---
title: justify — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «justify» in the school dictionary: To give a good reason for something; to show that it is right or fair. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# justify

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** reason, edges, you, your, Nothing, She · **What happens:** give, show, be, justify, hit, line up · **To what, where:** good reason, Nothing, text, answer, money, sweets · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To give a good reason for something; to show that it is right or fair.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:m1:1
# text = To give a good reason for something; to show that it is right or fair.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	ccomp	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | to-infinitive |  | a good reason |  |  |  | for something | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent reason=Theme for something=Asset |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | reason |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | reason *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 be a good reason for something, as in «Nothing justifies hitting».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:m2:1
# text = To be a good reason for something, as in «Nothing justifies hitting».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	13	obl	_	_
13	justifies	justify	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
14	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | a good reason |  |  |  | for something | tree rules |
| 2 | **justify** *speech: other* *in a quote* | present |  |  |  | Nothing |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hit** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: computing — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To line up text so both edges are straight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:m3:1
# text = To line up text so both edges are straight.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	line	line	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
6	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	edges	edge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **line up** | to-infinitive |  | text |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme text=Destination |
| 2 | **is** | present | both edges |  |  |  |  | straight *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Justify your answer with a calculation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:x1:1
# text = Justify your answer with a calculation.
1	Justify	justify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	calculation	calculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **justify** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* | your answer |  |  |  | with a calculation | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Topic |
| 2 | **answer** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How can you justify spending all your money on sweets?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:x2:1
# text = How can you justify spending all your money on sweets?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	justify	justify	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	spending	spend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	obj	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **justify** *speech: other* | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **spend** | gerund |  | your money |  |  |  | on sweets *goal* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent money=Asset on sweet=Goal |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing can justify bullying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:x3:1
# text = Nothing can justify bullying.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	justify	justify	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **justify** *speech: other* | can | Nothing | bullying |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bullying=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She justified her choice by showing the data.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:x4:1
# text = She justified her choice by showing the data.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	justified	justify	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **justify** *speech: other* | past | She | her choice |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent choice=Topic |
| 2 | **show** | gerund | She *not said here* | the data |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent data=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you justify why 0.5 is bigger than 0.25?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:x5:1
# text = Can you justify why 0.5 is bigger than 0.25?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	justify	justify	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	0.5	0.5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	advcl	_	_
8	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	0.25	0.25	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **justify** *speech: other* | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | 0.5 |  |  |  |  | than 0.25; big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Justify the text in your report.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:x6:1
# text = Justify the text in your report.
1	Justify	Justify	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **report** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom report «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little boy made no further attempt to justify his conduct.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:justify:x7:1
# text = The little boy made no further attempt to justify his conduct.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
6	further	further	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	attempt	attempt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	justify	justify	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	conduct	conduct	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 | **make** | past | the little boy | no further attempt |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attempt=Product |
| 2 | **justify** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | the little boy *not said here* | boy's conduct |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conduct=Topic |
| 3 | **conduct** |  | boy |  |  |  |  |  | nom conduct «act transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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