---
title: footwork — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «footwork» in the school dictionary: The way a person moves their feet, especially in sports and dancing, as in «good footwork». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# footwork

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, quick actions, quick footwork, footwork rules, you, dance teacher · **What happens:** move, get out, fool, say, not run, make · **To what, where:** way, sports, difficult situation, defender, netball, us · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The way a person moves their feet, especially in sports and dancing, as in «good footwork».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footwork:m1:1
# text = The way a person moves their feet, especially in sports and dancing, as in «good footwork».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	dancing	dancing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	footwork	footwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | present | a person | the way |  | sports and dancing |  |  | 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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clever, quick actions to get out of a difficult situation, as in «some fancy footwork».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footwork:m2:1
# text = Clever, quick actions to get out of a difficult situation, as in «some fancy footwork».
1	Clever	clever	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	18	det	_	_
17	fancy	fancy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	footwork	footwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get out** | to-infinitive | quick actions | a difficult situation |  |  |  | clever *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The striker's quick footwork fooled the defender.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footwork:x1:1
# text = The striker's quick footwork fooled the defender.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	striker	striker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	footwork	footwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	fooled	fool	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	defender	defender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fool** | past | the striker's quick footwork | the defender |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent defender=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In netball, footwork rules say you can't run with the ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footwork:x2:1
# text = In netball, footwork rules say you can't run with the ball.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	netball	netball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	footwork	footwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | footwork rules |  |  | netball |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **run** | can | you |  |  |  |  | with the ball | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent with ball=Material |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our dance teacher made us practise the footwork slowly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footwork:x3:1
# text = Our dance teacher made us practise the footwork slowly.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dance	dance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	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	obj	_	_
6	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	footwork	footwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Our dance teacher | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **practise** | infinitive | us *not said here* | the footwork |  |  |  | slowly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Boxers skip rope to improve their footwork.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footwork:x4:1
# text = Boxers skip rope to improve their footwork.
1	Boxers	boxer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	skip	skip	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	improve	improve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	footwork	footwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **skip** | present | Boxers | rope |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rope=Agent |
| 2 | **improve** | to-infinitive | Boxers *not said here* | Boxers's footwork |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent footwork=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With some fancy footwork, he got out of doing the washing up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footwork:x5:1
# text = With some fancy footwork, he got out of doing the washing up.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
3	fancy	fancy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	footwork	footwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	up	up	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get out** | past | he |  |  |  |  | with some fancy footwork | vn withdraw-82-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do up** | gerund | he *not said here* | the washing |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent washing=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good footwork helps you keep your balance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:footwork:x6:1
# text = Good footwork helps you keep your balance.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	footwork	footwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	balance	balance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Good footwork | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your balance |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent balance=Theme |
| 3 | **balance** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom balance «state intransitive»: poss=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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