---
title: supposition — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «supposition» in the school dictionary: A supposition is an idea or belief that you think is true but have not proved: a guess based on some reasons. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# supposition

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** supposition, you, act, That, we, detective · **What happens:** be, think, not prove, base, suppose, guess · **To what, where:** idea, belief, guess, reasons, act, supposition · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A supposition is an idea or belief that you think is true but have not proved: a guess based on some reasons.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:supposition:m1:1
# text = A supposition is an idea or belief that you think is true but have not proved: a guess based on some reasons.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	supposition	supposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	ccomp	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	proved	prove	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	guess	guess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
20	based	base	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	acl	_	_
21	on	on	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	23	det	_	_
23	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a supposition | a idea or belief |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | you | belief *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot belief=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **prove** | present · perfect |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **base** | participle |  | a guess *not said here* |  | some reasons |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent on reason=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 -->
Supposition is the act of supposing or guessing rather than knowing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:supposition:m2:1
# text = Supposition is the act of supposing or guessing rather than knowing.
1	Supposition	supposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	supposing	suppose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	guessing	guess	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	_
9	rather	rather	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	11	cc	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	knowing	know	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Supposition | the act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **suppose** | gerund | the act *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **guess** | gerund | the act *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **know** | gerund | the act *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That's just supposition — we need evidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:supposition:x1:1
# text = That's just supposition — we need evidence.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	supposition	supposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | supposition |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | we | evidence |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot evidence=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective's supposition turned out to be right.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:supposition:x2:1
# text = The detective's supposition turned out to be right.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	supposition	supposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn out** | past | the detective's supposition |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | the detective's supposition *not said here* |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **suppose** |  | the detective |  |  |  |  |  | nom supposition «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On the supposition that it will rain, we packed coats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:supposition:x3:1
# text = On the supposition that it will rain, we packed coats.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	supposition	supposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	packed	pack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	coats	coat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** | future | it |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pack** | past | we | coats |  | the supposition |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent coat=Theme on supposition=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her supposition was that the cat ate the fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:supposition:x4:1
# text = Her supposition was that the cat ate the fish.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	supposition	supposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her supposition |  |  |  |  | eat *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **suppose** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom supposition «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Science turns suppositions into tested facts or throws them out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:supposition:x5:1
# text = Science turns suppositions into tested facts or throws them out.
1	Science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	suppositions	supposition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	tested	test	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	throws	throw	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | Science | suppositions |  | tested facts |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent supposition=Theme into fact=Trajectory |
| 2 | **test** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **throw out** | present | Science *not said here* | suppositions *= supposition* |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The whole story was based on supposition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:supposition:x6:1
# text = The whole story was based on supposition.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	based	base	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	supposition	supposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **base** | past · passive |  | the whole story |  | supposition |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme on supposition=Source |

<!-- 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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