rhetorical 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
«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 .
Meaning 1 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?».
The tree, 28 words det amod nsubj cop det acl mark xcomp det obj cc case conj punct advmod mark parataxis det obj punct punct nsubj parataxis mark xcomp case det obl case obl punct punct punct root A DET rhetorical ADJ question NOUN is AUX a DET question NOUN asked VERB to PART make VERB a DET point NOUN or CCONJ for ADP effect NOUN , PUNCT not PART to PART get VERB an DET answer NOUN : PUNCT « PUNCT Who PRON wants VERB to PART live VERB in ADP a DET world NOUN without ADP trees NOUN ? PUNCT » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 3 question det 2 rhetorical rhetorical ADJ Degree=Pos 3 question amod 3 question question NOUN Number=Sing 6 question nsubj 4 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 6 question cop 5 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 6 question det 6 question question NOUN Number=Sing root root 7 asked ask VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 6 question acl 8 to to PART _ 9 make mark 9 make make VERB VerbForm=Inf 7 asked xcomp 10 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 11 point det 11 point point NOUN Number=Sing 9 make obj 12 or or CCONJ _ 14 effect cc 13 for for ADP _ 14 effect case 14 effect effect NOUN Number=Sing 11 point conj 15 , , PUNCT _ 18 get punct 16 not not PART Polarity=Neg 18 get advmod 17 to to PART _ 18 get mark 18 get get VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 9 make parataxis 19 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 20 answer det 20 answer answer NOUN Number=Sing 18 get obj 21 : : PUNCT _ 24 wants punct 22 « « PUNCT _ 24 wants punct 23 Who who PRON PronType=Rel 24 wants nsubj 24 wants want VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 6 question parataxis 25 to to PART _ 26 live mark 26 live live VERB VerbForm=Inf 24 wants xcomp 27 in in ADP _ 29 world case 28 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 29 world det 29 world world NOUN Number=Sing 26 live obl 30 without without ADP _ 31 trees case 31 trees tree NOUN Number=Plur 26 live obl 32 ? ? PUNCT _ 24 wants punct 33 » » PUNCT _ 24 wants punct 34 . . PUNCT _ 6 question punct
# 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
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 Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.
Rhetorical means to do with the art of speaking or writing in a way that persuades or impresses people.
The tree, 19 words nsubj mark ccomp case det obl mark acl cc conj case det obl nsubj acl:relcl cc conj obj punct root Rhetorical PROPN means VERB to PART do VERB with ADP the DET art NOUN of SCONJ speaking VERB or CCONJ writing VERB in ADP a DET way NOUN that PRON persuades VERB or CCONJ impresses VERB people NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Rhetorical Rhetorical PROPN Number=Sing 2 means nsubj 2 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 3 to to PART _ 4 do mark 4 do do VERB VerbForm=Inf 2 means ccomp 5 with with ADP _ 7 art case 6 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 7 art det 7 art art NOUN Number=Sing 4 do obl 8 of of SCONJ _ 9 speaking mark 9 speaking speak VERB VerbForm=Ger 7 art acl 10 or or CCONJ _ 11 writing cc 11 writing write VERB VerbForm=Ger 9 speaking conj 12 in in ADP _ 14 way case 13 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 14 way det 14 way way NOUN Number=Sing 11 writing obl 15 that that PRON PronType=Rel 16 persuades nsubj 16 persuades persuade VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 14 way acl:relcl 17 or or CCONJ _ 18 impresses cc 18 impresses impress VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 16 persuades conj 19 people people NOUN Number=Plur 18 impresses obj 20 . . PUNCT _ 2 means punct
# 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 "Who would want to drop litter in such a beautiful park?" is a rhetorical question.
The tree, 15 words punct nsubj aux csubj mark xcomp obj case det:predet det amod obl punct punct cop det amod punct root " PUNCT Who PRON would AUX want VERB to PART drop VERB litter NOUN in ADP such DET a DET beautiful ADJ park NOUN ? PUNCT " PUNCT is AUX a DET rhetorical ADJ question NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 " " PUNCT _ 4 want punct 2 Who who PRON PronType=Rel 4 want nsubj 3 would would AUX VerbForm=Fin 4 want aux 4 want want VERB VerbForm=Inf 18 question csubj 5 to to PART _ 6 drop mark 6 drop drop VERB VerbForm=Inf 4 want xcomp 7 litter litter NOUN Number=Sing 6 drop obj 8 in in ADP _ 12 park case 9 such such DET PronType=Ind 12 park det:predet 10 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 12 park det 11 beautiful beautiful ADJ Degree=Pos 12 park amod 12 park park NOUN Number=Sing 6 drop obl 13 ? ? PUNCT _ 4 want punct 14 " " PUNCT _ 4 want punct 15 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 18 question cop 16 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 18 question det 17 rhetorical rhetorical ADJ Degree=Pos 18 question amod 18 question question NOUN Number=Sing root root 19 . . PUNCT _ 18 question punct
# 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 Add a rhetorical question to your persuasive letter.
det amod obj case nmod:poss amod obl punct root Add VERB a DET rhetorical ADJ question NOUN to ADP your PRON persuasive ADJ letter NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Add add VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 question det 3 rhetorical rhetorical ADJ Degree=Pos 4 question amod 4 question question NOUN Number=Sing 1 Add obj 5 to to ADP _ 8 letter case 6 your your PRON Case=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 8 letter nmod:poss 7 persuasive persuasive ADJ Degree=Pos 8 letter amod 8 letter letter NOUN Number=Sing 1 Add obl 9 . . PUNCT _ 1 Add punct
# 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 "Do you think I'm made of money?" Dad asked — it was rhetorical.
Sentence 1: "Do you think I'm made of money?"
punct aux nsubj nsubj aux:pass ccomp case obl punct punct root " PUNCT Do AUX you PRON think VERB I PRON 'm AUX made VERB of ADP money NOUN ? PUNCT " PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 " " PUNCT _ 4 think punct 2 Do do AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 4 think aux 3 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 4 think nsubj 4 think think VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 5 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 7 made nsubj 6 'm be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 7 made aux:pass 7 made make VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 4 think ccomp 8 of of ADP _ 9 money case 9 money money NOUN Number=Sing 7 made obl 10 ? ? PUNCT _ 4 think punct 11 " " PUNCT _ 4 think punct
# 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
Sentence 2: Dad asked — it was rhetorical.
nsubj punct nsubj cop ccomp punct root Dad NOUN asked VERB — PUNCT it PRON was AUX rhetorical ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Dad dad NOUN Number=Sing 2 asked nsubj 2 asked ask VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 — - PUNCT _ 6 rhetorical punct 4 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 6 rhetorical nsubj 5 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 6 rhetorical cop 6 rhetorical rhetorical ADJ Degree=Pos 2 asked ccomp 7 . . PUNCT _ 2 asked punct
# 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 The speaker used rhetorical tricks to excite the crowd.
det nsubj amod obj mark advcl det obj punct root The DET speaker NOUN used VERB rhetorical ADJ tricks NOUN to PART excite VERB the DET crowd NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 speaker det 2 speaker speaker NOUN Number=Sing 3 used nsubj 3 used use VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 rhetorical rhetorical ADJ Degree=Pos 5 tricks amod 5 tricks trick NOUN Number=Plur 3 used obj 6 to to PART _ 7 excite mark 7 excite excite VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 used advcl 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 crowd det 9 crowd crowd NOUN Number=Sing 7 excite obj 10 . . PUNCT _ 3 used punct
# 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 Don't answer that, it was a rhetorical question!
aux advmod obj punct nsubj cop det amod parataxis punct root Do AUX n't PART answer VERB that PRON , PUNCT it PRON was AUX a DET rhetorical ADJ question NOUN ! PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Do do AUX Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 3 answer aux 2 n't not PART Polarity=Neg 3 answer advmod 3 answer answer VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 4 that that PRON Number=Sing PronType=Dem 3 answer obj 5 , , PUNCT _ 10 question punct 6 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 10 question nsubj 7 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 10 question cop 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 10 question det 9 rhetorical rhetorical ADJ Degree=Pos 10 question amod 10 question question NOUN Number=Sing 3 answer parataxis 11 ! ! PUNCT _ 3 answer punct
# 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 Is the sky blue? That's rhetorical — of course it is.
Sentence 1: Is the sky blue?
cop det compound punct root Is AUX the DET sky NOUN blue NOUN ? PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 4 blue cop 2 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 4 blue det 3 sky sky NOUN Number=Sing 4 blue compound 4 blue blue NOUN Number=Sing root root 5 ? ? PUNCT _ 4 blue punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present the sky blue tree rules
Sentence 2: That's rhetorical — of course it is.
nsubj cop punct advmod fixed nsubj conj punct root That PRON 's AUX rhetorical ADJ — PUNCT of ADP course NOUN it PRON is VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 That that PRON Number=Sing PronType=Dem 3 rhetorical nsubj 2 's be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 3 rhetorical cop 3 rhetorical rhetorical ADJ Degree=Pos root root 4 — - PUNCT _ 8 is punct 5 of of ADP ExtPos=ADV 8 is advmod 6 course course NOUN Number=Sing 5 of fixed 7 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 8 is nsubj 8 is be VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 3 rhetorical conj 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 rhetorical punct
# 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
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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