---
title: ploy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ploy» in the school dictionary: A clever trick or plan used to get an advantage or to make someone do something. 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/P/ploy/)

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

# ploy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, free toy, Pretending, team, ploy, Adverts · **What happens:** use, get, make, do, be, buy · **To what, where:** clever trick, advantage, someone, something, ploy, us

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clever trick or plan used to get an advantage or to make someone do something.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ploy:m1:1
# text = A clever trick or plan used to get an advantage or to make someone do something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	advantage	advantage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
14	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a clever trick or plan *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | a advantage |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer advantage=Stimulus |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **do** | infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 "free" toy was a ploy to get us to buy more cereal.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ploy:x1:1
# text = The "free" toy was a ploy to get us to buy more cereal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ploy	ploy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl	_	_
11	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	iobj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
14	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	15	advmod	_	_
15	cereal	cereal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the free toy | a ploy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive |  |  | us |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **buy** | to-infinitive |  | cereal |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cereal=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pretending to be ill was a ploy to miss the test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ploy:x2:1
# text = Pretending to be ill was a ploy to miss the test.
1	Pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ploy	ploy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	miss	miss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | past | Pretending | a ploy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **miss** | to-infinitive |  | the test |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer test=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team used a clever ploy to win the ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ploy:x3:1
# text = The team used a clever ploy to win the ball.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	ploy	ploy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the team | a clever ploy |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ploy=Patient |
| 2 | **win** | to-infinitive | the team *not said here* | the ball |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ball=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox's ploy was to flatter the crow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ploy:x4:1
# text = The fox's ploy was to flatter the crow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	ploy	ploy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	flatter	flatter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the fox's ploy |  |  |  |  | flatter *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Adverts use ploys to make you want things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ploy:x5:1
# text = Adverts use ploys to make you want things.
1	Adverts	advert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	ploys	ploy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Adverts | ploys |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ploy=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | Adverts *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **want** | infinitive | you *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot thing=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His ploy didn't work; Mum saw through it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ploy:x6:1
# text = His ploy didn't work; Mum saw through it.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	ploy	ploy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	Mum	Mum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	through	through	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **work** | past · do-support | His ploy |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **see** | past | Mum |  |  | ploy |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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: [plow](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plow/)
- next →: [pluck](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pluck/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)