---
title: evasively — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «evasively» in the school dictionary: In a way that avoids giving a clear, direct answer or avoids doing something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# evasively

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, I, he, Toad, Badger, She · **What happens:** avoid, give, do, see, say, answer · **To what, where:** clear direct answer, something, it, vase, subject · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a way that avoids giving a clear, direct answer or avoids doing something.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evasively:m1:1
# text = In a way that avoids giving a clear, direct answer or avoids doing something.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	avoids	avoid	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
8	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	direct	direct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	avoids	avoid	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
14	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	xcomp	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avoid** | present | a way |  |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **give** | gerund | a way *not said here* | a clear direct answer |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |
| 3 | **avoid** | present | a way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **do** | gerund | a way *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I might have seen it,» he said evasively.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evasively:x1:1
# text = «I might have seen it,» he said evasively.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux	_	_
5	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	10	ccomp	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	evasively	evasively	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** *in a quote* | might · perfect | I | it |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  | evasively *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad answered evasively when the Badger asked about the car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evasively:x2:1
# text = Toad answered evasively when the Badger asked about the car.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	evasively	evasively	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | Toad |  |  |  |  | evasively *property* | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the Badger |  |  |  |  | about the car | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V PP.topic whether S»: agent=Agent about car=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She looked away and spoke evasively.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evasively:x3:1
# text = She looked away and spoke evasively.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	evasively	evasively	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look away** | past | She |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | evasively *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When asked who broke the vase, the twins answered evasively.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evasively:x4:1
# text = When asked who broke the vase, the twins answered evasively.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	asked	ask	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	evasively	evasively	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **break** | past |  | the vase |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer vase=Patient |
| 3 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | the twins |  |  |  |  | evasively *property* | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The politician replied evasively to the question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evasively:x5:1
# text = The politician replied evasively to the question.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	politician	politician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	replied	reply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	evasively	evasively	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | past | the politician |  |  |  |  | to the question; evasively *property* | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to question=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Oh, somewhere,» said the Cat evasively.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evasively:x6:1
# text = «Oh, somewhere,» said the Cat evasively.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	evasively	evasively	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the Cat |  |  |  |  | evasively, somewhere *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He shrugged evasively and changed the subject.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evasively:x7:1
# text = He shrugged evasively and changed the subject.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shrugged	shrug	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	evasively	evasively	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shrug** | past | He |  |  |  |  | evasively *property* | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **change** | past | He *not said here* | the subject |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

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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.

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