional final |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent final=Eventuality |

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**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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