---
title: evidential — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «evidential» in the school dictionary: Evidential means to do with evidence or serving as evidence, the facts that show whether something is true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# evidential

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Evidential, facts, something, Evidential value, fact, footprint · **What happens:** mean, do, serve, show, be, help · **To what, where:** something, court, real evidential value, evidential basis, evidential sources, evidential details · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Evidential means to do with evidence or serving as evidence, the facts that show whether something is true.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evidential:m1:1
# text = Evidential means to do with evidence or serving as evidence, the facts that show whether something is true.
1	Evidential	Evidential	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	serving	serve	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	appos	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
16	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
17	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	19	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
19	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Evidential |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with evidence | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **serve** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | as evidence | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as evidence=Attribute |
| 4 | **show** | present | the facts |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | 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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Evidential value is how much a fact or object helps prove something in court.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evidential:m2:1
# text = Evidential value is how much a fact or object helps prove something in court.
1	Evidential	evidential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	value	value	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
5	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fact	fact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	object	object	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
11	prove	prove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Evidential value |  |  |  |  | much *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | a fact or object |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **prove** | infinitive | a fact or object *not said here* | something |  | court |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The footprint had real evidential value.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evidential:x1:1
# text = The footprint had real evidential value.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	footprint	footprint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	evidential	evidential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	value	value	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the footprint | real evidential value |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent value=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge asked about the evidential weight of the photo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evidential:x2:1
# text = The judge asked about the evidential weight of the photo.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	evidential	evidential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the judge |  |  |  |  | about the evidential weight of the photo | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V PP.topic whether S»: agent=Agent about weight=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists need an evidential basis for a claim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evidential:x3:1
# text = Scientists need an evidential basis for a claim.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	evidential	evidential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	basis	basis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	claim	claim	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 | **need** | present | Scientists | a evidential basis |  |  |  | for a claim | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot basis=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Diaries are evidential sources for historians.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evidential:x4:1
# text = Diaries are evidential sources for historians.
1	Diaries	diary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	evidential	evidential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sources	source	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	historians	historian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Diaries | evidential sources |  |  |  | for historians | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without the video, there was little evidential support.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evidential:x5:1
# text = Without the video, there was little evidential support.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	6	expl	_	_
6	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	evidential	evidential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | little evidential support |  |  | there |  | without the video | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum records the evidential details of each find.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evidential:x6:1
# text = The museum records the evidential details of each find.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	records	record	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	evidential	evidential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	find	find	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **record** | present | the museum | the evidential details of each find |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent detail=Theme |
| 2 | **detail** |  |  | each find |  |  |  |  | nom detail «cognition transitive»: of=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.

<!-- /div -->

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