---
title: negation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «negation» in the school dictionary: Saying «no» or «not»; making a sentence mean the opposite by adding a word like not, never or no. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# negation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Saying, word, it, opposite, I, you · **What happens:** say, make, mean, add, rain, not be · **To what, where:** sentence, opposite, negation, something, it, nothing · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«negation» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [negation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/negation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying «no» or «not»; making a sentence mean the opposite by adding a word like not, never or no.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:negation:m1:1
# text = Saying «no» or «not»; making a sentence mean the opposite by adding a word like not, never or no.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	csubj	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	1	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	adding	add	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	like	like	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	13	obj	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	no.	no.	NOUN	NN	Abbr=Yes|Number=Sing	23	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .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 |
| 2 | **make** | gerund |  | a sentence |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sentence=Product |
| 3 | **mean** | present | Saying | the opposite |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund | a word |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The opposite of a statement: the negation of «it is raining» is «it is not raining».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:negation:m2:1
# text = The opposite of a statement: the negation of «it is raining» is «it is not raining».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	negation	negation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
9	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** *in a quote* | present · progressive | it | the negation *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | present · progressive | the opposite of a statement |  |  |  |  | rain *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The complete opposite or cancelling out of something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:negation:m3:1
# text = The complete opposite or cancelling out of something.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	cancelling	cancell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cancell** | gerund |  |  |  | something |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I do not like it» is a negation of «I like it».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:negation:x1:1
# text = «I do not like it» is a negation of «I like it».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	csubj	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	negation	negation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **like** *in a quote* | present · do-support | I | it |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a negation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **like** *in a quote* | present | I | negation |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add «not» to make a negation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:negation:x2:1
# text = Add «not» to make a negation.
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	negation	negation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a negation |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset negation=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The negation of «all cats are black» is «not all cats are black».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:negation:x3:1
# text = The negation of «all cats are black» is «not all cats are black».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	negation	negation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	14	det	_	_
14	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
15	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | all cats | the negation *not said here* |  |  |  | black *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the negation |  |  |  |  | black *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Double negation, like «I didn't do nothing», is a dialect form.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:negation:x4:1
# text = Double negation, like «I didn't do nothing», is a dialect form.
1	Double	double	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	negation	negation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
4	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	appos	_	_
10	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	dialect	dialect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **do** *in a quote* | past · do-support | I | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Double negation | a dialect form |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths, the negation of «x is bigger than 5» is «x is not bigger than 5».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:negation:x5:1
# text = In maths, the negation of «x is bigger than 5» is «x is not bigger than 5».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	negation	negation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	x	x	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	conj	_	_
11	than	than	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	x	x	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
20	than	than	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | x |  |  |  |  | than 5; big *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | present | x |  |  | maths and the negation |  | than 5; big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bullying is the negation of kindness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:negation:x6:1
# text = Bullying is the negation of kindness.
1	Bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	negation	negation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bullying | the negation |  |  |  | of kindness | 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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