---
title: purport — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «purport» in the school dictionary: To purport to be or do something is to claim to be or do it, when it may not be true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# purport

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, purport, text, bank, formal map, He · **What happens:** purport, be, not be, show, offer, say · **To what, where:** general meaning, bank, scam, hidden treasure, expert, ghost · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To purport to be or do something is to claim to be or do it, when it may not be true.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:m1:1
# text = To purport to be or do something is to claim to be or do it, when it may not be true.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	purport	purport	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	claim	claim	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
17	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	22	advmod	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
19	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
20	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
21	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	cop	_	_
22	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purport** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** *speech: other* | to-infinitive · do-support |  |  |  |  |  | claim *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | do *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **is** | may | it |  |  |  |  | true *property* | 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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The purport of a text is its general meaning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:m2:1
# text = The purport of a text is its general meaning.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	purport	purport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the purport of a text | purport's general meaning |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **purport** |  | a text |  |  |  |  |  | nom purport «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The email purports to be from the bank, but it is a scam.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:x1:1
# text = (formal) The email purports to be from the bank, but it is a scam.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	email	email	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	purports	purport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	scam	scam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the bank |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | bank | a scam |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The map purports to show hidden treasure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:x2:1
# text = (formal) The map purports to show hidden treasure.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	purports	purport	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purport** | present | the formal map |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | the formal map *not said here* | hidden treasure |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent treasure=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) He purports to be an expert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:x3:1
# text = (formal) He purports to be an expert.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	purports	purport	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	expert	expert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The video purported to show a ghost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:x4:1
# text = (formal) The video purported to show a ghost.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	purported	purport	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purport** | past | the formal video |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | the formal video *not said here* | a ghost |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent ghost=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Messages purporting to offer free prizes are often fake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:x5:1
# text = (formal) Messages purporting to offer free prizes are often fake.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
5	purporting	purport	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	offer	offer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	prizes	prize	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purport** | gerund | formal Messages *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **offer** | to-infinitive | formal Messages *not said here* | free prizes |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent prize=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | formal Messages |  |  |  |  | fake, often *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The purport of the letter was clear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:x6:1
# text = (formal) The purport of the letter was clear.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	purport	purport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | formal |  |  |  |  | clear *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **purport** |  | the letter |  |  |  |  |  | nom purport «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(everyday) The email says it's from the bank, but it isn't.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:x7:1
# text = (everyday) The email says it's from the bank, but it isn't.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	everyday	everyday	NUM	LS	_	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	email	email	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the email |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | email |  |  | the bank |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **be** | present | email |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The study purports to prove that sugar helps memory.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:x8:1
# text = (formal) The study purports to prove that sugar helps memory.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	purports	purport	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	prove	prove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
12	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **purport** | present | the formal study |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **prove** | to-infinitive | the formal study *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **help** | present | sugar | memory |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent memory=Beneficiary |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some words passed between them, but their exact purport will probably never be known.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:purport:x9:1
# text = Some words passed between them, but their exact purport will probably never be known.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	passed	pass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	between	between	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	exact	exact	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	purport	purport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
12	probably	probably	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	known	know	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | past | some words |  |  |  |  | between them *= they* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme between they=Location |
| 2 | **not** **know** | future · passive |  | words's exact purport |  |  |  | probably *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Stimulus |
| 3 | **purport** |  | words *= word* |  |  |  |  |  | nom purport «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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 -->
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