---
title: undercover — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «undercover» in the school dictionary: Undercover means working secretly, pretending to be someone else, to find out information, as police or spies do. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# undercover

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Undercover, police, undercover officer, reporter, spy, undercover inspector · **What happens:** mean, work, pretend, be, find out, do · **To what, where:** someone, information, cover, builder, truth, café

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Undercover means working secretly, pretending to be someone else, to find out information, as police or spies do.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:m1:1
# text = Undercover means working secretly, pretending to be someone else, to find out information, as police or spies do.
1	Undercover	Undercover	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	pretending	pretend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	xcomp	_	_
10	else	else	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
14	out	out	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
15	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
17	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
18	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	spies	spy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	_
21	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Undercover |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **work** *not said to happen* | gerund | Undercover *not said here* |  |  |  |  | secretly *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **pretend** | gerund | Undercover *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is a** | to-infinitive | Undercover *not said here* | someone |  |  |  | else *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **find out** | to-infinitive | Undercover *not said here* | information |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent information=Topic |
| 6 | **do** | present | police or spies |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To go undercover is to start working in this secret way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:m2:1
# text = To go undercover is to start working in this secret way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	undercover	undercover	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
10	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | undercover *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | start *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | in this secret way | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in way=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: sometimes «under cover» — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Under cover means under a roof or shelter, out of the rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:m3:1
# text = Under cover means under a roof or shelter, out of the rain.
1	Under	under	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	cover	cover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	shelter	shelter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | cover |  | under a roof or shelter and the rain | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The undercover officer pretended to be a builder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:x1:1
# text = The undercover officer pretended to be a builder.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	undercover	undercover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	pretended	pretend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	builder	builder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | past | the undercover officer |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive | the undercover officer *not said here* | a builder |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The reporter went undercover to find out the truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:x2:1
# text = The reporter went undercover to find out the truth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reporter	reporter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	undercover	undercover	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the reporter |  |  |  |  | undercover *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **find out** | to-infinitive | the reporter *not said here* | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent truth=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the film, the spy worked undercover for years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:x3:1
# text = In the film, the spy worked undercover for years.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	undercover	undercover	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | the spy |  |  |  | year | in the film; undercover *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in film=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An undercover inspector ate at the café.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:x4:1
# text = An undercover inspector ate at the café.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	undercover	undercover	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	inspector	inspector	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	café	café	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 | **eat** | past | a undercover inspector |  |  | the café |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep the logs under cover so they stay dry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:x5:1
# text = Keep the logs under cover so they stay dry.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	logs	log	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cover	cover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	stay	stay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
9	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* | the logs |  | cover |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent log=Theme under cover=Location |
| 2 | **stay** | present | logs *= log* |  |  |  |  | dry *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cat went undercover under the bed when the hoover came out. (joking)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* My cat went undercover under the bed when the hoover came out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:x6:1
# text = My cat went undercover under the bed when the hoover came out.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	undercover	undercover	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hoover	hoover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
12	out	out	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | My cat |  |  | the bed |  | undercover *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme under bed=Location |
| 2 | **come out** | past | the hoover |  |  |  |  | out *property* | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (joking)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undercover:x6:2
# text = (joking)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **joke** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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**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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