---
title: alas — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «alas» in the school dictionary: A word that shows sadness, sorrow or regret: «Alas, it was too late.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# alas

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** word, ship, I, White Rabbit, alas, chocolate · **What happens:** show, be, use, joke, sink, reach · **To what, where:** sadness, joking way, shore, beach, poor Toad, deepest dungeon · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«alas» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [alas in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/alas.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old-fashioned or literary — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A word that shows sadness, sorrow or regret: «Alas, it was too late.».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:m1:1
# text = A word that shows sadness, sorrow or regret: «Alas, it was too late.».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	sadness	sadness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	sorrow	sorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	regret	regret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Alas	alas	INTJ	UH	_	17	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	too	too	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a word | sadness and sorrow or regret |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Agent sadness=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | past | word |  |  |  |  | late *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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: humorous — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used today in a joking way for small disappointments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:m2:1
# text = Used today in a joking way for small disappointments.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	disappointments	disappointment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  | a joking way for small disappointments | today |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **joke** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alas, the ship sank before it reached the shore.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:x1:1
# text = Alas, the ship sank before it reached the shore.
1	Alas	alas	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sank	sink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	reached	reach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	shore	shore	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sink** | past | the ship |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **reach** | past | ship | the shore |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent shore=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Alas! I shall be too late!» cried the White Rabbit.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «Alas!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:x2:1
# text = «Alas!
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Alas	alas	INTJ	UH	_	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* I shall be too late!» cried the White Rabbit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:x2:2
# text = I shall be too late!» cried the White Rabbit.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	White	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	Rabbit	Rabbit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | shall | I |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* *in a quote* | past | the White Rabbit |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I wanted to go to the beach, but alas, it rained all day.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:x3:1
# text = I wanted to go to the beach, but alas, it rained all day.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	alas	ala	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	rained	rain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
14	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	15	det	_	_
15	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **go** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  | the beach |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to beach=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **rain** | past | alas |  |  |  | day |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alas, poor Toad was locked in the deepest dungeon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:x4:1
# text = Alas, poor Toad was locked in the deepest dungeon.
1	Alas	alas	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	locked	lock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	deepest	deep	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	dungeon	dungeon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lock** | past · passive |  | poor Toad |  | the deepest dungeon |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alas, there was no chocolate left in the box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:x5:1
# text = Alas, there was no chocolate left in the box.
1	Alas	alas	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	4	expl	_	_
4	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
7	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | no chocolate |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  | no chocolate *not said here* |  |  |  | in the box *result* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in box=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knight looked for the dragon, but alas, it had flown away.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:x6:1
# text = The knight looked for the dragon, but alas, it had flown away.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
9	alas	ala	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	flown	fly	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
14	away	away	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the knight |  |  |  |  | for the dragon | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for dragon=Theme |
| 2 | **fly away** | past · perfect · passive |  | alas |  |  |  | away *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alas, a great deal too near!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alas:x7:1
# text = Alas, a great deal too near!
1	Alas	alas	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	deal	deal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	near	near	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- 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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