---
title: undo — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «undo» in the school dictionary: To undo is to turn something back to how it was before. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# undo

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, Undo, you, Dividing, Press, 7 undoes · **What happens:** undo, be, tie, fasten, cancel, do · **To what, where:** last thing, computer, 3, 5 undoes, 5, start · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«undo» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [undo in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/undo.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To undo is to turn something back to how it was before.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:m1:1
# text = To undo is to turn something back to how it was before.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	undo	undo	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	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	back	back	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	before	before	ADV	RB	_	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undo** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | turn *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | past | it |  |  |  |  | before *property* | 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 -->
To undo is to open something that is tied or fastened, like a knot, a button or a zip.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:m2:1
# text = To undo is to open something that is tied or fastened, like a knot, a button or a zip.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	undo	undo	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	open	open	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	tied	tie	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	fastened	fasten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	knot	knot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	button	button	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	zip	zip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undo** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | open *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **tie** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 4 | **fasten** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | like a knot | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On a computer, Undo cancels the last thing you did.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:m3:1
# text = On a computer, Undo cancels the last thing you did.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Undo	Undo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	cancels	cancel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cancel** | present | Undo | the last thing |  | a computer |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | past | you | the last thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dividing undoes multiplying: 3 × 4 = 12, so 12 ÷ 3 = 4.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:x1:1
# text = Dividing undoes multiplying: 3 × 4 = 12, so 12 ÷ 3 = 4.
1	Dividing	dividing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	undoes	undo	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	multiplying	multiply	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	_
6	×	×	SYM	SYM	_	7	case	_	_
7	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nmod	_	_
8	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	9	case	_	_
9	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	parataxis	_	_
13	÷	÷	SYM	SYM	_	14	case	_	_
14	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nmod	_	_
15	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	16	case	_	_
16	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undo** | present | Dividing |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **multiply** | gerund | Dividing *not said here* | 3 × 4 = 12 |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Adding 5 undoes taking 5 away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:x2:1
# text = Adding 5 undoes taking 5 away.
1	Adding	add	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	undoes	undo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obj	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | 5 undoes |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent undo=Patient |
| 2 | **take away** | gerund |  | 5 |  |  |  | away *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 5=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To find the start, undo each change.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:x3:1
# text = To find the start, undo each change.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	undo	undo	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the start |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent start=Topic |
| 2 | **undo** | imperative | you *not said here* | each change |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent change=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you undo this knot in my shoelace?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:x4:1
# text = Can you undo this knot in my shoelace?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	undo	undo	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	knot	knot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	shoelace	shoelace	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 | **undo** | can | you | this knot |  | my shoelace |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knot=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Undo your top button if you feel hot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:x5:1
# text = Undo your top button if you feel hot.
1	Undo	undo	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	button	button	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undo** | imperative | you *not said here* | your top button |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent button=Patient |
| 2 | **feel** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | hot *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press undo to bring back the deleted word.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:x6:1
# text = Press undo to bring back the deleted word.
1	Press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	undo	undo	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	bring	bring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	back	back	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	deleted	delete	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undo** | infinitive | Press |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **bring back** | to-infinitive | Press *not said here* | the deleted word |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent word=Theme |
| 3 | **delete** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You cannot undo a mean word once it is said.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:x7:1
# text = You cannot undo a mean word once it is said.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	undo	undo	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	once	once	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **undo** | can | You | a mean word |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | word |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subtracting 7 undoes adding 7.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:x8:1
# text = Subtracting 7 undoes adding 7.
1	Subtracting	subtract	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	undoes	undo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	adding	add	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subtract** | gerund |  | 7 undoes |  |  |  |  | vn multiply-108-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent undo=Theme |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund | 7 undoes *not said here* | 7 |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 7=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But he could not undo the string.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undo:x9:1
# text = But he could not undo the string.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	undo	undo	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **undo** | could | he | the string |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent string=Patient |

<!-- 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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