---
title: imitation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «imitation» in the school dictionary: A copy of something, often a fake that looks like the real thing. 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/I/imitation/)

<!-- 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/) / [I](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/) / imitation

# imitation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fake, Copying, real, ring, He, Babies · **What happens:** look, copy, be, not make, not look, not be · **To what, where:** something, voice, real, imitation, real gold, great imitation · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«imitation» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings 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: [imitation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/imitation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A copy of something, often a fake that looks like the real thing.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:m1:1
# text = A copy of something, often a fake that looks like the real thing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	copy	copy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fake	fake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | a fake |  |  |  |  | like the real thing | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **copy** |  |  | something |  |  |  |  | nom copy «communication transitive»: of=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Copying someone's voice or actions, often to be funny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:m2:1
# text = Copying someone's voice or actions, often to be funny.
1	Copying	copy	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
11	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | gerund |  | someone's voice or actions |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent voice=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | Copying |  |  |  |  | funny, often *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not real but made to look real: «imitation leather».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:m3:1
# text = Not real but made to look real: «imitation leather».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
2	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	imitation	imitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	leather	leather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **make** | participle · passive |  | real |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **look** | to-infinitive | real *not said here* |  |  |  |  | real *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ring is only an imitation; it isn't real gold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:x1:1
# text = The ring is only an imitation; it isn't real gold.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ring	ring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	imitation	imitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the ring | a imitation and real gold |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | ring | real gold |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He does a great imitation of a chicken.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:x2:1
# text = He does a great imitation of a chicken.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	imitation	imitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	chicken	chicken	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 | **do** | present | He | a great imitation of a chicken |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent imitation=Eventuality |
| 2 | **imitate** |  |  | a chicken |  |  |  |  | nom imitation «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Babies learn to talk by imitation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:x3:1
# text = Babies learn to talk by imitation.
1	Babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learn	learn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	imitation	imitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present | Babies |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **talk** | to-infinitive | Babies *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by imitation | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chair is covered in imitation leather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:x4:1
# text = The chair is covered in imitation leather.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chair	chair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	covered	cover	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	imitation	imitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	leather	leather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cover** | present · passive |  | the chair |  |  |  | in imitation leather | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in leather=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a poor imitation of the famous painting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:x5:1
# text = It was a poor imitation of the famous painting.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	imitation	imitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a poor imitation |  |  |  | of the famous painting | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,» said Gran.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:x6:1
# text = «Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,» said Gran.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Imitation	imitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	sincerest	sincere	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	ccomp	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Imitation | the sincerest form |  |  |  | of flattery | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Gran |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But they all with one voice shouted out that the Clown's imitation was much more true to life.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imitation:x7:1
# text = But they all with one voice shouted out that the Clown's imitation was much more true to life.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	shouted	shout	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Clown	Clown	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	imitation	imitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
15	much	much	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	nsubj	_	_
17	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	advcl	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout out** *speech: express* | participle · passive |  | all |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | past | the Clown's imitation |  |  |  |  | to life; true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **imitate** |  | the Clown |  |  |  |  |  | nom imitation «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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: [imitate](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitate/)
- next →: [immaculate](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaculate/)
- ↑ back to [I in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/)