---
title: rhetorical — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «rhetorical» in the school dictionary: A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point or for effect, not to get an answer: «Who wants to live in a world without trees?». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# rhetorical

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rhetorical question, question, Rhetorical, art, way, you · **What happens:** be, ask, make, not get, want, live · **To what, where:** question, point, answer, world, way, people · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point or for effect, not to get an answer: «Who wants to live in a world without trees?».

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:m1:1
# text = A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point or for effect, not to get an answer: «Who wants to live in a world without trees?».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rhetorical	rhetorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	asked	ask	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
19	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
22	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	24	nsubj	_	_
24	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	xcomp	_	_
27	in	in	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	_
30	without	without	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
31	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** *speech: other* | present | a rhetorical question | a question |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | participle |  | a question *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a question *not said here* | a point or effect |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset point=Product |
| 4 | **not** **get** | to-infinitive |  | a answer |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer answer=Stimulus |
| 5 | **want** *in a quote* | present | a question |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 6 | **live** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive | a question *not said here* |  |  | a world |  | without trees | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in world=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
Rhetorical means to do with the art of speaking or writing in a way that persuades or impresses people.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:m2:1
# text = Rhetorical means to do with the art of speaking or writing in a way that persuades or impresses people.
1	Rhetorical	Rhetorical	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	writing	write	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	conj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	persuades	persuade	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	impresses	impress	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
19	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Rhetorical |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with the art | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | the art *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **write** | gerund | the art *not said here* |  |  | a way |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in way=Destination |
| 5 | **persuade** | present | a way |  |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **impress** | present | a way *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus people=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Who would want to drop litter in such a beautiful park?" is a rhetorical question.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:x1:1
# text = "Who would want to drop litter in such a beautiful park?" is a rhetorical question.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	csubj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	drop	drop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	12	det:predet	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	rhetorical	rhetorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** *in a quote* | would | a rhetorical question |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **drop** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive | a rhetorical question *not said here* | litter |  | such beautiful park |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent litter=Theme in park=Destination |
| 3 | **be** *speech: other* | present |  | a rhetorical question |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add a rhetorical question to your persuasive letter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:x2:1
# text = Add a rhetorical question to your persuasive letter.
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	rhetorical	rhetorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	persuasive	persuasive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | a rhetorical question |  |  |  | to your persuasive letter | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent question=Patient to letter=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **letter** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Do you think I'm made of money?" Dad asked — it was rhetorical.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Do you think I'm made of money?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:x3:1
# text = "Do you think I'm made of money?"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **make** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | I |  |  |  | of money | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Dad asked — it was rhetorical.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:x3:2
# text = Dad asked — it was rhetorical.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	rhetorical	rhetorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | money |  |  |  |  | rhetorical *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The speaker used rhetorical tricks to excite the crowd.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:x4:1
# text = The speaker used rhetorical tricks to excite the crowd.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	speaker	speaker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	rhetorical	rhetorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tricks	trick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	excite	excite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the speaker | rhetorical tricks |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=Patient |
| 2 | **excite** | to-infinitive | the speaker *not said here* | the crowd |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus crowd=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't answer that, it was a rhetorical question!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:x5:1
# text = Don't answer that, it was a rhetorical question!
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	answer	answer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	rhetorical	rhetorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **answer** *speech: assert* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | that |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent that=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | past | it | a rhetorical question |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is the sky blue? That's rhetorical — of course it is.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Is the sky blue?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:x6:1
# text = Is the sky blue?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	blue	blue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* That's rhetorical — of course it is.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:rhetorical:x6:2
# text = That's rhetorical — of course it is.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	rhetorical	rhetorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADV	8	advmod	_	_
6	course	course	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	fixed	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | That |  |  |  |  | rhetorical *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** | present | course |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «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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