---
title: incredulity — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «incredulity» in the school dictionary: Not being able to believe something; great surprise and disbelief. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# incredulity

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, She, face, class, teacher, octopuses · **What happens:** not be, believe, think, stare, show, hear · **To what, where:** something, pure incredulity, three hearts, homework, news, mammal · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not being able to believe something; great surprise and disbelief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulity:m1:1
# text = Not being able to believe something; great surprise and disbelief.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
3	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	surprise	surprise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	disbelief	disbelief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | able *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **believe** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
The look or feeling of someone who thinks «that can't be true!».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulity:m2:1
# text = The look or feeling of someone who thinks «that can't be true!».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	14	nsubj	_	_
11	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
14	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | can | that |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She stared at the huge pumpkin in incredulity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulity:x1:1
# text = She stared at the huge pumpkin in incredulity.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stared	stare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pumpkin	pumpkin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	incredulity	incredulity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stare** | past | She |  |  |  |  | at the huge pumpkin in incredulity | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at pumpkin=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His face showed pure incredulity when he heard he had won.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulity:x2:1
# text = His face showed pure incredulity when he heard he had won.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	incredulity	incredulity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	won	win	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | His face | pure incredulity |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent incredulity=Recipient |
| 2 | **hear** | past | face |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **win** | past · perfect | face |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class listened with incredulity as the teacher said octopuses have three hearts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulity:x3:1
# text = The class listened with incredulity as the teacher said octopuses have three hearts.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	listened	listen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	incredulity	incredulity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	octopuses	octopus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
12	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	hearts	heart	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **listen** | past | the class |  |  |  |  | with incredulity | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **have** | present | octopuses | three hearts |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent heart=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«You did all your homework?» Mum asked with incredulity.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «You did all your homework?»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulity:x4:1
# text = «You did all your homework?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** *in a quote* | past | You | your homework |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Mum asked with incredulity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulity:x4:2
# text = Mum asked with incredulity.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	incredulity	incredulity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Mum |  |  |  |  | with incredulity | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The news was met with incredulity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulity:x5:1
# text = The news was met with incredulity.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	met	meet	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	incredulity	incredulity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past · passive |  | the news |  |  |  | with incredulity | vn satisfy-55.7 «NP V NP PP»: subject=Theme with incredulity=Instrument |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A whale is a mammal, not a fish?» he said with incredulity.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulity:x6:1
# text = «A whale is a mammal, not a fish?» he said with incredulity.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mammal	mammal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	incredulity	incredulity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | a whale | a mammal |  |  |  | a fish *nmod* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | a mammal |  |  |  |  | with incredulity | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent with incredulity=Manner |

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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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