---
title: backsliding — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «backsliding» in the school dictionary: Going back to bad old habits after you had been doing better. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# backsliding

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, some, preacher, people, Toad, backsliding · **What happens:** go back, do, fall away, be, backslide, warn · **To what, where:** faith, people, old bad habits, backsliding person · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«backsliding» 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: [backsliding in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/backsliding.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Going back to bad old habits after you had been doing better.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backsliding:m1:1
# text = Going back to bad old habits after you had been doing better.
1	Going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	habits	habit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	11	aux	_	_
11	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
12	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go back** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to bad old habits *result* | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to habit=Result |
| 2 | **do** | past · perfect · progressive | you |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Falling away from faith or from living as a Christian after having been committed.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backsliding:m2:1
# text = Falling away from faith or from living as a Christian after having been committed.
1	Falling	fall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	faith	faith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Christian	Christian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	aux	_	_
13	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	14	cop	_	_
14	committed	committed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall away** | gerund |  |  |  | faith |  | away *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **is** | gerund · perfect |  |  |  |  |  | committed *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a week of early nights, there was some backsliding at the weekend.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backsliding:x1:1
# text = After a week of early nights, there was some backsliding at the weekend.
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	9	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	nights	night	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	9	expl	_	_
9	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
11	backsliding	backslide	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	acl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	weekend	weekend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | some |  |  | there | week |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **backslide** | gerund |  |  |  |  | weekend |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The preacher warned the people against backsliding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backsliding:x2:1
# text = The preacher warned the people against backsliding.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	preacher	preacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	warned	warn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	against	against	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	backsliding	backslide	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | past | the preacher |  | the people |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent people=Recipient |
| 2 | **backslide** | gerund | the people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad promised to change, but his backsliding began at once.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backsliding:x3:1
# text = Toad promised to change, but his backsliding began at once.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	backsliding	backsliding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | Toad |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Toad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **begin** | past | Toad's backsliding |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We must stop backsliding into old bad habits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backsliding:x4:1
# text = We must stop backsliding into old bad habits.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	backsliding	backslide	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	habits	habit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | must | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **backslide** | gerund | We *not said here* |  |  | old bad habits |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe God forgives the backsliding person who comes back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backsliding:x5:1
# text = Christians believe God forgives the backsliding person who comes back.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	forgives	forgive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	backsliding	backslide	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	back	back	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **forgive** | present | God | the backsliding person |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 3 | **backslide** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **come back** | present | the backsliding person |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My diet lasted two days before the backsliding started.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backsliding:x6:1
# text = My diet lasted two days before the backsliding started.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	diet	diet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lasted	last	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	backsliding	backsliding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | past | My diet |  |  |  | day |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | past | the backsliding |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

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**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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