---
title: past — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «past» in the school dictionary: The past is time that has gone, before now. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# past

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** past, time, past three, It, bus, she · **What happens:** be, go, mean, walk, tell, come · **To what, where:** time, shop, 3:30, 8, 60 pages, 5 houses · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«past» in the school dictionary: its 5 meanings for a pupil and its 10 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: [past in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/past.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The past is time that has gone, before now.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:m1:1
# text = The past is time that has gone, before now.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	before	before	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the past | time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present · perfect | time |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «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 -->
Past (preposition) means going by something: he walked past the shop.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:m2:1
# text = Past (preposition) means going by something: he walked past the shop.
1	Past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	preposition	preposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
12	past	past	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Past |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **go** *not said to happen* | gerund | Past *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by something | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme by something=Location |
| 3 | **walk** | past | Past |  |  | the shop |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme past shop=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In telling time, past means after the hour: «Half past three» is 3:30.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:m3:1
# text = In telling time, past means after the hour: «Half past three» is 3:30.
1	In	in	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
3	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
5	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Half	half	DET	PDT	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac|PronType=Ind	14	det:predet	_	_
13	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	3:30	3:30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | past |  |  |  | hour |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | half past three | 3:30 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Past (adjective) means just gone: the past week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:m4:1
# text = Past (adjective) means just gone: the past week.
1	Past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | Past |  |  |  | week |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Past also means beyond: past midnight, past the bridge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:m5:1
# text = Past also means beyond: past midnight, past the bridge.
1	Past	Past	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	beyond	beyond	ADP	IN	_	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	past	past	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	midnight	midnight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	past	past	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Past |  |  |  | midnight |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beyond=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is half past 2.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x1:1
# text = It is half past 2.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	half	half	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	5	advmod	_	_
4	past	past	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | past 2; half *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bus came 20 minutes past 8.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x2:1
# text = The bus came 20 minutes past 8.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	past	past	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the bus |  |  | 8 | minute |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme past 8=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the past 3 days she read 60 pages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x3:1
# text = In the past 3 days she read 60 pages.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	flat	_	_
5	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	60	60	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | she | 60 pages |  |  | day |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent page=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He walked past 5 houses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x4:1
# text = He walked past 5 houses.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	past	past	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | He | 5 houses |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme house=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the past, people wrote with feather pens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x5:1
# text = In the past, people wrote with feather pens.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	feather	feather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	pens	pen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | people |  |  | the past |  | with feather pens | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in past=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's past your bedtime!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x6:1
# text = It's past your bedtime!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	past	past	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bedtime	bedtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | past your bedtime | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Ran» is the past tense of «run».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x7:1
# text = «Ran» is the past tense of «run».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ran	Ran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tense	tense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Ran | the past tense |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** *in a quote* | infinitive | the past tense *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quarter past ten is 10:15.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x8:1
# text = Quarter past ten is 10:15.
1	Quarter	quarter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	flat	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	10:15	10:15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Quarter past | 10:15 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Go past the church and turn left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x9:1
# text = Go past the church and turn left.
1	Go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	past	past	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	left	left	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the church |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme past church=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **turn** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | left *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Suddenly there rode past another horseman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:past:x10:1
# text = Suddenly there rode past another horseman.
1	Suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
3	rode	ride	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	past	past	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	horseman	horseman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ride** | past |  |  |  | another horseman; there |  | suddenly *property* | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent past horseman=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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