---
title: overstated — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «overstated» in the school dictionary: Said to be bigger, more important or worse than it really is; exaggerated. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# overstated

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, way, danger, He, importance, advert · **What happens:** say, be, exaggerate, make, seem, overstate · **To what, where:** something, way, danger, many goals, hands, importance · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Said to be bigger, more important or worse than it really is; exaggerated.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overstated:m1:1
# text = Said to be bigger, more important or worse than it really is; exaggerated.
1	Said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	1	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
7	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	conj	_	_
10	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	really	really	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
15	exaggerated	exaggerate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | big *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **exaggerate** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
verb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overstated:m2:1
# text = verb.
1	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Said something in a way that made it seem bigger or more important than it truly was.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overstated:m2e:1
# text = Said something in a way that made it seem bigger or more important than it truly was.
1	Said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	seem	seem	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	ccomp	_	_
10	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	xcomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	conj	_	_
13	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
14	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	truly	truly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  | something |  | a way |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | past | a way |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **seem** | infinitive | it |  |  |  |  | big *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **be** | past | way |  |  |  |  | truly *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The danger from the spider was overstated; it is harmless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overstated:x1:1
# text = The danger from the spider was overstated; it is harmless.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	overstated	overstate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overstate** *speech: other* | past · passive |  | the danger from the spider |  |  |  |  | vn overstate-37.12 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | danger |  |  |  |  | harmless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He overstated how many goals he scored.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overstated:x2:1
# text = He overstated how many goals he scored.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	overstated	overstate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	goals	goal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	scored	score	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overstate** *speech: other* | past | He | many goals |  |  |  |  | vn overstate-37.12 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goal=Theme |
| 2 | **score** | past | he | many goals *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goal=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The importance of washing your hands cannot be overstated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overstated:x3:1
# text = The importance of washing your hands cannot be overstated.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	importance	importance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	washing	wash	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	overstated	overstate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | gerund | the importance *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **overstate** *speech: other* | can · passive |  | the importance |  |  |  |  | vn overstate-37.12 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The advert overstated how fast the toy car could go.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overstated:x4:1
# text = The advert overstated how fast the toy car could go.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	advert	advert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	overstated	overstate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
5	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overstate** *speech: other* | past | the advert |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn overstate-37.12 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **go** | could | the toy car |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reports of the storm damage were overstated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overstated:x5:1
# text = Reports of the storm damage were overstated.
1	Reports	report	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	overstated	overstate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overstate** *speech: other* | past · passive |  | Reports of the storm damage |  |  |  |  | vn overstate-37.12 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **report** |  |  | the storm damage |  |  |  |  | nom report «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She admitted she had overstated the problem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overstated:x6:1
# text = She admitted she had overstated the problem.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	admitted	admit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	overstated	overstate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **admit** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn confess-37.10 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **overstate** *speech: other* | past · perfect · passive |  | she |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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