---
title: goalpost — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «goalpost» in the school dictionary: A goalpost is one of the two upright posts that mark the sides of a goal in games like football, rugby and hockey. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# goalpost

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** goalpost, two upright posts, something, ball, We, you · **What happens:** be, mark, move, mean, change, start · **To what, where:** one, sides, games, goalposts, rules, goalpost · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A goalpost is one of the two upright posts that mark the sides of a goal in games like football, rugby and hockey.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goalpost:m1:1
# text = A goalpost is one of the two upright posts that mark the sides of a goal in games like football, rugby and hockey.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goalpost	goalpost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	upright	upright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	posts	post	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	mark	mark	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sides	side	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	rugby	rugby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	hockey	hockey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a goalpost | one |  |  |  | of the two upright posts | tree rules |
| 2 | **mark** | present | the two upright posts | the sides of a goal |  | games like football and rugby and hockey |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent side=Theme in game=Destination |

<!-- .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 -->
«Move the goalposts» means to change the rules or the target unfairly once something has started.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goalpost:m2:1
# text = «Move the goalposts» means to change the rules or the target unfairly once something has started.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	goalposts	goalpost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
14	unfairly	unfairly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
15	once	once	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
16	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	18	nsubj	_	_
17	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	started	start	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the goalposts |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent goalpost=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **change** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | the rules or the target |  |  |  | unfairly *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Patient |
| 4 | **start** | present · perfect | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ball hit the goalpost and bounced back into play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goalpost:x1:1
# text = The ball hit the goalpost and bounced back into play.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	goalpost	goalpost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	bounced	bounce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	back	back	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | past | the ball | the goalpost |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme goalpost=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **bounce back** | past | the ball *not said here* |  |  | play |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme into play=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used two jumpers as goalposts in the park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goalpost:x2:1
# text = We used two jumpers as goalposts in the park.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	jumpers	jumper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	goalposts	goalpost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | two jumpers |  | the park |  | as goalposts | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent jumper=Duration as goalpost=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In rugby you kick the ball over the crossbar and between the goalposts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goalpost:x3:1
# text = In rugby you kick the ball over the crossbar and between the goalposts.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	rugby	rugby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kick	kick	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crossbar	crossbar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	between	between	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	goalposts	goalpost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kick** | present | you | the ball |  | rugby |  | over the crossbar and the goalposts | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent ball=Patient in rugby=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never swing on the goalposts; they can tip over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goalpost:x4:1
# text = Never swing on the goalposts; they can tip over.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	swing	swing	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	goalposts	goalpost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	tip	tip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
10	over	over	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **swing** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the goalposts |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme on goalpost=Trajectory |
| 2 | **tip over** | can | goalposts *= goalpost* |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goalposts were painted white so the players could see them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goalpost:x5:1
# text = The goalposts were painted white so the players could see them.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goalposts	goalpost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	painted	paint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | past · passive |  | the goalposts |  |  |  | white *property* | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: subject=Destination |
| 2 | **see** | could | the players | goalposts *= goalpost* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer they=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is not fair to move the goalposts after the game has started.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:goalpost:x6:1
# text = It is not fair to move the goalposts after the game has started.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	goalposts	goalpost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	started	start	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | fair *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | to-infinitive |  | the goalposts |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent goalpost=Theme |
| 3 | **start** | present · perfect · passive |  | the game |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

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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.

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