---
title: oversimplification — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «oversimplification» in the school dictionary: A way of explaining something that makes it far too simple, so that important parts are left out and it becomes wrong or misleading. 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/O/oversimplification/)

<!-- 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/) / [O](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/) / oversimplification

# oversimplification

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, act, plants, Saying, It, war · **What happens:** explain, make, leave out, become, say, eat · **To what, where:** something, way, important parts, soil, oversimplification, bones · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A way of explaining something that makes it far too simple, so that important parts are left out and it becomes wrong or misleading.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oversimplification:m1:1
# text = A way of explaining something that makes it far too simple, so that important parts are left out and it becomes wrong or misleading.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	explaining	explain	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	_
10	too	too	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	18	mark	_	_
14	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
19	out	out	ADP	RP	_	18	compound:prt	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	becomes	become	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
23	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	xcomp	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	misleading	misleading	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | gerund | a way *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | present |  | way |  |  |  | simple *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 3 | **leave out** | present · passive |  | important parts |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 4 | **become** | present | way |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The act of making something too simple.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oversimplification:m2:1
# text = The act of making something too simple.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund | the act *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying "plants eat soil" is an oversimplification.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oversimplification:x1:1
# text = Saying "plants eat soil" is an oversimplification.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	csubj	_	_
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
5	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	oversimplification	oversimplification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	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 | **eat** *in a quote* | present | plants | soil |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent soil=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Saying | a oversimplification |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is an oversimplification to say the war started because of one shot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oversimplification:x2:1
# text = It is an oversimplification to say the war started because of one shot.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	oversimplification	oversimplification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
10	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	shot	shot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a oversimplification |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **start** | past | the war |  |  |  |  | because one shot | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"All dogs love bones" is an oversimplification.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oversimplification:x3:1
# text = "All dogs love bones" is an oversimplification.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl	_	_
5	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	oversimplification	oversimplification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** *in a quote* | present | all dogs | bones |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer bone=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a oversimplification |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher said our poster was clear but an oversimplification.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oversimplification:x4:1
# text = The teacher said our poster was clear but an oversimplification.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	poster	poster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	oversimplification	oversimplification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | our poster |  |  |  |  | clear *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **post** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom poster «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling the weather "just hot or cold" is an oversimplification.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oversimplification:x5:1
# text = Calling the weather "just hot or cold" is an oversimplification.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	oversimplification	oversimplification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  | the weather |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent weather=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Calling | a oversimplification |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some oversimplification helps beginners learn, but later you need the details.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oversimplification:x6:1
# text = Some oversimplification helps beginners learn, but later you need the details.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	oversimplification	oversimplification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	beginners	beginner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	10	advmod	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | some oversimplification | beginners |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent beginner=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **learn** | infinitive | beginners *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **need** | present | you | the details |  |  |  | late *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot detail=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 -->

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