---
title: substantiating — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «substantiating» in the school dictionary: Substantiating means proving that something is true by giving facts or evidence (formal). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# substantiating

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, adjective, facts, scientist, police, He · **What happens:** substantiate, mean, prove, be, give, describe · **To what, where:** facts, evidence, claim, idea, anyone, trouble · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Substantiating means proving that something is true by giving facts or evidence (formal).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substantiating:m1:1
# text = Substantiating means proving that something is true by giving facts or evidence (formal).
1	Substantiating	substantiate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	proving	prove	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **substantiate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **prove** *not said to happen* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **give** | gerund | something *not said here* | facts or evidence |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fact=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As an adjective, substantiating describes evidence or facts that support a claim (formal).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substantiating:m2:1
# text = As an adjective, substantiating describes evidence or facts that support a claim (formal).
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	substantiating	substantiate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	support	support	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	claim	claim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **substantiate** | gerund | a adjective *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **describe** | present |  | evidence or facts |  |  |  | as a adjective | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent evidence=Theme as adjective=Attribute |
| 3 | **support** | present | facts | a claim |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer claim=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist is substantiating her idea with careful tests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substantiating:x1:1
# text = The scientist is substantiating her idea with careful tests.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	substantiating	substantiate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	tests	test	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **substantiate** | present · progressive | the scientist | scientist's idea |  |  |  | with careful tests | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police need substantiating evidence before they arrest anyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substantiating:x2:1
# text = The police need substantiating evidence before they arrest anyone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	substantiating	substantiate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	arrest	arrest	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | the police |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **substantiate** *not said to happen* | gerund | the police *not said here* | evidence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **arrest** | present | police | anyone |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anyone=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had trouble substantiating his story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substantiating:x3:1
# text = He had trouble substantiating his story.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	substantiating	substantiate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | He | trouble |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trouble=Patient |
| 2 | **substantiate** | gerund | trouble *not said here* | his story |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Substantiating a rumour means checking the facts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substantiating:x4:1
# text = Substantiating a rumour means checking the facts.
1	Substantiating	substantiate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	checking	check	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **substantiate** | gerund |  | a rumour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Substantiating |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **check** *not said to happen* | gerund | Substantiating *not said here* | the facts |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fact=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your essay should include substantiating examples.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substantiating:x5:1
# text = Your essay should include substantiating examples.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	include	include	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	substantiating	substantiate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	examples	example	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **include** | should | Your essay |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **substantiate** | gerund | Your essay *not said here* | examples |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **essay** |  | Your |  |  |  |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective spent a week substantiating the witness's claims.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:substantiating:x6:1
# text = The detective spent a week substantiating the witness's claims.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spent	spend	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	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	substantiating	substantiate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	witness	witness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	claims	claim	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | past | the detective |  |  |  | week |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **substantiate** | gerund | the detective *not said here* | the witness's claims |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **claim** |  | the witness |  |  |  |  |  | nom claim «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

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**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.

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