---
title: breakthrough — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «breakthrough» in the school dictionary: A breakthrough is an important discovery or development that suddenly solves a problem or makes great progress. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# breakthrough

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** breakthrough, development, someone, army, Penicillin, Scientists · **What happens:** be, solve, make, succeed, try, break · **To what, where:** important discovery, problem, great progress, moment, barrier, enemy lines

<!-- .vabout -->
«breakthrough» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [breakthrough in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/breakthrough.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A breakthrough is an important discovery or development that suddenly solves a problem or makes great progress.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:m1:1
# text = A breakthrough is an important discovery or development that suddenly solves a problem or makes great progress.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	breakthrough	breakthrough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	discovery	discovery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	development	development	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
10	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	solves	solve	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
16	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	progress	progress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a breakthrough | a important discovery or development |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **solve** | present | development | a problem |  |  |  | suddenly *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |
| 3 | **make** | present | development *not said here* | great progress |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset progress=Product |

<!-- .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 breakthrough is a moment when someone finally succeeds after trying for a long time.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:m2:1
# text = A breakthrough is a moment when someone finally succeeds after trying for a long time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	breakthrough	breakthrough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
8	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	succeeds	succeed	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a breakthrough | a moment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **succeed** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | finally *property* | vn succeed-74-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **try** | gerund | someone *not said here* |  |  |  | time |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A breakthrough is breaking through a barrier, such as an army breaking through enemy lines.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:m3:1
# text = A breakthrough is breaking through a barrier, such as an army breaking through enemy lines.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	breakthrough	breakthrough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	barrier	barrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
13	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	acl	_	_
14	through	through	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	enemy	enemy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | present · progressive | a breakthrough |  |  | a barrier |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through barrier=Location |
| 2 | **break** | gerund | a army *not said here* |  |  | enemy lines |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through line=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Penicillin was a breakthrough in medicine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:x1:1
# text = Penicillin was a breakthrough in medicine.
1	Penicillin	Penicillin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	breakthrough	breakthrough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Penicillin | a breakthrough |  | medicine |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists made a breakthrough in fighting the disease.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:x2:1
# text = Scientists made a breakthrough in fighting the disease.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	breakthrough	breakthrough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	fighting	fight	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	disease	disease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Scientists | a breakthrough |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset breakthrough=Product |
| 2 | **fight** | gerund | Scientists *not said here* | the disease |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent disease=Co-Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After weeks of practice, I had a breakthrough and could ride without stabilisers.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:x3:1
# text = After weeks of practice, I had a breakthrough and could ride without stabilisers.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	breakthrough	breakthrough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	ride	ride	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
13	without	without	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	stabilisers	stabiliser	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | I | a breakthrough |  |  | week |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent breakthrough=Patient |
| 2 | **ride** | could | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | without stabilisers | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detectives made a breakthrough when they found the fingerprint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:x4:1
# text = The detectives made a breakthrough when they found the fingerprint.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detectives	detective	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	breakthrough	breakthrough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fingerprint	fingerprint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the detectives | a breakthrough |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset breakthrough=Product |
| 2 | **find** | past | detectives *= detective* | the fingerprint |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fingerprint=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The first vaccine was a huge breakthrough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:x5:1
# text = The first vaccine was a huge breakthrough.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	vaccine	vaccine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	breakthrough	breakthrough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the first vaccine | a huge breakthrough |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Learning times tables was my maths breakthrough this year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:x6:1
# text = Learning times tables was my maths breakthrough this year.
1	Learning	learn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	tables	table	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	breakthrough	breakthrough	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	year	year	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 | **learn** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | times tables | my maths |  |  | year |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldiers made a breakthrough in the enemy's defences.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:breakthrough:x7:1
# text = The soldiers made a breakthrough in the enemy's defences.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	breakthrough	breakthrough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	defences	defence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the soldiers | a breakthrough |  | the enemy's defences |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset breakthrough=Product |
| 2 | **defend** |  | the enemy |  |  |  |  |  | nom defence «process transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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