---
title: deceptive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deceptive» in the school dictionary: Giving a false idea or impression, so that something seems different from what it really is. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deceptive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, impression, calm sea, strong currents, Appearances, tiny dog · **What happens:** give, seem, be, mean, trick, mislead · **To what, where:** false idea, people, same

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giving a false idea or impression, so that something seems different from what it really is.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptive:m1:1
# text = Giving a false idea or impression, so that something seems different from what it really is.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	impression	impression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	11	mark	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
11	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	obl	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	really	really	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund |  | a false idea or impression |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Theme |
| 2 | **seem** | present | something |  |  |  |  | different *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **be** | present | impression |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Meant to trick or mislead people: «deceptive advertising».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptive:m2:1
# text = Meant to trick or mislead people: «deceptive advertising».
1	Meant	mean	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	trick	trick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	mislead	mislead	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	deceptive	deceptive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	advertising	advertising	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **trick** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mislead** | infinitive |  | people |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The calm sea was deceptive; there were strong currents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptive:x1:1
# text = The calm sea was deceptive; there were strong currents.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	deceptive	deceptive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	8	expl	_	_
8	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
9	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	currents	current	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the calm sea |  |  |  |  | deceptive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** | past | strong currents |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Appearances can be deceptive — the tiny dog was very fierce.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptive:x2:1
# text = Appearances can be deceptive — the tiny dog was very fierce.
1	Appearances	appearance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	deceptive	deceptive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Appearances |  |  |  |  | deceptive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | the tiny dog |  |  |  |  | fierce *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The question looked easy, but it was deceptive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptive:x3:1
# text = The question looked easy, but it was deceptive.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	deceptive	deceptive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the question |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | question |  |  |  |  | deceptive *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ad was deceptive because the toy looked much bigger on TV.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptive:x4:1
# text = The ad was deceptive because the toy looked much bigger on TV.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ad	ad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	deceptive	deceptive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	much	much	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	xcomp	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the ad |  |  |  |  | deceptive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | past | the toy |  |  |  |  | big *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tall glass is deceptive: it holds the same as the short wide one.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptive:x5:1
# text = The tall glass is deceptive: it holds the same as the short wide one.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	deceptive	deceptive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obj	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the tall glass |  |  |  |  | deceptive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | present | glass | the same |  |  |  | as the short wide one | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent same=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The slope looked gentle, but it was deceptive and very icy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptive:x6:1
# text = The slope looked gentle, but it was deceptive and very icy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	slope	slope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	deceptive	deceptive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	very	very	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the slope |  |  |  |  | gentle *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | slope |  |  |  |  | deceptive *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | slope *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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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