---
title: backstroke — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «backstroke» in the school dictionary: Backstroke is a way of swimming on your back, moving your arms backwards one after the other over your head and kicking your legs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/backstroke/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/) / backstroke

# backstroke

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Backstroke, way, I, you, Backstroke races, flags · **What happens:** be, swim, move, kick, float, look · **To what, where:** way, back, arms, head, legs, one movement

<!-- .vabout -->
«backstroke» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [backstroke in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/backstroke.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Backstroke is a way of swimming on your back, moving your arms backwards one after the other over your head and kicking your legs.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backstroke:m1:1
# text = Backstroke is a way of swimming on your back, moving your arms backwards one after the other over your head and kicking your legs.
1	Backstroke	backstroke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	swimming	swim	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
14	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	obl	_	_
16	after	after	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	nmod	_	_
19	over	over	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	kicking	kick	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	conj	_	_
24	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Backstroke | a way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **swim** | gerund | a way *not said here* |  |  | your back |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on back=Trajectory |
| 3 | **move** | gerund | a way *not said here* | your arms |  | your head |  | one after the other *obl* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent arm=Theme over head=Trajectory |
| 4 | **kick** | gerund | a way *not said here* | your legs |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

<!-- .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 backstroke is one movement of the arm in this style.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backstroke:m2:1
# text = A backstroke is one movement of the arm in this style.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	backstroke	backstroke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	style	style	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a backstroke | one movement |  |  |  | of the arm in this style | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I swam two lengths of backstroke today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backstroke:x1:1
# text = I swam two lengths of backstroke today.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	lengths	length	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	backstroke	backstroke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | past | I | two lengths of backstroke |  |  | today |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme length=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In backstroke you float on your back and look at the ceiling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backstroke:x2:1
# text = In backstroke you float on your back and look at the ceiling.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	backstroke	backstroke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	float	float	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	ceiling	ceiling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **float** | present | you |  |  | backstroke |  | on your back | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V PP.source PP.trajectory PP.destination»: agent=Theme in backstroke=Source on back=Trajectory |
| 2 | **look** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at the ceiling | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at ceiling=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Backstroke races start in the water, not from the blocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backstroke:x3:1
# text = Backstroke races start in the water, not from the blocks.
1	Backstroke	backstroke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	races	race	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | Backstroke races |  |  | the water |  | from the blocks | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flags warn backstroke swimmers that the wall is near.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backstroke:x4:1
# text = The flags warn backstroke swimmers that the wall is near.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flags	flag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	warn	warn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	backstroke	backstroke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	swimmers	swimmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	near	near	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | the flags | backstroke swimmers |  |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent swimmer=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | the wall |  |  |  |  | near *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She won the gold medal in the 200 metres backstroke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backstroke:x5:1
# text = She won the gold medal in the 200 metres backstroke.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	medal	medal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	200	200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	compound	_	_
10	backstroke	backstroke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | She | the gold medal |  | the metres backstroke |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent medal=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep your tummy up when you do backstroke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backstroke:x6:1
# text = Keep your tummy up when you do backstroke.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	tummy	tummy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	backstroke	backstroke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep up** | imperative | you *not said here* | your tummy |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent tummy=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | present | you | backstroke |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent backstroke=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each backstroke pulled him further down the pool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backstroke:x7:1
# text = Each backstroke pulled him further down the pool.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	backstroke	backstroke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pulled	pull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	further	further	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	down	down	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | past | each backstroke | him *= he* |  |  |  | down the pool; further *property* | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP ADJP-Result»: agent=Agent he=Result |

<!-- 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: [backstage](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/backstage/)
- next →: [backup](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/backup/)
- ↑ back to [B in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/)