---
title: plausibility — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «plausibility» in the school dictionary: How believable or likely to be true something seems. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# plausibility

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**Who acts:** something, detective, thief, you, your, plausibility · **What happens:** be, seem, doubt, excuse, check, estimate · **To what, where:** plausibility, fake news, idea, plane

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«plausibility» in the school dictionary: its meaning 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: [plausibility in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/plausibility.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How believable or likely to be true something seems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plausibility:m1:1
# text = How believable or likely to be true something seems.
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	believable	believable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	advcl	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
7	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
9	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **seem** | present | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective doubted the plausibility of the thief's excuse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plausibility:x1:1
# text = The detective doubted the plausibility of the thief's excuse.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	doubted	doubt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plausibility	plausibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **doubt** | past | the detective | the plausibility of the thief's excuse |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plausibility=Theme |
| 2 | **excuse** |  | the thief |  |  |  |  |  | nom excuse «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Check the plausibility of your answer by estimating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plausibility:x2:1
# text = Check the plausibility of your answer by estimating.
1	Check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	plausibility	plausibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	estimating	estimate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | imperative | you *not said here* | the plausibility of your answer |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plausibility=Theme |
| 2 | **estimate** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn estimate-34.2-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **answer** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plausibility of the story made people believe the fake news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plausibility:x3:1
# text = The plausibility of the story made people believe the fake news.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plausibility	plausibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the plausibility of the story |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **believe** | infinitive | people | the fake news |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer news=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists test an idea, not just its plausibility.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plausibility:x4:1
# text = Scientists test an idea, not just its plausibility.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	test	test	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	plausibility	plausibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | present | Scientists | a idea and its plausibility |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His excuse had some plausibility, but it wasn't true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plausibility:x5:1
# text = His excuse had some plausibility, but it wasn't true.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	plausibility	plausibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | His excuse | some plausibility |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plausibility=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **is** | past | excuse |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **excuse** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom excuse «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plot lost its plausibility when the dog started flying a plane.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:plausibility:x6:1
# text = The plot lost its plausibility when the dog started flying a plane.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plot	plot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	plausibility	plausibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | past | the plot | plot's plausibility |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plausibility=Eventuality |
| 2 | **start** | past | the dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **fly** | gerund | the dog *not said here* | a plane |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location plane=Theme |

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**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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