---
title: refusal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «refusal» in the school dictionary: A refusal is when someone says no, or will not do, give or accept something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# refusal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** refusal, His, shop, She, horse, Your · **What happens:** be, not do, give, accept, share, make · **To what, where:** something, refusal, refund, polite refusal, last fence, car · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A refusal is when someone says no, or will not do, give or accept something.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refusal:m1:1
# text = A refusal is when someone says no, or will not do, give or accept something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	accept	accept	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
17	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** *speech: assert* | present | a refusal |  |  |  |  | say *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **do** | future |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **give** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **accept** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
His refusal to share made his sister cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refusal:x1:1
# text = His refusal to share made his sister cry.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **share** | to-infinitive |  | His refusal *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle · passive |  | His refusal |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: subject=Beneficiary cry=Product |
| 3 | **refuse** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom refusal «communication transitive»: poss=agent |
| 4 | **cry** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom cry «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop's refusal to give a refund was unfair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refusal:x2:1
# text = The shop's refusal to give a refund was unfair.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	refund	refund	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	unfair	unfair	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 | **give** | to-infinitive | the shop's refusal *not said here* | a refund |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent refund=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | the shop's refusal |  |  |  |  | unfair *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **refuse** |  | the shop |  |  |  |  |  | nom refusal «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a polite but firm refusal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refusal:x3:1
# text = She gave a polite but firm refusal.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a polite refusal |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent refusal=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The horse made a refusal at the last fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refusal:x4:1
# text = The horse made a refusal at the last fence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the horse | a refusal |  | the last fence |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent refusal=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your refusal to get in a stranger's car was exactly right.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refusal:x5:1
# text = Your refusal to get in a stranger's car was exactly right.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	exactly	exactly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	right	right	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 | **get** | to-infinitive | Your refusal *not said here* |  |  | a stranger's car |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | past | Your refusal |  |  |  |  | exactly, right *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **refuse** |  | Your |  |  |  |  |  | nom refusal «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council's refusal surprised everyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refusal:x6:1
# text = The council's refusal surprised everyone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	surprised	surprise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surprise** | past | the council's refusal | everyone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus everyone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **refuse** |  | the council |  |  |  |  |  | nom refusal «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Watanabe could not hold out in his refusal any longer, so he gave in at last, saying:

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:refusal:x7:1
# text = Watanabe could not hold out in his refusal any longer, so he gave in at last, saying:
1	Watanabe	Watanabe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	any	any	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	_
16	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **hold out** | could | Watanabe |  |  | Watanabe's refusal |  | long *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in refusal=Location |
| 2 | **give in** | past | Watanabe |  |  | last |  |  | vn acquiesce-95.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | Watanabe *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **refuse** |  | Watanabe |  |  |  |  |  | nom refusal «communication transitive»: 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 -->

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