---
title: deny — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deny» in the school dictionary: To deny something is to say that it is not true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deny

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, you, He, She, guard, dog · **What happens:** deny, be, not be, do, not do, not give · **To what, where:** something, it, someone, them, last biscuit, crumbs · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«deny» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [deny in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deny.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To deny something is to say that it is not true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:m1:1
# text = To deny something is to say that it is not true.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	deny	deny	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deny** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **be** *speech: assert* | present |  |  |  |  |  | say *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | true *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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To deny that you did something is to say you did not do it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:m2:1
# text = To deny that you did something is to say you did not do it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	deny	deny	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deny** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | past | you | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **be** *speech: assert* | present |  |  |  |  |  | say *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **do** | past · do-support | you | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To deny someone something is to refuse to give or allow it to them.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:m3:1
# text = To deny someone something is to refuse to give or allow it to them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	deny	deny	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	refuse	refuse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	allow	allow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deny** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | refuse *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **give** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **allow** | infinitive |  | it | them *= they* |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent it=Theme to they=Goal |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He denied eating the last biscuit, but he had crumbs on his chin.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:x1:1
# text = He denied eating the last biscuit, but he had crumbs on his chin.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	denied	deny	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	crumbs	crumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	chin	chin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deny** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund | He *not said here* | the last biscuit |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biscuit=Patient |
| 3 | **have** | past | he | crumbs |  | his chin |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crumb=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She denied that she had told the secret.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:x2:1
# text = She denied that she had told the secret.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	denied	deny	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	secret	secret	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 | **deny** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past · perfect | she | the secret |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent secret=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You can't deny that you were late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:x3:1
# text = You can't deny that you were late.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	deny	deny	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **deny** | can | You |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | you |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guard denied them entry to the castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:x4:1
# text = The guard denied them entry to the castle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	denied	deny	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	entry	entry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	castle	castle	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 | **deny** | past | the guard | them *= they* |  |  |  | to the castle | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme entry=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog was denied a treat because he chewed the shoe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:x5:1
# text = The dog was denied a treat because he chewed the shoe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	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	denied	deny	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	treat	treat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	chewed	chew	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	shoe	shoe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deny** | past · passive |  | the dog |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: subject=Theme treat=Eventuality |
| 2 | **chew** | past | dog | the shoe |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nobody can deny that she worked hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:x6:1
# text = Nobody can deny that she worked hard.
1	Nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	deny	deny	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deny** | can | Nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **work** | past | she |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher asked who did it, and everyone denied it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:x7:1
# text = The teacher asked who did it, and everyone denied it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	10	nsubj	_	_
10	denied	deny	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | past |  | teacher |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 3 | **deny** | past | everyone | teacher |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The queen turned very red and hot, but couldn’t deny it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deny:x8:1
# text = The queen turned very red and hot, but couldn’t deny it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n’t	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	deny	deny	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the queen |  |  |  |  | red *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **deny** | could | the queen *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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