---
title: derail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «derail» in the school dictionary: When a train derails, its wheels come off the rails. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# derail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** train, wheels, heavy snow, you, stones, storm · **What happens:** derail, come off, be, go, block, not put · **To what, where:** rails, plan, way, line, stones, train

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When a train derails, its wheels come off the rails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derail:m1:1
# text = When a train derails, its wheels come off the rails.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	4	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	derails	derail	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	rails	rail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **derail** | present | a train |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **come off** | present | train's wheels | the rails |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
To derail a plan or a conversation is to stop it going the way it should.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derail:m2:1
# text = To derail a plan or a conversation is to stop it going the way it should.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	derail	derail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl:unmarked	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **derail** | to-infinitive |  | a plan or a conversation |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | stop *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | gerund |  | the way |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The train derailed after heavy snow blocked the line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derail:x1:1
# text = The train derailed after heavy snow blocked the line.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	derailed	derail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	blocked	block	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **derail** | past | the train |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **block** | past | heavy snow | the line |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer line=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never put stones on the rails; they could derail a train.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derail:x2:1
# text = Never put stones on the rails; they could derail a train.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rails	rail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	derail	derail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | stones |  | the rails |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent stone=Theme on rail=Destination |
| 2 | **derail** | could | stones *= stone* | a train |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent train=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The storm derailed our plans for the picnic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derail:x3:1
# text = The storm derailed our plans for the picnic.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	derailed	derail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	picnic	picnic	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 | **derail** | past | the storm | our plans |  |  |  | for the picnic | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |
| 2 | **plan** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let one bad mark derail your hard work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derail:x4:1
# text = Don't let one bad mark derail your hard work.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
5	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	derail	derail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | one bad mark derail |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent derail=Recipient work=Theme |
| 2 | **work** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The talk was derailed by silly jokes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derail:x5:1
# text = The talk was derailed by silly jokes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	derailed	derail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **derail** | past · passive | silly jokes | the talk |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Workers checked the track after the train was derailed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derail:x6:1
# text = Workers checked the track after the train was derailed.
1	Workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	checked	check	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	track	track	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	derailed	derail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | past | Workers | the track |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent track=Theme |
| 2 | **derail** | past · passive |  | the train |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fallen tree almost derailed the goods train.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derail:x7:1
# text = A fallen tree almost derailed the goods train.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	derailed	derail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	8	nsubj	_	_
8	train	train	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **derail** | past | a fallen tree |  |  |  |  | almost *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **train** | present | the goods |  |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

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**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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