---
title: backward — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «backward» in the school dictionary: Backward means toward the back, or in the direction behind you. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# backward

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** adjective, you, He, frog, She, video · **What happens:** mean, start, change, grow, count, take · **To what, where:** 20, number, 5 feet, alphabet, 10, pool · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«backward» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 11 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: [backward in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/backward.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Backward means toward the back, or in the direction behind you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:m1:1
# text = Backward means toward the back, or in the direction behind you.
1	Backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	toward	toward	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
11	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | toward the back; backward *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Backward means in the opposite order, from end to start.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:m2:1
# text = Backward means in the opposite order, from end to start.
1	Backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in the opposite order; backward *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in order=Attribute |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Backward (adjective) can mean slower to change or grow than others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:m3:1
# text = Backward (adjective) can mean slower to change or grow than others.
1	Backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	slower	slow	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
12	than	than	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | adjective |  |  |  |  | backward, slow *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **change** | to-infinitive | adjective *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **grow** | infinitive | adjective *not said here* |  |  |  |  | than others | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Count backward from 20 by 2s.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x1:1
# text = Count backward from 20 by 2s.
1	Count	count	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	2s	2	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | 20 |  | by 2s; backward *property* | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He took 3 steps backward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x2:1
# text = He took 3 steps backward.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | He |  |  |  |  | backward *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the number backward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x3:1
# text = Read the number backward.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the number |  |  |  | backward *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The frog jumps 5 feet forward and 2 feet backward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x4:1
# text = The frog jumps 5 feet forward and 2 feet backward.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	jumps	jump	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
10	backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | present | the frog | 5 feet |  |  |  | backward, forward *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme foot=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She can say the alphabet backwards.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x5:1
# text = She can say the alphabet backwards.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	alphabet	alphabet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | can | She | the alphabet |  |  |  | backwards *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent alphabet=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Walk backward slowly and carefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x6:1
# text = Walk backward slowly and carefully.
1	Walk	walk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | backward, slowly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The video played backward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x7:1
# text = The video played backward.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | the video |  |  |  |  | backward *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Count backward from 10 to 1 for the rocket launch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x8:1
# text = Count backward from 10 to 1 for the rocket launch.
1	Count	count	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obl	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	rocket	rocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	launch	launch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | 10 to 1 |  | for the rocket launch; backward *property* | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He fell backward into the pool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x9:1
# text = He fell backward into the pool.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	backward	backward	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | He |  |  |  |  | into the pool *result*; backward *property* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into pool=Result |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She bent over backwards to help us.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x10:1
# text = She bent over backwards to help us.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bent	bend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	2	obl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bend** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent over backwards=Location |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  | us |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary |

## Example 11 {#x11}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He moved his head backwards and forwards and flew away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backward:x11:1
# text = He moved his head backwards and forwards and flew away.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	forwards	forwards	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	away	away	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 | **move** | past | He | his head |  |  |  | backwards *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent head=Theme |
| 2 | **fly away** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «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 -->
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