---
title: denounce — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «denounce» in the school dictionary: To say publicly and strongly that something or someone is wrong, bad or evil. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# denounce

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, someone, authorities, He, mayor, prophet · **What happens:** say, be, tell, do, get, punish · **To what, where:** authorities, neighbour, attack, mosque, king, bullying · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say publicly and strongly that something or someone is wrong, bad or evil.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denounce:m1:1
# text = To say publicly and strongly that something or someone is wrong, bad or evil.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	publicly	publicly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	strongly	strongly	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	conj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	evil	evil	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | publicly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 tell the authorities that someone has done something wrong, often to get them punished: «He denounced his neighbour to the police».

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denounce:m2:1
# text = To tell the authorities that someone has done something wrong, often to get them punished: «He denounced his neighbour to the police».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	authorities	authority	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	obj	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	punished	punish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	denounced	denounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
21	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
23	to	to	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | the authorities |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent authority=Recipient |
| 2 | **do** | present · perfect | someone | the authorities |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | authorities *= authority* |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **punish** | participle | authorities *= authority* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **denounce** *in a quote* | past | He | his neighbour |  |  |  | to the police | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent neighbour=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mayor denounced the attack on the mosque.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denounce:x1:1
# text = The mayor denounced the attack on the mosque.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mayor	mayor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	denounced	denounce	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	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mosque	mosque	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 | **denounce** | past | the mayor | the attack |  | the mosque |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attack=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prophet denounced the king for his greed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denounce:x2:1
# text = The prophet denounced the king for his greed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prophet	prophet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	denounced	denounce	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	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	greed	greed	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 | **denounce** | past | the prophet | the king |  |  |  | for prophet's greed | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent king=Theme for greed=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pupils denounced the bullying in a school assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denounce:x3:1
# text = Pupils denounced the bullying in a school assembly.
1	Pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	denounced	denounce	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	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **denounce** | past | Pupils | the bullying |  | a school assembly |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bullying=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spy was denounced to the police.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denounce:x4:1
# text = The spy was denounced to the police.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	denounced	denounce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **denounce** | past · passive | the police | the spy |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many people denounced the plan as unfair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denounce:x5:1
# text = Many people denounced the plan as unfair.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	denounced	denounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **denounce** | past | Many people | the plan |  |  |  | as unfair | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent plan=Theme as unfair=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The church leaders denounced the cruelty to refugees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denounce:x6:1
# text = The church leaders denounced the cruelty to refugees.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	denounced	denounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	refugees	refugee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **denounce** | past | the church leaders | the cruelty |  |  |  | to refugees | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cruelty=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Meanwhile, the townspeople got up a petition against him, and denounced him to the King, saying:

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denounce:x7:1
# text = Meanwhile, the townspeople got up a petition against him, and denounced him to the King, saying:
1	Meanwhile	meanwhile	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	townspeople	townspeople	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	petition	petition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	against	against	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	denounced	denounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get up** | past | the townspeople | a petition |  |  |  | against him *= he*; meanwhile *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer petition=Stimulus |
| 2 | **denounce** | past | the townspeople *not said here* | townspeople |  |  |  | to the King | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | the townspeople *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=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 -->

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