---
title: misstep — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «misstep» in the school dictionary: A wrong step when walking, which can make you trip or fall. 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/M/misstep/)

<!-- 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/) / [M](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/) / misstep

# misstep

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** wrong step, you, One misstep, Choosing, dancer, misstep · **What happens:** walk, make, trip, fall, do, decide · **To what, where:** you, misstep, small misstep, them, cliff path, missteps

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wrong step when walking, which can make you trip or fall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misstep:m1:1
# text = A wrong step when walking, which can make you trip or fall.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
5	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	trip	trip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | can | a wrong step | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **trip** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **fall** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «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 mistake in what you do or decide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misstep:m2:1
# text = A mistake in what you do or decide.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **decide** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One misstep on the icy path and he slipped.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misstep:x1:1
# text = One misstep on the icy path and he slipped.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	misstep	misstep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	slipped	slip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slip** | past | One misstep on the icy path |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Choosing that shortcut was a misstep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misstep:x2:1
# text = Choosing that shortcut was a misstep.
1	Choosing	choosing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shortcut	shortcut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	misstep	misstep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shortcut** | past | Choosing |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Choosing | a misstep |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dancer made a small misstep but kept going.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misstep:x3:1
# text = The dancer made a small misstep but kept going.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dancer	dancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	misstep	misstep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the dancer | a small misstep |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset misstep=Product |
| 2 | **keep** | past | the dancer *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | gerund | the dancer *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team's misstep cost them the game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misstep:x4:1
# text = The team's misstep cost them the game.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	misstep	misstep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	cost	cost	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | past | the team's misstep | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Theme they=Beneficiary game=Value |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On a cliff path, a misstep can be dangerous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misstep:x5:1
# text = On a cliff path, a misstep can be dangerous.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	misstep	misstep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
10	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | a misstep |  |  | a cliff path |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned from our missteps and did better next time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misstep:x6:1
# text = We learned from our missteps and did better next time.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	missteps	misstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
9	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We |  |  | our missteps |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.source»: agent=Agent from misstep=Source |
| 2 | **do** | past | We *not said here* |  |  |  | time |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pumpkin is an exceedingly awkward thing to carry, and the Irishman had not gone far before he made a misstep, and stumbled.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misstep:x7:1
# text = A pumpkin is an exceedingly awkward thing to carry, and the Irishman had not gone far before he made a misstep, and stumbled.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pumpkin	pumpkin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	exceedingly	exceedingly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	awkward	awkward	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Irishman	Irishman	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
14	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	parataxis	_	_
17	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	16	advmod	_	_
18	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
19	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	misstep	misstep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	stumbled	stumble	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pumpkin | a awkward thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **carry** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **go** | past · perfect | the Irishman |  |  |  |  | far *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **make** | past | Irishman | a misstep |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent misstep=Product |
| 5 | **stumble** | participle | Irishman *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=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: [misstatement](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misstatement/)
- next →: [missus](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/)
- ↑ back to [M in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/)