---
title: liar — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «liar» in the school dictionary: A liar is a person who tells lies, saying things they know are not true to trick someone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liar/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/) / liar

# liar

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** liar, person, things, Calling, you, they · **What happens:** be, tell, say, know, not be, trick · **To what, where:** person, lies, things, someone, truth, wolf · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A liar is a person who tells lies, saying things they know are not true to trick someone.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:m1:1
# text = A liar is a person who tells lies, saying things they know are not true to trick someone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	lies	lie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	ccomp	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	advcl	_	_
19	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a liar | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | a person | lies |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent lie=Recipient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **know** | present | things *= thing* | things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer thing=Stimulus |
| 5 | **not** **is** | present | things |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **trick** | to-infinitive | things *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Calling someone a liar means you think they are not telling the truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:m2:1
# text = Calling someone a liar means you think they are not telling the truth.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	ccomp	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme liar=Result |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Calling |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | they | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boy who cried wolf was a liar, so nobody came to help.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:x1:1
# text = The boy who cried wolf was a liar, so nobody came to help.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	wolf	wolf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	12	nsubj	_	_
12	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | the boy | wolf |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wolf=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the boy | a liar |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **come** | past | nobody | a liar *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **help** | to-infinitive | nobody *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't call your sister a liar; ask her what happened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:x2:1
# text = Don't call your sister a liar; ask her what happened.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	iobj	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	12	nsubj	_	_
12	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **call** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  | your sister |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent sister=Recipient |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | her *= she* |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S»: agent=Agent she=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is a terrible liar; he always goes red.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:x3:1
# text = He is a terrible liar; he always goes red.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	advmod	_	_
9	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | a terrible liar |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | he |  |  |  |  | always, red *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good friend is not a liar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:x4:1
# text = A good friend is not a liar.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | a good friend | a liar |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nobody believed the liar when he finally told the truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:x5:1
# text = Nobody believed the liar when he finally told the truth.
1	Nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believed	believe	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	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | past | Nobody | the liar |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer liar=Stimulus |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | he | the truth |  |  |  | finally *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective worked out who the liar was.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:x6:1
# text = The detective worked out who the liar was.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work out** | past | the detective |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **be** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Liar, liar, pants on fire! shouted the children in the story.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:x7:1
# text = Liar, liar, pants on fire! shouted the children in the story.
1	Liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	pants	pants	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	1	conj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
9	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | Liar and liar and pants on fire | the children |  | the story |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"You are an impudent liar!" cried the genius.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liar:x8:1
# text = "You are an impudent liar!" cried the genius.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	impudent	impudent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	genius	genius	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | You | a impudent liar |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | a impudent liar | the genius |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent genius=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [liaison](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liaison/)
- next →: [libation](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/libation/)
- ↑ back to [L in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/)