---
title: incredulous — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «incredulous» in the school dictionary: Not able or not willing to believe something; showing that you do not believe it: an incredulous look. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# incredulous

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Alice, talking toad, crowd, small team, She · **What happens:** believe, show, not believe, give, say, be · **To what, where:** something, it, incredulous look, Hatter, room, head · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«incredulous» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 8 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: [incredulous in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/incredulous.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not able or not willing to believe something; showing that you do not believe it: an incredulous look.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulous:m1:1
# text = Not able or not willing to believe something; showing that you do not believe it: an incredulous look.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	willing	willing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	incredulous	incredulous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 2 | **show** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **believe** | present · do-support | you | it |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alice gave the Hatter an incredulous look.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulous:x1:1
# text = Alice gave the Hatter an incredulous look.
1	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Hatter	Hatter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	incredulous	incredulous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | Alice | a incredulous look | the Hatter |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent hatter=Recipient look=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A talking toad?» said the boy, incredulous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulous:x2:1
# text = «A talking toad?» said the boy, incredulous.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	talking	talking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	incredulous	incredulous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | a talking toad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd was incredulous when the small team won.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulous:x3:1
# text = The crowd was incredulous when the small team won.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	incredulous	incredulous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the crowd |  |  |  |  | incredulous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **win** | past | the small team |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She listened with an incredulous smile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulous:x4:1
# text = She listened with an incredulous smile.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	listened	listen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	incredulous	incredulous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **listen** | past | She |  |  |  |  | with a incredulous smile | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum was incredulous that I had tidied my room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulous:x5:1
# text = Mum was incredulous that I had tidied my room.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	incredulous	incredulous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	tidied	tidy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Mum |  |  |  |  | incredulous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tidy** | past · perfect | I | my room |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Rat stared at Toad, incredulous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulous:x6:1
# text = The Rat stared at Toad, incredulous.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stared	stare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	incredulous	incredulous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He shook his head, incredulous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulous:x7:1
# text = He shook his head, incredulous.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shook	shake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	incredulous	incredulous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | past | He | his head |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent head=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But Penelope, still incredulous, determined to put him to a sure test.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incredulous:x8:1
# text = But Penelope, still incredulous, determined to put him to a sure test.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
2	Penelope	Penelope	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	incredulous	incredulous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	determined	determined	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | to-infinitive |  |  | Penelope |  |  | to a sure test | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent he=Goal |

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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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