argue
part of speech
verb (argue, argues, argued, arguing)
meaning for a pupil
1) To argue means to speak angrily with someone because you disagree. tree →
2) To argue means to give reasons why you think something is true or right. tree →
sense in the lessons
In everyday life and feelings, brothers, sisters and friends argue sometimes; it helps to calm down, listen, take turns and find a fair answer; shouting or hitting is not OK. In school, «argue» also means give reasons: in a debate or a persuasive essay you argue for or against something, using evidence. In maths, «explain your reasoning» is a kind of arguing. In stories, characters argue and then make up.
examples
- My brother and I argue about the remote. tree →
- Don't argue; just share it. tree →
- They argued about whose turn it was. tree →
- She argued that school should start later. tree →
- Argue your point with facts and reasons. tree →
- They stopped arguing and made up. tree →
- It's no use arguing with the referee. tree →
- I tried to argue with him, but in vain. tree →
note
Verb forms: argues, argued, arguing (drop the e). Noun «argument» (no e: argument, not «arguement»). «Argue with someone about something». An argument in school writing is a set of reasons, not a fight.
In the corpora
- A rough patch is a hard time in a relationship, with more arguing or unhappiness, and many couples come through it.
- They may feel guilty, tired or argue about it.
- Scene: at Christmas dinner in Leeds, Grandad and Auntie Jo argue about the government until the gravy goes cold.
- Most people accept tax as the price of public services; they argue about how much and what it is spent on.
- The sign, the selling and the arguing were all added on the way.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «argue» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.