---
title: pretext — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pretext» in the school dictionary: A false reason given to hide the real reason for doing something: «He called on the pretext of borrowing sugar, but really he wanted to see the puppy.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pretext

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** real reason, He, pretext, She, invaders, Asking · **What happens:** give, hide, do, call, borrow, want · **To what, where:** false reason, real reason, something, pretext, sugar, puppy · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«pretext» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [pretext in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pretext.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A false reason given to hide the real reason for doing something: «He called on the pretext of borrowing sugar, but really he wanted to see the puppy.».

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretext:m1:1
# text = A false reason given to hide the real reason for doing something: «He called on the pretext of borrowing sugar, but really he wanted to see the puppy.».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hide	hide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	pretext	pretext	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
20	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
21	borrowing	borrow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	19	acl	_	_
22	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
24	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
25	really	really	ADV	RB	_	27	advmod	_	_
26	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	27	nsubj	_	_
27	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	_
28	to	to	PART	TO	_	29	mark	_	_
29	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	xcomp	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | participle |  | a false reason *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **hide** | to-infinitive |  | the real reason |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reason=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | gerund | the real reason *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **call** *in a quote* | past | He |  |  | the pretext |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **borrow** *in a quote* | gerund | the pretext *not said here* | sugar |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sugar=Theme |
| 6 | **want** *in a quote* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 7 | **see** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | the puppy |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer puppy=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
An excuse used to start something, like a fight or a war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretext:m2:1
# text = An excuse used to start something, like a fight or a war.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a excuse *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She went to the kitchen on the pretext of getting water, but really she wanted biscuits.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretext:x1:1
# text = She went to the kitchen on the pretext of getting water, but really she wanted biscuits.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pretext	pretext	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	amod	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	really	really	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
17	biscuits	biscuit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | She |  |  | the pretext of getting water |  | to the kitchen | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to kitchen=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **get** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **want** | past | she | biscuits |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot biscuit=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The invaders used a small border fight as a pretext for war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretext:x2:1
# text = The invaders used a small border fight as a pretext for war.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	invaders	invader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	border	border	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pretext	pretext	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the invaders | a small border fight |  |  |  | as a pretext for war | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent fight=Duration as pretext=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scammer phoned on the pretext of checking the bank account.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretext:x3:1
# text = The scammer phoned on the pretext of checking the bank account.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scammer	scammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	phoned	phone	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pretext	pretext	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	checking	check	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	account	account	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **phone** | participle |  | the scammer *not said here* |  | the pretext |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **check** | gerund | the pretext *not said here* | the bank account |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent account=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He made up a pretext to leave the party early.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretext:x4:1
# text = He made up a pretext to leave the party early.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pretext	pretext	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make up** | past | He | a pretext |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme pretext=Pivot |
| 2 | **leave** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the party |  |  |  | early *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent party=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Asking for directions was just a pretext to start talking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretext:x5:1
# text = Asking for directions was just a pretext to start talking.
1	Asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	directions	direction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pretext	pretext	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for directions | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Asking | a pretext |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **start** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never give your password, whatever pretext someone gives.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretext:x6:1
# text = Never give your password, whatever pretext someone gives.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	password	password	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	whatever	whatever	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	7	det	_	_
7	pretext	pretext	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
9	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **give** | imperative | you *not said here* | your password |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent password=Theme |
| 2 | **give** | present | someone | whatever pretext *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pretext=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then he leaves the room, under the pretext of giving an order, and Nikita takes his place.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pretext:x7:1
# text = Then he leaves the room, under the pretext of giving an order, and Nikita takes his place.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	pretext	pretext	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
10	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	Nikita	Nikita	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
18	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present | he | the room |  |  | then |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent room=Theme |
| 2 | **give** | gerund | the pretext *not said here* | a order |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent order=Theme |
| 3 | **take** | present | Nikita | Nikita's place |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent place=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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