---
title: abreast — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «abreast» in the school dictionary: Abreast means side by side, facing the same way: «three abreast». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# abreast

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Abreast, car, We, cyclists, runner, Dad · **What happens:** mean, face, draw, keep, change, stay up · **To what, where:** side, same way, level, bus, lane, last lap · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«abreast» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [abreast in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abreast.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Abreast means side by side, facing the same way: «three abreast».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:m1:1
# text = Abreast means side by side, facing the same way: «three abreast».
1	Abreast	abreast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	facing	face	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	abreast	abreast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Abreast | side |  |  |  | by side | tree rules |
| 2 | **face** | gerund | Abreast *not said here* | the same way |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme way=Destination |

<!-- .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 -->
Abreast of something means level with it: «The car drew abreast of the bus.».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:m2:1
# text = Abreast of something means level with it: «The car drew abreast of the bus.».
1	Abreast	Abreast	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
13	abreast	abreast	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Abreast | level |  |  |  | of something; with level | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** *in a quote* | past | the car | the bus |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bus=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To keep abreast of news or changes means to stay up to date with them.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:m3:1
# text = To keep abreast of news or changes means to stay up to date with them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	csubj	_	_
3	abreast	abreast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	date	date	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | abreast *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **change** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **stay up** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | to date; with them *= they* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme with they=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We walked to the museum two abreast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:x1:1
# text = We walked to the museum two abreast.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	flat	_	_
7	abreast	abreast	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | We |  |  |  |  | to the museum *result*; abreast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme to museum=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cyclists rode three abreast and blocked the lane.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:x2:1
# text = The cyclists rode three abreast and blocked the lane.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cyclists	cyclist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rode	ride	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	abreast	abreast	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	blocked	block	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lane	lane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ride** | past | the cyclists |  |  |  |  | abreast *property* | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **block** | past | the cyclists *not said here* | the lane |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer lane=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The runner drew abreast of the leader on the last lap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:x3:1
# text = The runner drew abreast of the leader on the last lap.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	runner	runner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	abreast	abreast	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	lap	lap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | the runner |  |  | the last lap |  | of the leader; abreast *property* | vn split-23.2 «NP V PP.co-patient»: agent=Patient of leader=Co-Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad reads the news to keep abreast of what's happening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:x4:1
# text = Dad reads the news to keep abreast of what's happening.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reads	read	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	abreast	abreast	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | present | Dad | the news |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent news=Topic |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **happen** | present · progressive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ships sailed abreast across the bay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:x5:1
# text = The ships sailed abreast across the bay.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ships	ship	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sailed	sail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	abreast	abreast	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bay	bay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sail** | past | the ships |  |  | the bay |  | abreast *property* | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent across bay=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teachers keep abreast of new ideas in teaching.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:x6:1
# text = Teachers keep abreast of new ideas in teaching.
1	Teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	abreast	abreast	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	teaching	teaching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Teachers |  |  | teaching |  | abreast new ideas | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in teaching=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was drawn by twelve snow-white horses, harnessed four abreast; their trappings were flame-colored velvet, embroidered with diamonds.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abreast:x7:1
# text = It was drawn by twelve snow-white horses, harnessed four abreast; their trappings were flame-colored velvet, embroidered with diamonds.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	drawn	draw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
5	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
6	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	harnessed	harness	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
12	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	obj	_	_
13	abreast	abreast	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
15	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	trappings	trapping	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
17	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	cop	_	_
18	flame	flame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	colored	color	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	amod	_	_
21	velvet	velvet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	embroidered	embroider	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	acl	_	_
24	with	with	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	diamonds	diamond	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past · passive | twelve white horses | It |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |
| 2 | **harness** | participle | twelve white horses *not said here* | four |  |  |  | abreast *property* | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent four=Destination |
| 3 | **color** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn coloring-24 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** | past | horses's trappings | flame colored velvet |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **embroider** | participle |  | flame colored velvet *not said here* |  |  |  | with diamonds | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination PP.theme»: agent=Agent with diamond=Theme |

<!-- 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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