---
title: al — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «al» in the school dictionary: Al is a short form of boys' names like Albert, Alan, Alfred or Alexander. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# al

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Al, boys, et, dente, pasta, Uncle · **What happens:** be, name, use, list, mean, cook · **To what, where:** short form, science writing, authors, pasta, little firm, chemical symbol · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«al» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [al in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/al.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Al is a short form of boys' names like Albert, Alan, Alfred or Alexander.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:m1:1
# text = Al is a short form of boys' names like Albert, Alan, Alfred or Alexander.
1	Al	Al	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Albert	Albert	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	Alan	Alan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	Alfred	Alfred	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	Alexander	Alexander	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Al | a short form |  |  |  | of boys's names like Albert and Alfred or Alexander | tree rules |
| 2 | **name** |  | boys |  |  |  |  | like Albert and Alfred or Alexander | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent like=obl |

<!-- .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 -->
In «et al.» (Latin for «and others») it is a short form used in science writing for a list of authors.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:m2:1
# text = In «et al.» (Latin for «and others») it is a short form used in science writing for a list of authors.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	et	et	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	18	nsubj	_	_
4	al.	al.	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	3	flat:foreign	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Latin	Latin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
19	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	acl	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
23	for	for	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	authors	author	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | et | a short form |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a short form *not said here* |  | science writing |  | for a list of authors | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **list** |  |  | authors |  |  |  |  | nom list «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In «al dente» (Italian) it means pasta cooked so it is still a little firm.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:m3:1
# text = In «al dente» (Italian) it means pasta cooked so it is still a little firm.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	al	al	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dente	dente	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Italian	Italian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	pasta	pasta	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
16	still	still	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	firm	firm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | al dente | pasta |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pasta=Topic |
| 2 | **cook** | participle |  | pasta *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | present | pasta | a little firm |  |  | still |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Al is also the chemical symbol for aluminium, written with a capital A.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:m4:1
# text = Al is also the chemical symbol for aluminium, written with a capital A.
1	Al	Al	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	chemical	chemical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	symbol	symbol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	aluminium	aluminium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	A.	A.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Al | the chemical symbol |  |  |  | for aluminium | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | participle |  | the chemical symbol *not said here* |  |  |  | with a capital | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some Arabic names, al means 'the', as in Haroun-al-Raschid.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:m5:1
# text = In some Arabic names, al means 'the', as in Haroun-al-Raschid.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
3	Arabic	Arabic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	al	al	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	',	',	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Haroun	Haroun	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	al	Al	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	Raschid	Raschid	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | al |  |  | some Arabic names |  | as Haroun and Raschid | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as haroun=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Al has 8 marbles and gives 3 to Sue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:x1:1
# text = Al has 8 marbles and gives 3 to Sue.
1	Al	Al	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	marbles	marble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Sue	Sue	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Al | 8 marbles |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent marble=Patient |
| 2 | **give** | present | Al *not said here* | 3 | Sue |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent 3=Theme to sue=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Uncle Al fixed our bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:x2:1
# text = Uncle Al fixed our bike.
1	Uncle	Uncle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Al	Al	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	fixed	fix	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fix** | past | Uncle | our bike |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent bike=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The study was written by Smith et al.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:x3:1
# text = The study was written by Smith et al.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Smith	Smith	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl:agent	_	_
7	et	et	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	4	parataxis	_	_
8	al.	al.	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	7	flat:foreign	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past · passive | Smith | the study |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cook the spaghetti until it is al dente.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:x4:1
# text = Cook the spaghetti until it is al dente.
1	Cook	cook	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	spaghetti	spaghetti	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	al	al	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
8	dente	dente	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	7	dep	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cook** | imperative | you *not said here* | the spaghetti |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent spaghetti=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | spaghetti |  |  |  |  | al *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The symbol Al stands for aluminium.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:x5:1
# text = The symbol Al stands for aluminium.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	symbol	symbol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	Al	Al	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stands	stand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	aluminium	aluminium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | present | the symbol |  |  |  |  | for aluminium | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer for aluminium=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Call me Al,» said the new boy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:al:x6:1
# text = «Call me Al,» said the new boy.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Call	call	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	Al	Al	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  | the new boy *= boy* |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent i=Recipient |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the new boy |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->

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