---
title: pretending — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pretending» in the school dictionary: Pretending means acting as if something is true when it is not, often in a game: pretending to be a dragon. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pretending

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, it, Pretending, We, He, She · **What happens:** pretend, mean, act, be, not be, try · **To what, where:** game, dragon, people, pirates, car, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«pretending» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [pretending in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pretending.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pretending means acting as if something is true when it is not, often in a game: pretending to be a dragon.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:m1:1
# text = Pretending means acting as if something is true when it is not, often in a game: pretending to be a dragon.
1	Pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	acting	act	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	17	mark	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
19	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	advcl	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
21	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	cop	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **act** *not said to happen* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **not** **is** | present | it |  |  | a game |  | often *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **pretend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | a dragon |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
Pretending can also mean trying to trick people by acting falsely: pretending to be ill.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:m2:1
# text = Pretending can also mean trying to trick people by acting falsely: pretending to be ill.
1	Pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	acting	act	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
11	falsely	falsely	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	ccomp	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
15	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	cop	_	_
16	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | can | Pretending |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **try** *not said to happen* | gerund | Pretending *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **trick** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Pretending *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 5 | **act** | gerund | Pretending *not said here* |  |  |  |  | falsely *property* | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **pretend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are pretending to be pirates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:x1:1
# text = We are pretending to be pirates.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	pirates	pirate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | present · progressive | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | pirates |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was pretending to be asleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:x2:1
# text = He was pretending to be asleep.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	asleep	asleep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | past · progressive | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | asleep *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is pretending that the box is a car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:x3:1
# text = She is pretending that the box is a car.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | present · progressive | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the box | a car |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop pretending you did not see me!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:x4:1
# text = Stop pretending you did not see me!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **pretend** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **see** | past · do-support | you | me |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer i=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat is pretending not to care.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:x5:1
# text = The cat is pretending not to care.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | present · progressive | the cat |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **care** | to-infinitive | the cat *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People online may be pretending to be kids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:x6:1
# text = People online may be pretending to be kids.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	online	online	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux	_	_
5	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | may · progressive | People |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive | People *not said here* | kids |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was pretending to be brave, but I was scared.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:x7:1
# text = I was pretending to be brave, but I was scared.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | past · progressive | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | brave *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | scared *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pretending games help you use your imagination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:x8:1
# text = Pretending games help you use your imagination.
1	Pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	imagination	imagination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | Pretending games |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **use** | infinitive | you | your imagination |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent imagination=Patient |
| 4 | **imagine** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom imagination «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“He-he-he!” exclaimed Iktomi, pretending disappointment that his friend had fallen.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretending:x9:1
# text = “He-he-he!” exclaimed Iktomi, pretending disappointment that his friend had fallen.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	exclaimed	exclaim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	Iktomi	Iktomi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
13	disappointment	disappointment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
14	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
17	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **exclaim** *speech: express* | past | He | Iktomi |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent iktomi=Topic |
| 2 | **pretend** | gerund | He *not said here* | disappointment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **fall** | past · perfect | Iktomi's friend |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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