---
title: paradox — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «paradox» in the school dictionary: A statement or idea that seems to contradict itself or seems impossible, but may still be true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# paradox

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** statement, situation, two opposite facts, puzzle, sentence, It · **What happens:** seem, contradict, be, have, reason, lead · **To what, where:** idea, two opposite facts, famous paradox, paradox, strange paradox, tortoise · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A statement or idea that seems to contradict itself or seems impossible, but may still be true.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paradox:m1:1
# text = A statement or idea that seems to contradict itself or seems impossible, but may still be true.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	contradict	contradict	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
16	still	still	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	cop	_	_
18	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | present | a statement or idea |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **contradict** | to-infinitive | a statement or idea *not said here* | idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **seem** | present | a statement or idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | may | a statement or idea |  |  |  | still | true *property* | 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 -->
A situation that has two opposite facts that both seem to be true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paradox:m2:1
# text = A situation that has two opposite facts that both seem to be true.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
6	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	advmod	_	_
10	seem	seem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	cop	_	_
13	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a situation | two opposite facts |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fact=Patient |
| 2 | **seem** | present | two opposite facts |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | to-infinitive | two opposite facts *not said here* |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A puzzle where reasoning leads to an impossible answer, such as "This sentence is false.".

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paradox:m3:1
# text = A puzzle where reasoning leads to an impossible answer, such as "This sentence is false.".
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	4	advmod	_	_
4	reasoning	reason	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	17	mark	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	15	det	_	_
15	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reason** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **lead** | present | a puzzle |  |  |  |  | to a impossible answer | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to answer=Patient |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present | this sentence |  |  |  |  | false *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"This sentence is false" is a famous paradox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paradox:x1:1
# text = "This sentence is false" is a famous paradox.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	paradox	paradox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | this sentence |  |  |  |  | false *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a famous paradox |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's a paradox that the busiest people often have the most time to help.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paradox:x2:1
# text = It's a paradox that the busiest people often have the most time to help.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	paradox	paradox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	busiest	busy	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	amod	_	_
13	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a paradox |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | the busiest people |  |  |  | time | often *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive | the busiest people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The time machine story had a strange paradox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paradox:x3:1
# text = The time machine story had a strange paradox.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	paradox	paradox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the machine story | a strange paradox |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent paradox=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Less is more" sounds like a paradox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paradox:x4:1
# text = "Less is more" sounds like a paradox.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	paradox	paradox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | Less *not said here* |  |  |  |  | more *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sound** | present | Less |  |  |  |  | like a paradox | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Zeno's paradox says a runner can never catch a tortoise, but in real life he does.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paradox:x5:1
# text = Zeno's paradox says a runner can never catch a tortoise, but in real life he does.
1	Zeno	Zeno	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	paradox	paradox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	runner	runner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Zeno's paradox |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **catch** | can | a runner | a tortoise |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tortoise=Theme |
| 3 | **do** | present | runner |  |  | real life |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a paradox: the more she tried to sleep, the more awake she felt.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paradox:x6:1
# text = It was a paradox: the more she tried to sleep, the more awake she felt.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	paradox	paradox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	sleep	sleep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	15	advmod	_	_
15	awake	awake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	_
16	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a paradox |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **sleep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | she *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **feel** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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