---
title: inference — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «inference» in the school dictionary: An idea or answer you work out from clues or facts, not from being told directly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# inference

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** idea, act, you, inference, my, teacher · **What happens:** answer, work out, not tell, know, draw, be · **To what, where:** you, clues, something, act, conclusion, garden · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An idea or answer you work out from clues or facts, not from being told directly.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:m1:1
# text = An idea or answer you work out from clues or facts, not from being told directly.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
14	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
15	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	aux:pass	_	_
16	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	advcl	_	_
17	directly	directly	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | infinitive | a idea *not said here* |  | you |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent you=Eventuality |
| 2 | **work out** | infinitive | a idea |  |  | clues or facts |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund · passive | a idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  | directly *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V» |

<!-- .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 act of working something out from what you already know.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:m2:1
# text = The act of working something out from what you already know.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	obl	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	already	already	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work out** | gerund | the act *not said here* | something |  | the act |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **know** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal, maths and science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A conclusion drawn from data or from a set of statements by careful reasoning.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:m3:1
# text = A conclusion drawn from data or from a set of statements by careful reasoning.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	conclusion	conclusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	drawn	draw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	statements	statement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	reasoning	reasoning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | participle |  | a conclusion *not said here* |  |  |  | by careful reasoning; from data or a set of statements | vn split-23.2 «NP V PP.co-patient»: agent=Patient from data=Co-Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
From the muddy boots, my inference was that Dad had been in the garden.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:x1:1
# text = From the muddy boots, my inference was that Dad had been in the garden.
1	From	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	muddy	muddy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	inference	inference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
10	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
12	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	15	cop	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past · perfect | my inference |  |  | the garden |  | from the muddy boots | tree rules |
| 2 | **infer** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom inference «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher asked us to make an inference about why the boy was crying.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:x2:1
# text = Our teacher asked us to make an inference about why the boy was crying.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	inference	inference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
10	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	crying	cry	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Our teacher |  | us |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Our teacher *not said here* | a inference |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset inference=Product |
| 3 | **cry** *speech: express* | past · progressive | the boy |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective's inference was right: the thief had a key.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:x3:1
# text = The detective's inference was right: the thief had a key.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	inference	inference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	key	key	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the detective's inference |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | past | the thief | a key |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent key=Patient |
| 3 | **infer** |  | the detective |  |  |  |  |  | nom inference «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You saw smoke, so the inference is that something is burning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:x4:1
# text = You saw smoke, so the inference is that something is burning.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	inference	inference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	burning	burn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | You | smoke |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer smoke=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | present · progressive | the inference |  |  |  |  | burn *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is only an inference, not a fact, so check it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:x5:1
# text = It is only an inference, not a fact, so check it.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	inference	inference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fact	fact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a inference and a fact |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **check** | infinitive |  | fact |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The report draws an inference from the survey data (formal).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:x6:1
# text = The report draws an inference from the survey data (formal).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	draws	draw	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	inference	inference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	survey	survey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | present | the report | a inference |  | the survey data |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent inference=Theme from data=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By inference, the missing number must be bigger than ten.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inference:x7:1
# text = By inference, the missing number must be bigger than ten.
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	inference	inference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | must | the missing number |  |  |  |  | by inference; than ten; big *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->
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