---
title: background — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «background» in the school dictionary: The background of a picture or scene is the part behind the main things, furthest from you. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# background

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** background, you, your, Background information, facts, mountains · **What happens:** be, come, educate, need, understand, mean · **To what, where:** part, main things, family, education, facts, something

<!-- .vabout -->
«background» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [background in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/background.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The background of a picture or scene is the part behind the main things, furthest from you.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:m1:1
# text = The background of a picture or scene is the part behind the main things, furthest from you.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	furthest	furth	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	14	nmod	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the background of a picture or scene | the part |  | the main things  furthest |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Your background is your family, your culture, where you come from, your education and experience.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:m2:1
# text = Your background is your family, your culture, where you come from, your education and experience.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	culture	culture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	education	education	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	experience	experience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Your background | your family and your culture |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | present | you |  |  | your education and experience |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from education=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **educate** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom education «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Background information is the facts you need to understand something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:m3:1
# text = Background information is the facts you need to understand something.
1	Background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Background information | the facts |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | you | the facts *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **understand** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the facts *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the background means present but not the centre of attention: background music, background noise.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:m4:1
# text = In the background means present but not the centre of attention: background music, background noise.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	present	present	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	centre	centre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in the background; present *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in background=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mountains are in the background of the painting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:x1:1
# text = The mountains are in the background of the painting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the mountains |  |  | the background |  | of the painting | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class photo has the school in the background.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:x2:1
# text = Our class photo has the school in the background.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our class photo | the school |  | the background |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent school=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a lot of background noise in the café.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:x3:1
# text = There was a lot of background noise in the café.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a lot of background noise in the café |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher gave us some background on the war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:x4:1
# text = The teacher gave us some background on the war.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the teacher | some background | us | the war |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent we=Recipient background=Theme on war=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Children in our class come from many different backgrounds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:x5:1
# text = Children in our class come from many different backgrounds.
1	Children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	backgrounds	background	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | Children in our class |  |  | many different backgrounds |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from background=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soft music played in the background.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:x6:1
# text = Soft music played in the background.
1	Soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | participle |  | Soft music *not said here* |  | the background |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I changed the background on my tablet to a picture of my dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:x7:1
# text = I changed the background on my tablet to a picture of my dog.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	tablet	tablet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | past | I | the background |  | my tablet |  | to a picture of my dog | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent background=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The app keeps running in the background.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:x8:1
# text = The app keeps running in the background.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	app	app	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | the app |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | gerund | the app *not said here* |  |  | the background |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in background=Trajectory |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fortunately for him the demons did not see him, as the tree was in the background.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:background:x9:1
# text = Fortunately for him the demons did not see him, as the tree was in the background.
1	Fortunately	fortunately	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	demons	demon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
6	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
11	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **see** | past · do-support | the demons | him *= he* |  |  |  | fortunately *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer he=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | the tree |  |  | the background |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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