---
title: postpone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «postpone» in the school dictionary: To move an event to a later time instead of doing it now. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# postpone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Our, we, class, They, you, master · **What happens:** move, do, delay, postpone, test, be · **To what, where:** event, something, match, football match, test, party

<!-- .vabout -->
«postpone» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [postpone in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/postpone.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To move an event to a later time instead of doing it now.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:m1:1
# text = To move an event to a later time instead of doing it now.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	later	late	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	amod	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	11	mark	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  | a event |  |  | time |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent event=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | gerund |  | event |  |  | now |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The match was postponed because of rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:m1e:1
# text = The match was postponed because of rain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	postponed	postpone	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **postpone** | past · passive |  | the match |  |  |  | because rain | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To delay doing something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:m2:1
# text = To delay doing something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	delay	delay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **delay** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The football match was postponed because of the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x1:1
# text = The football match was postponed because of the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	postponed	postpone	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **postpone** | past · passive |  | the football match |  |  |  | because the storm | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our test has been postponed until next week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x2:1
# text = Our test has been postponed until next week.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	postponed	postpone	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	until	until	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **postpone** | present · perfect · passive |  | Our test |  |  | week |  | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **test** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom test «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can we postpone the party? Half the class is sick.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Can we postpone the party?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x3:1
# text = Can we postpone the party?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	postpone	postpone	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	party	party	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 | **postpone** | can | we | the party |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent party=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Half the class is sick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x3:2
# text = Half the class is sick.
1	Half	half	DET	PDT	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac|PronType=Ind	3	det:predet	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	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 | half class |  |  |  |  | sick *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trip was postponed by 2 days.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x4:1
# text = The trip was postponed by 2 days.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	postponed	postpone	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **postpone** | past · passive |  | the trip |  |  | day |  | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They postponed the launch because of high winds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x5:1
# text = They postponed the launch because of high winds.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	postponed	postpone	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	launch	launch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	winds	wind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **postpone** | past | They | the launch |  |  |  | because high winds | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent launch=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't postpone your homework until the last minute.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x6:1
# text = Don't postpone your homework until the last minute.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	postpone	postpone	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	until	until	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **postpone** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | your homework |  |  | minute |  | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The concert is postponed, not cancelled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x7:1
# text = The concert is postponed, not cancelled.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	concert	concert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	postponed	postpone	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **postpone** | present · passive |  | the concert |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **not** **cancel** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sports day was postponed twice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x8:1
# text = The sports day was postponed twice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	postponed	postpone	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **postpone** | past · passive |  |  |  |  | day | twice *property* | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V S\_ING» |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His master was never one for postponing a duty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:postpone:x9:1
# text = His master was never one for postponing a duty.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	master	master	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	postponing	postpone	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	duty	duty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | past | His master | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **postpone** | gerund | His master *not said here* | a duty |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent duty=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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