---
title: undertake — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «undertake» in the school dictionary: To agree to do a piece of work or take on a job or task, often a big or hard one. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# undertake

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** He, class, Scientists, She, Building, you · **What happens:** agree, do, take, promise, overtake, undertake · **To what, where:** piece, job, something, vehicle, wrong side, money · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«undertake» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [undertake in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/undertake.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To agree to do a piece of work or take on a job or task, often a big or hard one.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:m1:1
# text = To agree to do a piece of work or take on a job or task, often a big or hard one.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	agree	agree	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	task	task	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
17	often	often	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
19	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	_
22	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **agree** *speech: agree* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a piece of work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piece=Eventuality |
| 3 | **take** | infinitive |  |  |  | a job or task and a big one |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on job=Destination |

<!-- .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 promise to do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:m2:1
# text = To promise to do something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	promise	promise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He undertook to pay the money back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:m2e:1
# text = He undertook to pay the money back.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	undertook	undertake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	back	back	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undertake** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **pay back** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the money |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, informal driving — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To overtake a vehicle on the wrong side (the inside lane).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:m3:1
# text = To overtake a vehicle on the wrong side (the inside lane).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	overtake	overtake	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	vehicle	vehicle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	inside	inside	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	lane	lane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overtake** | to-infinitive |  | a vehicle |  | the wrong side |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class undertook a project on recycling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:x1:1
# text = Our class undertook a project on recycling.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	undertook	undertake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	recycling	recycling	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 | **undertake** | past | Our class | a project |  | recycling |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent project=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists undertook a long study of whales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:x2:1
# text = Scientists undertook a long study of whales.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	undertook	undertake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undertake** | past | Scientists | a long study of whales |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent study=Eventuality |
| 2 | **study** |  |  | whales |  |  |  |  | nom study «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She undertook to look after the class hamster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:x3:1
# text = She undertook to look after the class hamster.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	undertook	undertake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	hamster	hamster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undertake** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  | after the class hamster |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Building the new bridge is a huge undertaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:x4:1
# text = Building the new bridge is a huge undertaking.
1	Building	build	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	undertaking	undertaking	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 | **build** | gerund |  | the new bridge |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bridge=Product |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Building | a huge undertaking |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't undertake a long hike without enough water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:x5:1
# text = Don't undertake a long hike without enough water.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	undertake	undertake	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	hike	hike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	without	without	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **undertake** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | a long hike |  |  |  | without enough water | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hike=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is dangerous to undertake on the motorway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:x6:1
# text = It is dangerous to undertake on the motorway.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	undertake	undertake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **undertake** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the motorway |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“I will undertake the defence,” said Fionn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertake:x7:1
# text = “I will undertake the defence,” said Fionn.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	undertake	undertake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	Fionn	Fionn	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undertake** *in a quote* | future | Fionn | the defence |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent defence=Eventuality |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Fionn |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->
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