---
title: retrograde — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «retrograde» in the school dictionary: Going backwards, or getting worse instead of better. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# retrograde

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** planet, Closing, Mars shows, Venus, he, moons · **What happens:** go, get, move, seem, retrograde, lose · **To what, where:** planet, usual one, direction opposite, night sky, amnesia, memories · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Going backwards, or getting worse instead of better.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retrograde:m1:1
# text = Going backwards, or getting worse instead of better.
1	Going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
6	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	xcomp	_	_
7	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | backwards *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **get** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | instead better; bad *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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: science, astronomy — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving in the direction opposite to the usual one; for example, a planet seeming to move backwards across the night sky.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retrograde:m2:1
# text = Moving in the direction opposite to the usual one; for example, a planet seeming to move backwards across the night sky.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	planet	planet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
16	seeming	seem	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	acl	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
19	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
20	across	across	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  | a planet | the usual one | the direction opposite |  | for example | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V PP.source PP.trajectory PP.destination»: agent=Theme in opposite=Source to one=Trajectory |
| 2 | **seem** | gerund | a planet *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 3 | **move** | to-infinitive | a planet *not said here* |  |  | the night sky |  | backwards *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme across sky=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Retrograde amnesia» is losing memories from before an injury.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retrograde:m3:1
# text = «Retrograde amnesia» is losing memories from before an injury.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Retrograde	retrograde	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
3	amnesia	amnesia	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	memories	memory	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	before	before	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	injury	injury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retrograde** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | amnesia |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | present · progressive |  | memories |  | a injury |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Closing the library would be a retrograde step.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retrograde:x1:1
# text = Closing the library would be a retrograde step.
1	Closing	close	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	retrograde	retrograde	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | gerund |  | the library |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent library=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | would | Closing | a retrograde step |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mars shows retrograde motion in the night sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retrograde:x2:1
# text = Mars shows retrograde motion in the night sky.
1	Mars	Mars	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	shows	show	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	retrograde	retrograde	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	motion	motion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retrograde** | present | Mars shows | motion |  | the night sky |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Venus spins in a retrograde direction, opposite to most planets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retrograde:x3:1
# text = Venus spins in a retrograde direction, opposite to most planets.
1	Venus	Venus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spins	spin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	retrograde	retrograde	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	11	amod	_	_
11	planets	planet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | present | Venus |  |  | a retrograde direction |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in direction=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the fall, he had retrograde amnesia and forgot the morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retrograde:x4:1
# text = After the fall, he had retrograde amnesia and forgot the morning.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	fall	fall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	retrograde	retrograde	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
8	amnesia	amnesia	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | he |  |  |  | after the fall |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **retrograde** | infinitive | he *not said here* | amnesia |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **forget** | past | he *not said here* |  |  |  | morning |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some moons orbit in a retrograde way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retrograde:x5:1
# text = Some moons orbit in a retrograde way.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	moons	moon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	orbit	orbit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	retrograde	retrograde	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **orbit** | present | some moons |  |  | a retrograde way |  |  | vn orbit-51.9.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Going back to the old rules felt retrograde.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retrograde:x6:1
# text = Going back to the old rules felt retrograde.
1	Going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	retrograde	retrograde	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go back** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to the old rules *result* | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to rule=Result |
| 2 | **feel** | past | Going |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **retrograde** | infinitive | Going *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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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