---
title: backlog — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «backlog» in the school dictionary: A pile of work or jobs that should have been done already and are still waiting. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# backlog

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** backlog, I, post office, plumbers, Dad, long backlog · **What happens:** do, wait, list, be, place, burn · **To what, where:** work, order, things, large log, back, backlog

<!-- .vabout -->
«backlog» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [backlog in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/backlog.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pile of work or jobs that should have been done already and are still waiting.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:m1:1
# text = A pile of work or jobs that should have been done already and are still waiting.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pile	pile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obj	_	_
8	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
9	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux	_	_
10	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl:relcl	_	_
12	already	already	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
15	still	still	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	waiting	wait	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | should · perfect · passive |  | work or jobs |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: that=Eventuality |
| 2 | **wait** | present · progressive |  |  |  |  | still |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
A list of things still to be done in order, such as orders, emails or tasks.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:m2:1
# text = A list of things still to be done in order, such as orders, emails or tasks.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	orders	order	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	emails	email	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	tasks	task	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  | order | still |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V» |
| 2 | **list** |  |  | things such orders and emails or tasks |  |  |  |  | nom list «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A backlog is a large log placed at the back of a fireplace to burn slowly.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:m3:1
# text = A backlog is a large log placed at the back of a fireplace to burn slowly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	backlog	backlog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	log	log	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	placed	place	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	fireplace	fireplace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	burn	burn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	acl	_	_
16	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a backlog | a large log |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **place** | participle |  | a large log *not said here* |  | the back of a fireplace |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent at back=Destination |
| 3 | **burn** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a week off sick, I had a backlog of homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:x1:1
# text = After a week off sick, I had a backlog of homework.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
5	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	backlog	backlog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | I | a backlog of homework |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent backlog=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The post office has a huge backlog of parcels before Christmas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:x2:1
# text = The post office has a huge backlog of parcels before Christmas.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	post	post	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	backlog	backlog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	parcels	parcel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	before	before	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the post office | a huge backlog of parcels before Christmas |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent backlog=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plumbers are busy clearing a backlog of jobs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:x3:1
# text = The plumbers are busy clearing a backlog of jobs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plumbers	plumber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	clearing	clear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	backlog	backlog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	jobs	job	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the plumbers |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **clear** | gerund | the plumbers *not said here* | a backlog of jobs |  |  |  |  | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent backlog=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad spent Sunday working through his backlog of emails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:x4:1
# text = Dad spent Sunday working through his backlog of emails.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	backlog	backlog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	emails	email	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | past | Dad |  |  |  | sunday |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **work** | gerund | Dad *not said here* |  |  | Dad's backlog of emails |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a long backlog of patients waiting at the hospital.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:x5:1
# text = There is a long backlog of patients waiting at the hospital.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	backlog	backlog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	patients	patient	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	waiting	wait	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a long backlog of patients |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **wait** | gerund | patients *not said here* |  |  | the hospital |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at hospital=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our game-making team keeps a backlog of ideas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:x6:1
# text = Our game-making team keeps a backlog of ideas.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
2	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	backlog	backlog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **keep** | present | Our making team | a backlog of ideas |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent backlog=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Snow caused a backlog of trains at the station.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:x7:1
# text = Snow caused a backlog of trains at the station.
1	Snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	caused	cause	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	backlog	backlog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	trains	train	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | Snow | a backlog of trains |  | the station |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition backlog=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The next thing she did was to rake back the red embers, and make a hollow place among them, just where the backlog had been.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backlog:x8:1
# text = The next thing she did was to rake back the red embers, and make a hollow place among them, just where the backlog had been.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	rake	rake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	back	back	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	embers	ember	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	hollow	hollow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
19	among	among	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
22	just	just	ADV	RB	_	27	advmod	_	_
23	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	27	advmod	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	backlog	backlog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj	_	_
26	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	27	aux	_	_
27	been	be	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | she | the next thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | past | the next thing |  |  |  |  | rake *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | infinitive | the next thing *not said here* | a hollow place |  |  |  | among embers *= ember* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset place=Product |
| 4 | **be** | past · perfect | the backlog |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [backlighting](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/backlighting/)
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