---
title: fibbing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fibbing» in the school dictionary: Fibbing is telling small lies, usually about unimportant things. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fibbing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fibbing, fibber, you, He, dog, I · **What happens:** tell, be, fib, eat, say, stop · **To what, where:** small lies, someone, fibs, vegetables, homework, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fibbing is telling small lies, usually about unimportant things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fibbing:m1:1
# text = Fibbing is telling small lies, usually about unimportant things.
1	Fibbing	fibbing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	0	root	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	lies	lie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	unimportant	unimportant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | Fibbing | small lies |  |  |  | about unimportant things | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent lie=Recipient about thing=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
A fibber is someone who tells fibs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fibbing:m2:1
# text = A fibber is someone who tells fibs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fibber	fibber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	fibs	fib	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fibber | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present |  | fibs |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent fib=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Are you fibbing about eating your vegetables?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fibbing:x1:1
# text = Are you fibbing about eating your vegetables?
1	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fibbing	fib	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	vegetables	vegetable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fib** | present · progressive | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund | you *not said here* | your vegetables |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vegetable=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was fibbing when he said the dog ate his homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fibbing:x2:1
# text = He was fibbing when he said the dog ate his homework.
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	fibbing	fib	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fib** | past · progressive | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **eat** | past | the dog | dog's homework |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop fibbing and tell me what happened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fibbing:x3:1
# text = Stop fibbing and tell me what happened.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	fibbing	fib	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	7	nsubj	_	_
7	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	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 | **fib** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I caught my brother fibbing about brushing his teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fibbing:x4:1
# text = I caught my brother fibbing about brushing his teeth.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	fibbing	fib	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	brushing	brush	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | I | my brother |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent brother=Theme |
| 2 | **fib** | gerund | my brother *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **brush** | gerund | my brother *not said here* | his teeth |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tooth=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She admitted she had been fibbing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fibbing:x5:1
# text = She admitted she had been fibbing.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	admitted	admit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	aux	_	_
6	fibbing	fib	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **admit** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn confess-37.10 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **fib** | past · perfect · progressive | she |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fibbing gets you into more trouble in the end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fibbing:x6:1
# text = Fibbing gets you into more trouble in the end.
1	Fibbing	fib	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fib** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present |  | you |  | more trouble in the end |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Stimulus |

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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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