---
title: disprove — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «disprove» in the school dictionary: To show that an idea or statement is false by giving facts or evidence. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disprove/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/) / disprove

# disprove

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** idea, rule, experiment, heavy things, One example, number · **What happens:** show, be, give, not work, find, disprove · **To what, where:** facts, one counterexample, idea, rule, maths, claim · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To show that an idea or statement is false by giving facts or evidence.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disprove:m1:1
# text = To show that an idea or statement is false by giving facts or evidence.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
10	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
12	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | a idea or statement |  |  |  |  | false *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** | gerund | a idea or statement *not said here* | facts or evidence |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fact=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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: maths and science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To show a rule does not always work, often by finding one counterexample.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disprove:m2:1
# text = To show a rule does not always work, often by finding one counterexample.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	8	advmod	_	_
8	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	finding	find	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
13	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	counterexample	counterexample	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | to-infinitive | a rule *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **work** | present · do-support | a rule |  |  |  |  | always *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **find** | gerund | a rule *not said here* | one counterexample |  |  |  | often *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent counterexample=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The experiment disproved the idea that heavy things fall faster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disprove:x1:1
# text = The experiment disproved the idea that heavy things fall faster.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	disproved	disprove	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	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	fall	fall	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl	_	_
10	faster	fast	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disprove** | past | the experiment | the idea |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Theme |
| 2 | **fall** | present | heavy things | the idea *not said here* |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient idea=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One example can disprove a rule in maths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disprove:x2:1
# text = One example can disprove a rule in maths.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	disprove	disprove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disprove** | can | One example | a rule |  | maths |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The number 9 disproves the claim that all odd numbers are prime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disprove:x3:1
# text = The number 9 disproves the claim that all odd numbers are prime.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	flat	_	_
4	disproves	disprove	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	claim	claim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
9	odd	odd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	prime	prime	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disprove** | present | the number | the claim |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent claim=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | all odd numbers | the claim *not said here* |  |  |  | prime *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No one could disprove his story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disprove:x4:1
# text = No one could disprove his story.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	2	det	_	_
2	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	disprove	disprove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disprove** | could | no one | his story |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent story=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Galileo helped disprove old ideas about the sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disprove:x5:1
# text = Galileo helped disprove old ideas about the sky.
1	Galileo	Galileo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	disprove	disprove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Galileo |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **disprove** | infinitive | Galileo *not said here* | old ideas |  |  |  | about the sky | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective used the CCTV to disprove the alibi.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disprove:x6:1
# text = The detective used the CCTV to disprove the alibi.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	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	CCTV	CCTV	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	disprove	disprove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the detective | the CCTV |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cctv=Patient |
| 2 | **disprove** | to-infinitive | the detective *not said here* | the alibi |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alibi=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [disproportionate](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/disproportionate/)
- next →: [dispute](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dispute/)
- ↑ back to [D in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/)