---
title: countdown — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «countdown» in the school dictionary: A countdown is counting backwards to zero, usually before something starts, like a rocket launch. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# countdown

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** countdown, something, We, countdown clock, you, class · **What happens:** count, start, be, begin, blast off, do · **To what, where:** time, ten, rocket, countdown, many minutes, 20 · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A countdown is counting backwards to zero, usually before something starts, like a rocket launch.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countdown:m1:1
# text = A countdown is counting backwards to zero, usually before something starts, like a rocket launch.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	countdown	countdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	counting	count	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	zero	zero	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nsubj	_	_
12	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	rocket	rocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	launch	launch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | present · progressive | a countdown |  |  |  |  | to zero; backwards *property* | vn matter-91 «NP V PP.experiencer»: agent=Stimulus to zero=Experiencer |
| 2 | **start** | present | something |  |  |  |  | like a rocket launch; usually *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 countdown is the time just before an important event.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countdown:m2:1
# text = A countdown is the time just before an important event.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	countdown	countdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
7	before	before	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a countdown | the time |  |  | before a important event |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The countdown began: ten, nine, eight ...

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countdown:x1:1
# text = The countdown began: ten, nine, eight ...
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	countdown	countdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	nine	nine	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	conj	_	_
10	...	...	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | the countdown | ten |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the countdown, the rocket blasted off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countdown:x2:1
# text = After the countdown, the rocket blasted off.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	countdown	countdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rocket	rocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	blasted	blast	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blast off** | participle |  | the rocket |  |  | after the countdown |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We did a countdown to the New Year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countdown:x3:1
# text = We did a countdown to the New Year.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	countdown	countdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Year	Year	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | We | a countdown |  |  | to the New Year |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent countdown=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The countdown to the holidays has started!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countdown:x4:1
# text = The countdown to the holidays has started!
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	countdown	countdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	holidays	holiday	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	started	start	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A countdown clock showed how many minutes were left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countdown:x5:1
# text = A countdown clock showed how many minutes were left.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	countdown	countdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | a countdown clock |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **leave** | past · passive |  | many minutes |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Count down from 20 in twos: 20, 18, 16 ...

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countdown:x6:1
# text = Count down from 20 in twos: 20, 18, 16 ...
1	Count	count	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	down	down	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	twos	two	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	18	18	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	16	16	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	conj	_	_
13	...	...	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class shouted the countdown together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:countdown:x7:1
# text = The class shouted the countdown together.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	countdown	countdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	together	together	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 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | the class | the countdown |  |  |  | together *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent countdown=Topic |

<!-- 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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