---
title: undertaking — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «undertaking» in the school dictionary: A big or difficult job or project. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# undertaking

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** undertaker, Building, Climbing, shop, Moving, project · **What happens:** do, arrange, work, build, be, climb · **To what, where:** something, funerals, tree house, big undertaking, mountain, dangerous undertaking

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A big or difficult job or project.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:m1:1
# text = A big or difficult job or project.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A promise to do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:m2:1
# text = A promise to do something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
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 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The work of an undertaker (arranging funerals).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:m3:1
# text = The work of an undertaker (arranging funerals).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	undertaker	undertaker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	arranging	arrange	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	funerals	funeral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrange** | gerund | a undertaker *not said here* | funerals |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent funeral=Product |
| 2 | **work** |  | a undertaker |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Building the tree house was a big undertaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:x1:1
# text = Building the tree house was a big undertaking.
1	Building	build	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	big	big	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 tree house |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset house=Product |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Building | a big undertaking |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Climbing the mountain was a dangerous undertaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:x2:1
# text = Climbing the mountain was a dangerous undertaking.
1	Climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	undertaking	undertaking	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 | **climb** | gerund |  | the mountain |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location mountain=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Climbing | a dangerous undertaking |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop gave an undertaking to refund faulty goods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:x3:1
# text = The shop gave an undertaking to refund faulty goods.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	undertaking	undertaking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	refund	refund	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	faulty	faulty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the shop | a undertaking |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent undertaking=Theme |
| 2 | **refund** | to-infinitive | the shop *not said here* | faulty goods |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goods=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving house is quite an undertaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:x4:1
# text = Moving house is quite an undertaking.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	undertaking	undertaking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  | house |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent house=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Moving | a undertaking |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The project was a joint undertaking by two schools.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:x5:1
# text = The project was a joint undertaking by two schools.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	joint	joint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	undertaking	undertake	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	schools	school	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the project | a joint |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **undertake** | gerund | a joint *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by two schools | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is undertaking a course in first aid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:x6:1
# text = She is undertaking a course in first aid.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	undertaking	undertake	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	course	course	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	aid	aid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undertake** | present · progressive | She | a course |  | first aid |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent course=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To cross to the opposite shore was an undertaking fraught with danger to life and limb.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undertaking:x7:1
# text = To cross to the opposite shore was an undertaking fraught with danger to life and limb.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	cross	cross	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	shore	shore	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	undertaking	undertake	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	fraught	fraught	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	limb	limb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **undertake** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is** | past | the opposite shore |  |  |  |  | to a undertaking fraught and limb; with danger to life | 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.

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