---
title: progression — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «progression» in the school dictionary: Moving forward or developing step by step from one stage to another: «the progression from caterpillar to butterfly». 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/P/progression/)

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

# progression

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** numbers, series, you, We, Moving, guitar song · **What happens:** move forward, develop, follow, play, get, form · **To what, where:** progression, step, rule, one, arithmetic progression, swimming lessons

<!-- .vabout -->
«progression» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [progression in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/progression.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving forward or developing step by step from one stage to another: «the progression from caterpillar to butterfly».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:m1:1
# text = Moving forward or developing step by step from one stage to another: «the progression from caterpillar to butterfly».
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	developing	develop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
5	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move forward** | gerund |  | the progression from caterpillar to butterfly |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **develop** | gerund |  | step |  |  |  | by step from one stage to another | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Product |

<!-- .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: maths — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sequence of numbers that follow a rule, like 3, 6, 9, 12 (an arithmetic progression) or 2, 4, 8, 16 (a geometric progression).

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:m2:1
# text = A sequence of numbers that follow a rule, like 3, 6, 9, 12 (an arithmetic progression) or 2, 4, 8, 16 (a geometric progression).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sequence	sequence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	follow	follow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	appos	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	arithmetic	arithmetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
26	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
28	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
30	16	16	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	appos	_	_
31	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	34	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	34	det	_	_
33	geometric	geometric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	34	amod	_	_
34	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	34	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | numbers | a rule |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A series of chords played one after another: «a chord progression».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:m3:1
# text = A series of chords played one after another: «a chord progression».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	series	series	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	chords	chord	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	obj	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	chord	chord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | a series of chords | one |  |  | after another |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent one=Theme clause=Eventuality |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Getting better or worse over time, as in an illness or in skill.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:m4:1
# text = Getting better or worse over time, as in an illness or in skill.
1	Getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
2	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	1	xcomp	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | gerund |  |  |  |  | time | good *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The numbers 5, 10, 15, 20 form an arithmetic progression.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:x1:1
# text = The numbers 5, 10, 15, 20 form an arithmetic progression.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
3	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	conj	_	_
10	form	form	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	arithmetic	arithmetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | present | the numbers | a arithmetic progression |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location progression=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a geometric progression you multiply by the same number each time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:x2:1
# text = In a geometric progression you multiply by the same number each time.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	geometric	geometric	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	multiply	multiply	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	det	_	_
12	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **multiply** | present | you |  |  |  | time | by the same number; in a geometric progression | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in progression=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched the progression from tadpole to frog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:x3:1
# text = We watched the progression from tadpole to frog.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	tadpole	tadpole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | the progression |  |  |  | from tadpole; to frog | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent progression=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving from swimming lessons to the team was a natural progression.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:x4:1
# text = Moving from swimming lessons to the team was a natural progression.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
2	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	lessons	lesson	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  | swimming lessons |  | to the team | vn slide-11.2 «NP V PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Theme from lesson=Initial\_Location to team=Destination |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Moving | a natural progression |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guitar song uses a simple chord progression.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:x5:1
# text = The guitar song uses a simple chord progression.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	guitar	guitar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	chord	chord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | the guitar song | a simple chord progression |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent progression=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doctors try to slow the progression of the disease.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:x6:1
# text = Doctors try to slow the progression of the disease.
1	Doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	slow	slow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	disease	disease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present | Doctors |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **slow** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Doctors *not said here* | the progression of the disease |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent progression=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our reading books show a progression from easy to hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progression:x7:1
# text = Our reading books show a progression from easy to hard.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	progression	progression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Our reading books | a progression |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent progression=Recipient |

<!-- 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: [progress](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progress/)
- next →: [progressive](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progressive/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)