---
title: unlace — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unlace» in the school dictionary: To undo the laces of something, such as shoes, boots or a corset. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unlace

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, She, soldier, little brother, Toad, Unlacing · **What happens:** undo, loosen, open, pull out, unlace, take off · **To what, where:** laces, something, football boots, boots, skates, cold feet

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To undo the laces of something, such as shoes, boots or a corset.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlace:m1:1
# text = To undo the laces of something, such as shoes, boots or a corset.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	undo	undo	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	laces	lace	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	corset	corset	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undo** | to-infinitive |  | the laces of something and shoes and boots or a corset |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lace=Patient |

<!-- .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 loosen or open something by pulling out its laces.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlace:m2:1
# text = To loosen or open something by pulling out its laces.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	loosen	loosen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	open	open	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	laces	lace	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **loosen** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **open** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location something=Theme |
| 3 | **pull out** | gerund |  | its laces |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unlace your football boots before you take them off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlace:x1:1
# text = Unlace your football boots before you take them off.
1	Unlace	unlace	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	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unlace** | imperative | you *not said here* | your football boots |  |  |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boot=Patient |
| 2 | **take off** | present | you | boots *= boot* |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She unlaced her skates and rubbed her cold feet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlace:x2:1
# text = She unlaced her skates and rubbed her cold feet.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	unlaced	unlace	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	skates	skate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	rubbed	rub	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unlace** | past | She | her skates |  |  |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skate=Patient |
| 2 | **rub** | past | She *not said here* | her cold feet |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent foot=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldier sat down and unlaced his heavy boots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlace:x3:1
# text = The soldier sat down and unlaced his heavy boots.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	unlaced	unlace	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit down** | past | the soldier |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **unlace** | past | the soldier *not said here* | soldier's heavy boots |  |  |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boot=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother can lace his shoes but not unlace the knots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlace:x4:1
# text = My little brother can lace his shoes but not unlace the knots.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	lace	lace	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	unlace	unlace	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	knots	knot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lace** | can | My little brother | brother's shoes |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoe=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **unlace** | infinitive | My little brother *not said here* | the knots |  |  |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knot=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad unlaced his gaiters in front of the fire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlace:x5:1
# text = Toad unlaced his gaiters in front of the fire.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	unlaced	unlace	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	gaiters	gaiter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unlace** | past | Toad | Toad's gaiters |  | front of the fire |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gaiter=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unlacing wet boots is hard when your fingers are cold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unlace:x6:1
# text = Unlacing wet boots is hard when your fingers are cold.
1	Unlacing	unlace	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unlace** | gerund |  | wet boots |  |  |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boot=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Unlacing |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | your fingers |  |  |  |  | cold *property* | 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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