---
title: overturn — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «overturn» in the school dictionary: To overturn is to turn over, or make something turn over, so the bottom is on top: the boat overturned. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# overturn

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, bottom, boat, decision, judge, idea · **What happens:** overturn, be, make, turn over, say, replace · **To what, where:** something, top, decision, ruling, idea, lake · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«overturn» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [overturn in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/overturn.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To overturn is to turn over, or make something turn over, so the bottom is on top: the boat overturned.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overturn:m1:1
# text = To overturn is to turn over, or make something turn over, so the bottom is on top: the boat overturned.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	overturn	overturn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	over	over	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
23	overturned	overturn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overturn** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | turn *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **turn over** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **is** | present | the bottom |  |  | top |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **overturn** | past | the boat |  |  |  |  |  | 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: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To overturn a decision is to change it officially and say it was wrong: the judge overturned the ruling.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overturn:m2:1
# text = To overturn a decision is to change it officially and say it was wrong: the judge overturned the ruling.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	overturn	overturn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	change	change	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	officially	officially	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	overturned	overturn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	ruling	ruling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overturn** | to-infinitive |  | a decision |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | change, officially *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | past | decision |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **overturn** | past | the judge | the ruling |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To overturn an idea is to show it is wrong or replace it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overturn:m3:1
# text = To overturn an idea is to show it is wrong or replace it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	overturn	overturn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	replace	replace	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overturn** | to-infinitive |  | a idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | show *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | idea |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **replace** | infinitive |  | idea |  |  |  |  | vn substitute-13.6.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=Co-Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The canoe overturned and we fell into the lake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overturn:x1:1
# text = The canoe overturned and we fell into the lake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	canoe	canoe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	overturned	overturn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lake	lake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overturn** | past | the canoe |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fall** | past | we |  |  |  |  | into the lake *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into lake=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind overturned our tent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overturn:x2:1
# text = The wind overturned our tent.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	overturned	overturn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	tent	tent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overturn** | past | the wind | our tent |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overturn:x3:1
# text = Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers.
1	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	overturned	overturn	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	tables	table	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	changers	changer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overturn** | past | Jesus | the tables of the money changers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The court overturned the unfair decision.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overturn:x4:1
# text = The court overturned the unfair decision.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	overturned	overturn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overturn** | past | the court | the unfair decision |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lorry overturned on the motorway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overturn:x5:1
# text = The lorry overturned on the motorway.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lorry	lorry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	overturned	overturn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overturn** | participle |  | the lorry *not said here* |  | the motorway |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
New fossils overturned the old idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overturn:x6:1
# text = New fossils overturned the old idea.
1	New	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	fossils	fossil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	overturned	overturn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overturn** | past | New fossils | the old idea |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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