backfire Who acts: plan, you, it, fuel, His, nobody · What happens: backfire, go, have, want, hurt, make · To what, where: opposite result, you, sudden loud bang, wrong place, sister, joke
«backfire» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: backfire in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 If a plan backfires, it goes wrong and has the opposite result to what you wanted, often hurting you instead.
The tree, 20 words mark det nsubj advcl punct nsubj xcomp cc conj det amod obj case nmod nsubj acl:relcl punct advmod advcl obj advmod punct root If SCONJ a DET plan NOUN backfires VERB , PUNCT it PRON goes VERB wrong ADJ and CCONJ has VERB the DET opposite ADJ result NOUN to ADP what PRON you PRON wanted VERB , PUNCT often ADV hurting VERB you PRON instead ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 If if SCONJ _ 4 backfires mark 2 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 3 plan det 3 plan plan NOUN Number=Sing 4 backfires nsubj 4 backfires backfire VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 7 goes advcl 5 , , PUNCT _ 4 backfires punct 6 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 7 goes nsubj 7 goes go VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 8 wrong wrong ADJ Degree=Pos 7 goes xcomp 9 and and CCONJ _ 10 has cc 10 has have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 7 goes conj 11 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 13 result det 12 opposite opposite ADJ Degree=Pos 13 result amod 13 result result NOUN Number=Sing 10 has obj 14 to to ADP _ 15 what case 15 what what PRON PronType=Rel 13 result nmod 16 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 17 wanted nsubj 17 wanted want VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 15 what acl:relcl 18 , , PUNCT _ 20 hurting punct 19 often often ADV _ 20 hurting advmod 20 hurting hurt VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 7 goes advcl 21 you you PRON Case=Acc Person=2 PronType=Prs 20 hurting obj 22 instead instead ADV _ 20 hurting advmod 23 . . PUNCT _ 7 goes punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 backfire a condition, not said to happen present a plan tree rules 2 go present plan wrong property vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme 3 have present plan not said here the opposite result vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent result=Patient 4 want past you vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S_INF»: agent=Pivot 5 hurt gerund plan not said here you instead, often property vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Patient
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 If a car or engine backfires, it makes a sudden loud bang because fuel explodes in the wrong place.
The tree, 19 words mark det advcl cc compound conj punct nsubj det amod amod obj mark nsubj advcl case det amod obl punct root If SCONJ a DET car NOUN or CCONJ engine NOUN backfires NOUN , PUNCT it PRON makes VERB a DET sudden ADJ loud ADJ bang NOUN because SCONJ fuel NOUN explodes VERB in ADP the DET wrong ADJ place NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 If if SCONJ _ 3 car mark 2 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 3 car det 3 car car NOUN Number=Sing 9 makes advcl 4 or or CCONJ _ 6 backfires cc 5 engine engine NOUN Number=Sing 6 backfires compound 6 backfires backfire NOUN Number=Plur 3 car conj 7 , , PUNCT _ 3 car punct 8 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 9 makes nsubj 9 makes make VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 10 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 13 bang det 11 sudden sudden ADJ Degree=Pos 13 bang amod 12 loud loud ADJ Degree=Pos 13 bang amod 13 bang bang NOUN Number=Sing 9 makes obj 14 because because SCONJ _ 16 explodes mark 15 fuel fuel NOUN Number=Sing 16 explodes nsubj 16 explodes explode VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 9 makes advcl 17 in in ADP _ 20 place case 18 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 20 place det 19 wrong wrong ADJ Degree=Pos 20 place amod 20 place place NOUN Number=Sing 16 explodes obl 21 . . PUNCT _ 9 makes punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 make present it a sudden loud bang vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material bang=Product 2 explode present fuel the wrong place vn sound_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in place=Location
Example 1 His plan to scare his sister backfired when he got scared.
nmod:poss nsubj mark acl nmod:poss obj advmod nsubj advcl xcomp punct root His PRON plan NOUN to PART scare VERB his PRON sister NOUN backfired VERB when ADV he PRON got VERB scared ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 His his PRON Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 2 plan nmod:poss 2 plan plan NOUN Number=Sing 7 backfired nsubj 3 to to PART _ 4 scare mark 4 scare scare VERB VerbForm=Inf 2 plan acl 5 his his PRON Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 6 sister nmod:poss 6 sister sister NOUN Number=Sing 4 scare obj 7 backfired backfire VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 8 when when ADV PronType=Int 10 got advmod 9 he he PRON Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 10 got nsubj 10 got get VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 7 backfired advcl 11 scared scared ADJ Degree=Pos 10 got xcomp 12 . . PUNCT _ 7 backfired punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 scare to-infinitive His plan not said here plan's sister vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus sister=Experiencer 2 backfire past His plan tree rules 3 get past plan scared property vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S_ING»: agent=Experiencer 4 plan His = he nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent
Example 2 The joke backfired, and nobody laughed.
det parataxis acl punct cc nsubj punct root The DET joke NOUN backfired VERB , PUNCT and CCONJ nobody PRON laughed VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 joke det 2 joke joke NOUN Number=Sing 7 laughed parataxis 3 backfired backfire VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 2 joke acl 4 , , PUNCT _ 7 laughed punct 5 and and CCONJ _ 7 laughed cc 6 nobody nobody PRON Number=Sing PronType=Neg 7 laughed nsubj 7 laughed laugh VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 8 . . PUNCT _ 7 laughed punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 backfire participle the joke not said here tree rules 2 laugh past nobody vn nonverbal_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent
Example 3 Lying to your parents can backfire.
csubj case nmod:poss obl aux punct root Lying VERB to ADP your PRON parents NOUN can AUX backfire VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Lying lie VERB VerbForm=Ger 6 backfire csubj 2 to to ADP _ 4 parents case 3 your your PRON Case=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 4 parents nmod:poss 4 parents parent NOUN Number=Plur 1 Lying obl 5 can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 6 backfire aux 6 backfire backfire VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 7 . . PUNCT _ 6 backfire punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 lie gerund to your parents vn assuming_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 backfire can Lying tree rules
Example 4 The old car backfired with a loud bang.
det amod acl case det amod obl punct root The DET old ADJ car NOUN backfired VERB with ADP a DET loud ADJ bang NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 car det 2 old old ADJ Degree=Pos 3 car amod 3 car car NOUN Number=Sing root root 4 backfired backfire VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 3 car acl 5 with with ADP _ 8 bang case 6 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 8 bang det 7 loud loud ADJ Degree=Pos 8 bang amod 8 bang bang NOUN Number=Sing 4 backfired obl 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 car punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 backfire participle the old car not said here with a loud bang tree rules
Example 5 Her trick backfired on her.
nmod:poss acl case obl punct root Her PRON trick NOUN backfired VERB on ADP her PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Her her PRON Case=Gen Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 2 trick nmod:poss 2 trick trick NOUN Number=Sing root root 3 backfired backfire VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 2 trick acl 4 on on ADP _ 5 her case 5 her she PRON Case=Acc Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 3 backfired obl 6 . . PUNCT _ 2 trick punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 backfire participle Her trick not said here on her = she tree rules 2 trick Her = she nom trick «act transitive»: poss=agent
Example 6 Skipping lunch backfired — I felt sick in the afternoon.
csubj:pass nsubj punct nsubj conj xcomp case det obl punct root Skipping VERB lunch NOUN backfired VERB — PUNCT I PRON felt VERB sick ADJ in ADP the DET afternoon NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Skipping skip VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 3 backfired csubj:pass 2 lunch lunch NOUN Number=Sing 3 backfired nsubj 3 backfired backfire VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass root root 4 — - PUNCT _ 6 felt punct 5 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 6 felt nsubj 6 felt feel VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 backfired conj 7 sick sick ADJ Degree=Pos 6 felt xcomp 8 in in ADP _ 10 afternoon case 9 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 10 afternoon det 10 afternoon afternoon NOUN Number=Sing 6 felt obl 11 . . PUNCT _ 3 backfired punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 skip gerund vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme 2 backfire participle lunch tree rules 3 feel past I afternoon sick property vn stimulus_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus
Example 7 The fox's clever plan backfired in the end.
det nmod:poss case amod acl case det obl punct root The DET fox NOUN 's PART clever ADJ plan NOUN backfired VERB in ADP the DET end NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 fox det 2 fox fox NOUN Number=Sing 5 plan nmod:poss 3 's 's PART _ 2 fox case 4 clever clever ADJ Degree=Pos 5 plan amod 5 plan plan NOUN Number=Sing root root 6 backfired backfire VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 5 plan acl 7 in in ADP _ 9 end case 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 end det 9 end end NOUN Number=Sing 6 backfired obl 10 . . PUNCT _ 5 plan punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 backfire participle the fox's clever plan not said here in the end tree rules 2 plan the fox nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent
Example 8 The motorbike backfired and the birds flew off.
det nsubj cc det nsubj conj compound:prt punct root The DET motorbike NOUN backfired VERB and CCONJ the DET birds NOUN flew VERB off ADP . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 motorbike det 2 motorbike motorbike NOUN Number=Sing 3 backfired nsubj 3 backfired backfire VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass root root 4 and and CCONJ _ 7 flew cc 5 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 6 birds det 6 birds bird NOUN Number=Plur 7 flew nsubj 7 flew fly VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 backfired conj 8 off off ADP _ 7 flew compound:prt 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 backfired punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 backfire participle the motorbike tree rules 2 fly off past the birds vn spatial_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme
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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