---
title: instigator — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «instigator» in the school dictionary: A person who starts something, especially trouble such as a fight, argument or protest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# instigator

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, teacher, He, She, you, fox · **What happens:** start, cause, begin, want, know, be · **To what, where:** something, action, instigator, treehouse, instigators, story · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«instigator» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [instigator in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/instigator.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who starts something, especially trouble such as a fight, argument or protest.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigator:m1:1
# text = A person who starts something, especially trouble such as a fight, argument or protest.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	protest	protest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | a person | something |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
A person who causes an action or plan to begin: the instigator of the idea.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigator:m2:1
# text = A person who causes an action or plan to begin: the instigator of the idea.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	begin	begin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	instigator	instigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | a person | a action or plan |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition action=Patient |
| 2 | **begin** | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* | the instigator of the idea |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher wanted to know who was the instigator of the snowball fight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigator:x1:1
# text = The teacher wanted to know who was the instigator of the snowball fight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	instigator	instigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	ccomp	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	snowball	snowball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **know** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the teacher *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is a** | past |  | the instigator |  |  |  | of the snowball fight | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was the instigator of the plan to build a treehouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigator:x2:1
# text = He was the instigator of the plan to build a treehouse.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	instigator	instigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	build	build	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	treehouse	treehouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | He | the instigator |  |  |  | of the plan | tree rules |
| 2 | **build** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | a treehouse |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset treehouse=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The instigators of the riot were arrested.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigator:x3:1
# text = The instigators of the riot were arrested.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	instigators	instigator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	riot	riot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	arrested	arrest	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrest** | past · passive |  | the instigators of the riot |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was the instigator of our class charity sale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigator:x4:1
# text = She was the instigator of our class charity sale.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	instigator	instigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	charity	charity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	sale	sale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | She | the instigator |  |  |  | of our charity sale | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be the instigator of unkind games.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigator:x5:1
# text = Don't be the instigator of unkind games.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	instigator	instigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | infinitive |  | the instigator |  |  |  | of unkind games | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the fox was the instigator of every trick in the farmyard.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigator:x6:1
# text = In the story, the fox was the instigator of every trick in the farmyard.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	instigator	instigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	det	_	_
12	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	farmyard	farmyard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the fox | the instigator |  | the story |  | of every trick in the farmyard | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unprepared for this sudden attack he admitted his guilt, but pointed to the wife of Xuthus as the instigator of the crime.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instigator:x7:1
# text = Unprepared for this sudden attack he admitted his guilt, but pointed to the wife of Xuthus as the instigator of the crime.
1	Unprepared	unprepar	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
4	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	admitted	admit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	guilt	guilt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	conj	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	Xuthus	Xuthus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	instigator	instigator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unprepar** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for this sudden attack | tree rules |
| 2 | **admit** *speech: other* | past | he | his guilt |  |  |  |  | vn admit-64.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent guilt=Theme |
| 3 | **point** | participle |  |  | the wife of Xuthus |  |  | as the instigator of the crime | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to wife=Recipient |

<!-- 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 -->

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