---
title: flashback — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flashback» in the school dictionary: A flashback is a part of a story, film or play that goes back to show something that happened earlier. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flashback

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** flashback, film, frightening one, it, you, character · **What happens:** be, go back, show, happen, feel, open · **To what, where:** part, something, sudden clear memory, childhood, flashback, sailor · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«flashback» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [flashback in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flashback.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flashback is a part of a story, film or play that goes back to show something that happened earlier.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashback:m1:1
# text = A flashback is a part of a story, film or play that goes back to show something that happened earlier.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flashback	flashback	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	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	back	back	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
18	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	17	obj	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	_
21	earlier	early	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flashback | a part and film or play |  |  |  | of a story | tree rules |
| 2 | **go back** | present | film or play |  |  |  |  |  | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive | film or play *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent something=Recipient |
| 4 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  | early *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 flashback is a sudden, very clear memory of a past event, often a frightening one, that feels like it is happening again.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashback:m2:1
# text = A flashback is a sudden, very clear memory of a past event, often a frightening one, that feels like it is happening again.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flashback	flashback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	frightening	frightening	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	21	nsubj	_	_
21	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	_
22	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
23	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
24	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux	_	_
25	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	21	advcl	_	_
26	again	again	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a flashback | a sudden clear memory |  |  |  | of a past event | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | present | a frightening one |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **happen** | present · progressive | it |  |  |  | again |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film opens with a flashback to the hero's childhood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashback:x1:1
# text = The film opens with a flashback to the hero's childhood.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	opens	open	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	flashback	flashback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | present | the film |  | the hero's childhood |  |  | with a flashback | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to childhood=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write a flashback to show why the character is afraid of dogs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashback:x2:1
# text = Write a flashback to show why the character is afraid of dogs.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	flashback	flashback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a flashback |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flashback=Theme |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | the character |  |  |  |  | of dogs; afraid *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the flashback we learn the grandfather was a sailor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashback:x3:1
# text = In the flashback we learn the grandfather was a sailor.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	flashback	flashback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	learn	learn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	grandfather	grandfather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sailor	sailor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present | we |  |  | the flashback |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the grandfather | a sailor |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldier had flashbacks of the war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashback:x4:1
# text = The soldier had flashbacks of the war.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	flashbacks	flashback	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the soldier | flashbacks of the war |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flashback=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the past perfect tense to start a flashback: «She had once lived by the sea.»

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashback:x5:1
# text = Use the past perfect tense to start a flashback: «She had once lived by the sea.»
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tense	tense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	flashback	flashback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	15	advmod	_	_
15	lived	live	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the past perfect tense |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tense=Patient |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a flashback |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flashback=Eventuality |
| 3 | **live** *in a quote* | past · perfect | She |  |  |  |  | by the sea; once *property* | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme by sea=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wavy picture told us it was a flashback.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flashback:x6:1
# text = The wavy picture told us it was a flashback.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wavy	wavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	flashback	flashback	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the wavy picture |  | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent we=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | picture | a flashback |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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