---
title: step — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «step» in the school dictionary: A step is one movement of your foot when you walk. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# step

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** step, you, Steps, stairs, Mia, tower · **What happens:** be, walk, walk up, step, lift, put down · **To what, where:** one movement, flat parts, one part, recipe, foot, 2000 steps

<!-- .vabout -->
«step» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [step in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/step.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A step is one movement of your foot when you walk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:m1:1
# text = A step is one movement of your foot when you walk.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	walk	walk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a step | one movement |  |  |  | of your foot | tree rules |
| 2 | **walk** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «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 -->
Steps are the flat parts of stairs that you walk up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:m2:1
# text = Steps are the flat parts of stairs that you walk up.
1	Steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	walk	walk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Steps | the flat parts |  |  |  | of stairs | tree rules |
| 2 | **walk up** | present | stairs |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A step is one part of a process: the first step of a recipe.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:m3:1
# text = A step is one part of a process: the first step of a recipe.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	recipe	recipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a step | one part and the first step of a recipe |  |  |  | of a process | tree rules |
| 2 | **step** |  |  | a recipe |  |  |  |  | nom step «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To step is to move by lifting your foot and putting it down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:m4:1
# text = To step is to move by lifting your foot and putting it down.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	step	step	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	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	lifting	lift	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	putting	put	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	down	down	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **step** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | move *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **lift** | gerund |  | your foot |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent foot=Theme |
| 4 | **put down** | gerund |  | foot |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent it=Goal |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Step by step» means slowly, one part after another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:m5:1
# text = «Step by step» means slowly, one part after another.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
11	after	after	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Step by step |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **step** *in a quote* |  | step |  |  |  |  |  | nom step «act transitive»: by=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mia walks 2000 steps a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:x1:1
# text = Mia walks 2000 steps a day.
1	Mia	Mia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walks	walk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	2000	2000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | present | Mia | 2000 steps  a day |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme step=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tower has 120 steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:x2:1
# text = The tower has 120 steps.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	120	120	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the tower | 120 steps |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He climbed 15 steps and then 20 more.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:x3:1
# text = He climbed 15 steps and then 20 more.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	_
7	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | past | He | 15 steps |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location step=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each step is 2 feet long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:x4:1
# text = Each step is 2 feet long.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | each step |  |  |  |  | 2 feet *obl:unmarked*; long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Solve the problem step by step.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:x5:1
# text = Solve the problem step by step.
1	Solve	solve	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **solve** | imperative | you *not said here* | the problem step |  |  |  | by step | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Watch your step, the floor is wet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:x6:1
# text = Watch your step, the floor is wet.
1	Watch	watch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | imperative | you *not said here* | your step |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | the floor |  |  |  |  | wet *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **step** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom step «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby took her first steps today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:x7:1
# text = The baby took her first steps today.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	amod	_	_
6	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the baby | baby's first steps |  |  | today |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent step=Theme |
| 2 | **step** |  | baby |  |  |  |  |  | nom step «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Step aside to let the people pass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:x8:1
# text = Step aside to let the people pass.
1	Step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	aside	aside	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	pass	pass	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | to-infinitive | Step |  |  |  |  | aside *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pass** | present | the people |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sat lifeless on the steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:step:x9:1
# text = He sat lifeless on the steps.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lifeless	lifeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | He |  |  |  |  | on the steps; lifeless *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on step=Location |

<!-- 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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