---
title: feigning — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «feigning» in the school dictionary: Pretending to have a feeling, illness or state that is not real: «feigning sleep», «feigning surprise». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# feigning

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** illness, Pretending, He, opossum, She, you · **What happens:** pretend, have, not be, feign, miss, survive · **To what, where:** feeling, sleep, surprise, illness, test, death · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pretending to have a feeling, illness or state that is not real: «feigning sleep», «feigning surprise».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feigning:m1:1
# text = Pretending to have a feeling, illness or state that is not real: «feigning sleep», «feigning surprise».
1	Pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	feigning	feign	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
17	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	feigning	feign	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	conj	_	_
22	surprise	surprise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | to-infinitive |  | a feeling |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feeling=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present | illness or state |  |  |  |  | real *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **feign** *in a quote* | gerund | Pretending | sleep |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sleep=Patient |
| 5 | **feign** *in a quote* | gerund | Pretending *not said here* | surprise |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent surprise=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
He was feigning illness to miss the test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feigning:x1:1
# text = He was feigning illness to miss the test.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	feigning	feign	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	miss	miss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feign** | past · progressive | He | illness |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent illness=Patient |
| 2 | **miss** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the test |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer test=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The opossum survives by feigning death.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feigning:x2:1
# text = The opossum survives by feigning death.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	opossum	opossum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	survives	survive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	feigning	feign	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **survive** | present | the opossum |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **feign** | gerund | the opossum *not said here* | death |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent death=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She lay still, feigning sleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feigning:x3:1
# text = She lay still, feigning sleep.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	feigning	feign	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | past | She |  |  |  | still |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **feign** | gerund | She *not said here* | sleep |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sleep=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was feigning surprise, but he knew about the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feigning:x4:1
# text = He was feigning surprise, but he knew about the party.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	feigning	feign	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	surprise	surprise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feign** | past · progressive | He | surprise |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent surprise=Patient |
| 2 | **know** | past | he |  |  |  |  | about the party | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer about party=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop feigning — I know you're awake!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feigning:x5:1
# text = Stop feigning — I know you're awake!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	feigning	feign	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	awake	awake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **feign** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **know** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | awake *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bird was feigning a broken wing to lead the fox away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feigning:x6:1
# text = The bird was feigning a broken wing to lead the fox away.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	feigning	feign	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	wing	wing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	lead	lead	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	away	away	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feign** | past · progressive | the bird | a broken wing |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **lead away** | to-infinitive | the bird *not said here* | the fox |  |  |  | away *property* | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fox=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 -->

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