---
title: impersonate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «impersonate» in the school dictionary: To copy the voice, look or way of moving of someone, usually to make people laugh. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# impersonate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, way, people, He, comedian, scammer · **What happens:** copy, look, move, make, laugh, pretend · **To what, where:** voice, people, person, crime, police officer, Prime Minister

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To copy the voice, look or way of moving of someone, usually to make people laugh.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impersonate:m1:1
# text = To copy the voice, look or way of moving of someone, usually to make people laugh.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	copy	copy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
17	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
18	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the voice |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent voice=Theme |
| 2 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **move** | gerund | way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of someone | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme of someone=Trajectory |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | people |  |  |  | usually *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **laugh** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
To pretend to be another person in order to trick people, which can be a crime, for example pretending to be a police officer.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impersonate:m2:1
# text = To pretend to be another person in order to trick people, which can be a crime, for example pretending to be a police officer.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pretend	pretend	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
8	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	fixed	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	nsubj	_	_
14	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
15	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
21	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
23	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	26	cop	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
25	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	compound	_	_
26	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | another person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **trick** | to-infinitive |  | people and a crime |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 4 | **is a** | can | people and a crime | a crime |  |  |  | for example | tree rules |
| 5 | **pretend** | gerund | people and a crime *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **is a** | to-infinitive | people and a crime *not said here* | a police officer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He can impersonate the head teacher's voice perfectly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impersonate:x1:1
# text = He can impersonate the head teacher's voice perfectly.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	impersonate	impersonate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
9	perfectly	perfectly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impersonate** | can | He | the head teacher's voice |  |  |  | perfectly *property* | vn patent-101 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent voice=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The comedian impersonated the Prime Minister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impersonate:x2:1
# text = The comedian impersonated the Prime Minister.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comedian	comedian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	impersonated	impersonate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Prime	Prime	PROPN	NNP	_	6	compound	_	_
6	Minister	Minister	PROPN	NNP	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 | **impersonate** | past | the comedian | the Prime Minister |  |  |  |  | vn patent-101 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent minister=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A scammer impersonated my aunt's bank in a text message.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impersonate:x3:1
# text = A scammer impersonated my aunt's bank in a text message.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scammer	scammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	impersonated	impersonate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impersonate** | participle | a scammer *not said here* | my aunt's bank |  | a text message |  |  | vn patent-101 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bank=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is a crime to impersonate a police officer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impersonate:x4:1
# text = It is a crime to impersonate a police officer.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	impersonate	impersonate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a crime |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **impersonate** | to-infinitive |  | a police officer |  |  |  |  | vn patent-101 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent officer=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister impersonated a robot in the school play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impersonate:x5:1
# text = My sister impersonated a robot in the school play.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	impersonated	impersonate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impersonate** | participle | My sister | a robot |  | the school play |  |  | vn patent-101 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent robot=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Someone impersonated my friend online, so we reported the account.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impersonate:x6:1
# text = Someone impersonated my friend online, so we reported the account.
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	ccomp	_	_
2	impersonated	impersonate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	online	online	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	reported	report	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	account	account	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **impersonate** | participle |  | my friend |  |  |  | online *property* | vn patent-101 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friend=Theme |
| 2 | **report** | past | we | the account |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent account=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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