---
title: underlying — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «underlying» in the school dictionary: Underlying means real but hidden; it is the true reason behind something: the underlying cause. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# underlying

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Underlying, it, underlying cause, soil, you, jokes · **What happens:** mean, be, lie, break, cause, look · **To what, where:** real, true reason, something, broken wire, fire, underlying rock

<!-- .vabout -->
«underlying» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [underlying in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/underlying.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Underlying means real but hidden; it is the true reason behind something: the underlying cause.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underlying:m1:1
# text = Underlying means real but hidden; it is the true reason behind something: the underlying cause.
1	Underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
12	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Underlying | real |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent real=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | it | the true reason |  | something |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Underlying also means lying under something else: the underlying rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underlying:m2:1
# text = Underlying also means lying under something else: the underlying rock.
1	Underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	else	else	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Underlying |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **lie** *not said to happen* | gerund | Underlying *not said here* |  |  | something |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent under something=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The underlying cause of the fire was a broken wire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underlying:x1:1
# text = The underlying cause of the fire was a broken wire.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the underlying cause of the fire | a broken wire |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cause** |  |  | the fire |  |  |  |  | nom cause «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Under the soil is the underlying rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underlying:x2:1
# text = Under the soil is the underlying rock.
1	Under	under	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the soil | the underlying rock |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Look for the underlying pattern in the numbers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underlying:x3:1
# text = Look for the underlying pattern in the numbers.
1	Look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the underlying pattern in the numbers | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for pattern=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His jokes hid an underlying sadness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underlying:x4:1
# text = His jokes hid an underlying sadness.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sadness	sadness	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 | **hide** | past | His jokes | a underlying sadness |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sadness=Patient |
| 2 | **joke** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad has an underlying heart problem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underlying:x5:1
# text = Grandad has an underlying heart problem.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Grandad | a underlying heart problem |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The underlying idea of the story is friendship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underlying:x6:1
# text = The underlying idea of the story is friendship.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	underlying	underlying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	friendship	friendship	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 | **is a** | present | the underlying idea of the story | friendship |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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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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