---
title: topple — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «topple» in the school dictionary: To topple is to become unsteady and fall over, or to push something so that it falls. 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/T/topple/)

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

# topple

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, leader, strong wind, you, cups, wide base · **What happens:** topple, be, fall over, push, fall, mean · **To what, where:** something, leader, power, blocks, old tree, cups · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«topple» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [topple in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/topple.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To topple is to become unsteady and fall over, or to push something so that it falls.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:m1:1
# text = To topple is to become unsteady and fall over, or to push something so that it falls.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	topple	topple	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	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
9	over	over	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	push	push	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	18	mark	_	_
16	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	falls	fall	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **topple** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | become, unsteady *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **fall over** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **push** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 5 | **fall** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «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 -->
To topple a leader or government means to make them lose power.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:m2:1
# text = To topple a leader or government means to make them lose power.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	topple	topple	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **topple** | to-infinitive |  | a leader or government |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent leader=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | leader |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **lose** *not said to happen* | infinitive | leader *not said here* | power |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent power=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tower of blocks toppled over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:x1:1
# text = The tower of blocks toppled over.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	blocks	block	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	toppled	topple	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	over	over	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **topple over** | participle |  | blocks *not said here* |  |  |  | over *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The strong wind toppled the old tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:x2:1
# text = The strong wind toppled the old tree.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	toppled	topple	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **topple** | past | the strong wind | the old tree |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tree=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't stack the cups so high or they will topple.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:x3:1
# text = Don't stack the cups so high or they will topple.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	stack	stack	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cups	cup	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	topple	topple	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **stack** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the cups |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent cup=Theme |
| 2 | **topple** | future | cups *= cup* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wide base stops a tower from toppling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:x4:1
# text = A wide base stops a tower from toppling.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	base	base	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	toppling	topple	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | a wide base | a tower |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality tower=Eventuality |
| 2 | **topple** | gerund | a tower *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vase toppled off the shelf and broke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:x5:1
# text = The vase toppled off the shelf and broke.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	toppled	topple	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	shelf	shelf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
8	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **topple** | participle |  | the vase *not said here* |  |  |  | off the shelf | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **break** | past | the vase |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat toppled the pile of books.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:x6:1
# text = The cat toppled the pile of books.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	toppled	topple	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pile	pile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **topple** | past | the cat | the pile of books |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent pile=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The people toppled the cruel king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:x7:1
# text = The people toppled the cruel king.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	toppled	topple	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **topple** | past | the people | the cruel king |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent king=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then the ogre fell down and broke his crown, and the beanstalk came toppling after.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:topple:x8:1
# text = Then the ogre fell down and broke his crown, and the beanstalk came toppling after.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	ogre	ogre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	crown	crown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	beanstalk	beanstalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
15	toppling	topple	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	_
16	after	after	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall down** | past | the ogre |  |  |  | then | down *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **break** | past | the ogre *not said here* | ogre's crown |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer crown=Patient |
| 3 | **come** | past | the beanstalk |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **topple** | gerund | the beanstalk *not said here* |  |  |  |  | after *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **crown** |  | ogre |  |  |  |  |  | nom crown «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

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