---
title: footstep — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «footstep» in the school dictionary: A footstep is one step that someone takes when walking. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/footstep/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/) / footstep

# footstep

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** footstep, someone, thing, I, footsteps, He · **What happens:** be, take, walk, follow, mean, do · **To what, where:** one step, sound, footsteps, same thing, stairs, empty hall · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A footstep is one step that someone takes when walking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:m1:1
# text = A footstep is one step that someone takes when walking.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	footstep	footstep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
8	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
10	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	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 footstep | one step |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **walk** | gerund | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «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 footstep is the sound of a step.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:m2:1
# text = A footstep is the sound of a step.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	footstep	footstep	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	sound	sound	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	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a footstep | the sound |  |  |  | of a step | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Follow in someone's footsteps» means do the same thing they did, such as the same job.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:m3:1
# text = «Follow in someone's footsteps» means do the same thing they did, such as the same job.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Follow	follow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	footsteps	footstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	20	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  | someone's footsteps |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in footstep=Location |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive |  | the same thing and the same job |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 4 | **do** | past | thing | the same thing and the same job *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I heard footsteps on the stairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:x1:1
# text = I heard footsteps on the stairs.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	footsteps	footstep	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	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | I | footsteps |  | the stairs |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer footstep=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her footsteps echoed in the empty hall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:x2:1
# text = Her footsteps echoed in the empty hall.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	footsteps	footstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	echoed	echo	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **echo** | past | Her footsteps |  |  | the empty hall |  |  | vn sound\_existence-47.4 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in hall=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He followed in his dad's footsteps and became a firefighter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:x3:1
# text = He followed in his dad's footsteps and became a firefighter.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	footsteps	footstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	firefighter	firefighter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | past | He |  |  | his dad's footsteps |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in footstep=Location |
| 2 | **become** | past | He *not said here* | a firefighter |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Muddy footsteps led to the kitchen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:x4:1
# text = Muddy footsteps led to the kitchen.
1	Muddy	muddy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	footsteps	footstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | Muddy footsteps |  |  |  |  | to the kitchen | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to kitchen=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The footsteps came closer and closer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:x5:1
# text = The footsteps came closer and closer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	footsteps	footstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	closer	close	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	closer	close	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the footsteps |  |  |  |  | close *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby took her first footsteps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:x6:1
# text = The baby took her first footsteps.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	amod	_	_
6	footsteps	footstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the baby | baby's first footsteps |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent footstep=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Just then, the conversation was interrupted by approaching footsteps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footstep:x7:1
# text = Just then, the conversation was interrupted by approaching footsteps.
1	Just	just	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	interrupted	interrupt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	approaching	approach	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	footsteps	footstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interrupt** | past · passive |  | the conversation |  |  | then |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **approach** | gerund |  | footsteps |  |  |  |  | vn confront-98 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent footstep=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [footsore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/footsore/)
- next →: [footstool](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/footstool/)
- ↑ back to [F in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/)