---
title: polygraph — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «polygraph» in the school dictionary: A polygraph is a machine that measures a person's breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and sweating while they answer questions; it is often called a «lie detector». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# polygraph

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** polygraph, machine, blood pressure, breathing, person, polygraph test · **What happens:** be, measure, sweat, answer, call, breathe · **To what, where:** machine, breathing, questions, polygraph, questioning, suspect · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A polygraph is a machine that measures a person's breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and sweating while they answer questions; it is often called a «lie detector».

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polygraph:m1:1
# text = A polygraph is a machine that measures a person's breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and sweating while they answer questions; it is often called a «lie detector».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	polygraph	polygraph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	measures	measure	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	breathing	breathing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	heartbeat	heartbeat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	pressure	pressure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	sweating	sweat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	acl	_	_
19	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
20	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	answer	answer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	advcl	_	_
22	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	27	punct	_	_
24	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	27	nsubj:pass	_	_
25	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	aux:pass	_	_
26	often	often	ADV	RB	_	27	advmod	_	_
27	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
29	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	lie	lie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	_
31	detector	detector	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a polygraph | a machine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **measure** | present | a machine | a person's breathing and heartbeat and blood pressure |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme breathing=Value |
| 3 | **sweat** | gerund | blood pressure *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **answer** *speech: assert* | present | breathing | questions |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |
| 5 | **call** | present · passive | a machine *not said here* | polygraph |  |  |  | often *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 6 | **breathe** |  | a person |  |  |  |  |  | nom breathing «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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 polygraph test is the questioning done with this machine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polygraph:m2:1
# text = A polygraph test is the questioning done with this machine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	polygraph	polygraph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	questioning	questioning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a polygraph test | the questioning |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | participle |  | the questioning *not said here* |  |  |  | with this machine | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective asked the suspect to take a polygraph test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polygraph:x1:1
# text = The detective asked the suspect to take a polygraph test.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	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	suspect	suspect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	polygraph	polygraph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the detective | the suspect |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent suspect=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **take** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the suspect *not said here* | a polygraph test |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent test=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A polygraph measures how fast your heart beats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polygraph:x2:1
# text = A polygraph measures how fast your heart beats.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	polygraph	polygraph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	measures	measure	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
5	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	beats	beat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **measure** | present | a polygraph |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **beat** | present | your heart |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was so nervous that the polygraph showed he was lying, but he was telling the truth.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polygraph:x3:1
# text = He was so nervous that the polygraph showed he was lying, but he was telling the truth.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	polygraph	polygraph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | nervous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | past | the polygraph |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **lie** | past · progressive | polygraph |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past · progressive | polygraph | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists say polygraphs are not always right.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polygraph:x4:1
# text = Scientists say polygraphs are not always right.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	polygraphs	polygraph	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	7	advmod	_	_
7	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | polygraphs |  |  |  |  | always, right *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the film the spy fooled the polygraph.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polygraph:x5:1
# text = In the film the spy fooled the polygraph.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	fooled	fool	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	polygraph	polygraph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fool** | past | the spy | the polygraph |  | the film |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent polygraph=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The polygraph has wires that go on your fingers and chest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:polygraph:x6:1
# text = The polygraph has wires that go on your fingers and chest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	polygraph	polygraph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	wires	wire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	chest	chest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the polygraph | wires |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wire=Patient |
| 2 | **go** | present | wires |  |  | your fingers and chest |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on finger=Location |

<!-- 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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