---
title: manipulation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «manipulation» in the school dictionary: Controlling or influencing people in a clever and unfair way, so they do what you want. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# manipulation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, you, Saying, Photo manipulation, fake picture, Algebraic manipulation · **What happens:** control, influence, do, want, move, change · **To what, where:** people, clever way, body parts, parts, friend, kind · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«manipulation» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [manipulation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/manipulation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Controlling or influencing people in a clever and unfair way, so they do what you want.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:m1:1
# text = Controlling or influencing people in a clever and unfair way, so they do what you want.
1	Controlling	control	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	influencing	influence	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
15	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	17	obj	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **influence** | gerund |  | people |  | a clever way |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Skilful handling or moving of something with the hands or a tool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:m2:1
# text = Skilful handling or moving of something with the hands or a tool.
1	Skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	handling	handling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | of something | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme of something=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Changing information, numbers or pictures, sometimes to trick people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:m3:1
# text = Changing information, numbers or pictures, sometimes to trick people.
1	Changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	10	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	trick	trick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **trick** | to-infinitive |  | people |  |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving or pressing body parts to treat them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:m4:1
# text = Moving or pressing body parts to treat them.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	pressing	press	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	treat	treat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **press** | gerund |  | body parts |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Theme |
| 3 | **treat** | to-infinitive |  | parts *= part* |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying «If you were my friend you'd do it» can be a kind of manipulation.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:x1:1
# text = Saying «If you were my friend you'd do it» can be a kind of manipulation.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	csubj	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	advcl	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	'd	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	ccomp	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
13	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	manipulation	manipulation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | past | you | my friend |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** *in a quote* | would | you | friend |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 4 | **is a** | can | Saying | a kind |  |  |  | of manipulation | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Photo manipulation can make a fake picture look real.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:x2:1
# text = Photo manipulation can make a fake picture look real.
1	Photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	manipulation	manipulation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
9	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | Photo manipulation | a fake picture |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | infinitive | a fake picture *not said here* |  |  |  |  | real *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Algebraic manipulation helped us solve for y.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:x3:1
# text = Algebraic manipulation helped us solve for y.
1	Algebraic	Algebraic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	manipulation	manipulation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	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	obj	_	_
5	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	y	y	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Algebraic manipulation | us |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **solve** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for y | vn discover-84 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Playing with clay improves children's manipulation of small objects.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:x4:1
# text = Playing with clay improves children's manipulation of small objects.
1	Playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	improves	improve	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	manipulation	manipulation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	objects	object	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | with clay | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with clay=Theme |
| 2 | **improve** | present | Playing | children's manipulation of small objects |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent manipulation=Patient |
| 3 | **manipulate** |  | children | small objects |  |  |  |  | nom manipulation «act transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The advert used clever manipulation of our feelings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:x5:1
# text = The advert used clever manipulation of our feelings.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	advert	advert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	manipulation	manipulation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **manipulate** |  |  | our feelings |  |  |  |  | nom manipulation «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Data manipulation can make a graph tell a false story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:x6:1
# text = Data manipulation can make a graph tell a false story.
1	Data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	manipulation	manipulation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	graph	graph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | Data manipulation | a graph |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | a graph *not said here* | a false story |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The physiotherapist used gentle manipulation on Dad's back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:x7:1
# text = The physiotherapist used gentle manipulation on Dad's back.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	physiotherapist	physiotherapist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	manipulation	manipulation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the physiotherapist | gentle manipulation |  | Dad's back |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent manipulation=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Learning to spot manipulation keeps you safer online.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:manipulation:x8:1
# text = Learning to spot manipulation keeps you safer online.
1	Learning	learn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	spot	spot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	manipulation	manipulation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	safer	safe	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	xcomp	_	_
8	online	online	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **spot** | to-infinitive |  | manipulation |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme manipulation=Destination |
| 3 | **keep** | present | Learning | you |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

<!-- 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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