---
title: mistake — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mistake» in the school dictionary: Something that is wrong, like a wrong answer or a wrong action. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mistake

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, I, mistake, my, your, Everyone · **What happens:** be, do, wish, not do, think, mistake · **To what, where:** one person, him, mistake, sum, work, mistakes · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«mistake» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [mistake in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mistake.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that is wrong, like a wrong answer or a wrong action.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:m1:1
# text = Something that is wrong, like a wrong answer or a wrong action.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something done that you later wish you had not done.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:m2:1
# text = Something done that you later wish you had not done.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	wish	wish	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **wish** | present | you |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **do** | past · perfect | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Verb: to think one person or thing is another: «I mistook him for his brother».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:m3:1
# text = Verb: to think one person or thing is another: «I mistook him for his brother».
1	Verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	think	think	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	mistook	mistake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
15	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | one person or thing |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot person=Theme |
| 2 | **mistake** *in a quote* | past | I | him *= he* |  |  |  | for his brother | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By mistake: without meaning to.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:m4:1
# text = By mistake: without meaning to.
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
4	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | gerund | mistake *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I made a mistake in my sum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:x1:1
# text = I made a mistake in my sum.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | I | a mistake |  | my sum |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Product |
| 2 | **sum** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom sum «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Check your work for spelling mistakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:x2:1
# text = Check your work for spelling mistakes.
1	Check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | imperative | you *not said here* | your work |  |  |  | for spelling mistakes | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent work=Theme for mistake=Attribute |
| 2 | **work** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone makes mistakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:x3:1
# text = Everyone makes mistakes.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Everyone | mistakes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I took your pencil by mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:x4:1
# text = I took your pencil by mistake.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | I | your pencil |  |  |  | by mistake | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learn from our mistakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:x5:1
# text = We learn from our mistakes.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learn	learn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|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	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present | We |  |  | our mistakes |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.source»: agent=Agent from mistake=Source |
| 2 | **mistake** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She mistook the salt for sugar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:x6:1
# text = She mistook the salt for sugar.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mistook	mistake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mistake** | past | She | the salt |  |  |  | for sugar | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Opening the door to a stranger would be a mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:x7:1
# text = Opening the door to a stranger would be a mistake.
1	Opening	open	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | gerund |  | the door | a stranger |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent door=Patient to stranger=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | would | Opening | a mistake |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's okay — it was a mistake, not on purpose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:x8:1
# text = It's okay — it was a mistake, not on purpose.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	okay	okay	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | okay *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | it | a mistake and purpose |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Oh, your majesty, it was a mistake!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistake:x9:1
# text = ‘Oh, your majesty, it was a mistake!
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	10	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	majesty	majesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	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	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | majesty | a mistake |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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