---
title: comeback — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «comeback» in the school dictionary: A comeback is when someone or something becomes successful or popular again after a bad time: the team made a great comeback. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# comeback

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** comeback, team, Flared jeans, He, she, funny comeback · **What happens:** be, make, come back, mean, return, flare · **To what, where:** great comeback, quick clever reply, 3, amazing comeback, comeback, comeback concert · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A comeback is when someone or something becomes successful or popular again after a bad time: the team made a great comeback.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comeback:m1:1
# text = A comeback is when someone or something becomes successful or popular again after a bad time: the team made a great comeback.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comeback	comeback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	_
8	becomes	become	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	successful	successful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	popular	popular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	again	again	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
13	after	after	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
20	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	comeback	comeback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a comeback |  |  |  |  | become, successful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | past | the team | a great comeback |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset comeback=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 comeback is a quick, clever reply to an insult or a joke.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comeback:m2:1
# text = A comeback is a quick, clever reply to an insult or a joke.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comeback	comeback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	insult	insult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a comeback | a quick clever reply |  |  |  | to a insult or a joke | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: written as two words, verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To come back means to return.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comeback:m3:1
# text = To come back means to return.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	back	back	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	return	return	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come back** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **return** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team was 3–0 down but made an amazing comeback.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comeback:x1:1
# text = Our team was 3–0 down but made an amazing comeback.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	–	–	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	_
7	down	down	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	amazing	amazing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	comeback	comeback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Our team | 3 |  |  |  | – 0 | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | past |  | a amazing comeback |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset comeback=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flared jeans are making a comeback.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comeback:x2:1
# text = Flared jeans are making a comeback.
1	Flared	flare	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	jeans	jeans	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	comeback	comeback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flare** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | present · progressive | Flared jeans | a comeback |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset comeback=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The singer's comeback concert sold out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comeback:x3:1
# text = The singer's comeback concert sold out.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	singer	singer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	comeback	comeback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	concert	concert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	sold	sell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell out** | participle |  | the singer's comeback concert *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had no comeback when she proved him wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comeback:x4:1
# text = He had no comeback when she proved him wrong.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	comeback	comeback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	proved	prove	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | He | no comeback |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent comeback=Patient |
| 2 | **prove** | past | she | him *= he* |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her funny comeback made everyone laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comeback:x5:1
# text = Her funny comeback made everyone laugh.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	comeback	comeback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	obj	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Her funny comeback | everyone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | infinitive | everyone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Come back home before dark!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comeback:x6:1
# text = Come back home before dark!
1	Come	come	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	home	home	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come back** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | dark |  | home *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme before dark=Location |

<!-- 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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