---
title: yesterday — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «yesterday» in the school dictionary: Yesterday means on the day before today. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# yesterday

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Yesterday, day, it, I, today, we · **What happens:** mean, rain, play, be, not do, do · **To what, where:** recent past, football, Friday, yesterday Thursday, birthday, homework

<!-- .vabout -->
«yesterday» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [yesterday in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/yesterday.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yesterday means on the day before today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:m1:1
# text = Yesterday means on the day before today.
1	Yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Yesterday |  |  |  | day |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Yesterday can mean the recent past in general: the toys of yesterday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:m2:1
# text = Yesterday can mean the recent past in general: the toys of yesterday.
1	Yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	recent	recent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	ccomp	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Yesterday | the recent past |  |  |  | in general | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot past=Theme in general=Attribute |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The day before yesterday" means two days ago.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:m3:1
# text = "The day before yesterday" means two days ago.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl:unmarked	_	_
10	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the day before yesterday |  |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yesterday it rained all day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:x1:1
# text = Yesterday it rained all day.
1	Yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rained	rain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** | past | it |  |  |  | day; yesterday |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I played football with my friends yesterday afternoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:x2:1
# text = I played football with my friends yesterday afternoon.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | I | football |  |  | afternoon | with my friends | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V NP PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent football=Theme with friend=Co-Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If today is Friday, yesterday was Thursday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:x3:1
# text = If today is Friday, yesterday was Thursday.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	Thursday	Thursday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | today | Friday |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past |  | yesterday Thursday |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The day before yesterday was my birthday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:x4:1
# text = The day before yesterday was my birthday.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	before	before	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	birthday	birthday	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** | past | the day before yesterday | my birthday |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I didn't do my homework yesterday, so I'm doing it now.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:x5:1
# text = I didn't do my homework yesterday, so I'm doing it now.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **do** | past · do-support | I | my homework |  |  | yesterday |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Eventuality |
| 2 | **do** | present · progressive | I | homework |  |  | now |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It feels like only yesterday that we started school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:x6:1
# text = It feels like only yesterday that we started school.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	obj	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | present | It |  |  |  | yesterday |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **start** | past | we | yesterday |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yesterday's newspaper is on the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:x7:1
# text = Yesterday's newspaper is on the table.
1	Yesterday	Yesterday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	newspaper	newspaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	table	table	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** | present | Yesterday's newspaper |  |  | the table |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was only made day before yesterday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:yesterday:x8:1
# text = I was only made day before yesterday.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	yesterday	yesterday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | I |  |  | day; yesterday |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

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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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