---
title: scam — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scam» in the school dictionary: A scam is a dishonest trick to get money or personal information from people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scam

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** scam, someone, email, I, you, link · **What happens:** be, get, say, win, not click, try · **To what, where:** dishonest trick, money, phone, scam, link, Grandma · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«scam» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [scam in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scam.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A scam is a dishonest trick to get money or personal information from people.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:m1:1
# text = A scam is a dishonest trick to get money or personal information from people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scam	scam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	dishonest	dishonest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	personal	personal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a scam | a dishonest trick |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | money or personal information |  |  |  | from people | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent money=Theme from people=Source |

<!-- .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 -->
To scam someone is to cheat them with such a trick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:m2:1
# text = To scam someone is to cheat them with such a trick.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	scam	scam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cheat	cheat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	11	det:predet	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | with such trick; cheat *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That email saying I won a phone is a scam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:x1:1
# text = That email saying I won a phone is a scam.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	email	email	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	scam	scam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | that email *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **win** | past | I | a phone |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent phone=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is a** | present | that email | a scam |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not click the link; it might be a scam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:x2:1
# text = Do not click the link; it might be a scam.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	click	click	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	link	link	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
8	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	scam	scam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **click** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the link |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location link=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | might | link | a scam |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A scammer tried to trick Grandma on the phone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:x3:1
# text = A scammer tried to trick Grandma on the phone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scammer	scammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | a scammer |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **trick** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a scammer *not said here* | Grandma |  | the phone |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grandma=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Free game coins for your password? That is a scam.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Free game coins for your password?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:x4:1
# text = Free game coins for your password?
1	Free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	password	password	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* That is a scam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:x4:2
# text = That is a scam.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	scam	scam	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 | That | a scam |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was scammed out of his pocket money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:x5:1
# text = He was scammed out of his pocket money.
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:pass	_	_
3	scammed	scam	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scam** | past · passive |  | He |  | his pocket money |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell an adult if you think it is a scam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:x6:1
# text = Tell an adult if you think it is a scam.
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	scam	scam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | a adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | adult | a scam |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Real companies never ask for your password.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:x7:1
# text = Real companies never ask for your password.
1	Real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	companies	company	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	ask	ask	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	password	password	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **ask** *speech: ask* | present | Real companies |  |  |  |  | for your password | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If it seems too good to be true, it is probably a scam.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scam:x8:1
# text = If it seems too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	probably	probably	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	scam	scam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | it |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | it | a scam |  |  |  | probably *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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