---
title: alga — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «alga» in the school dictionary: An alga is a single simple plant-like living thing that grows in water or damp places and makes food from sunlight; it has no roots, stems, leaves or flowers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# alga

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** alga, single simple plant living thing, seaweeds, Algae, pond, Seaweed · **What happens:** be, grow, make, have, use, look · **To what, where:** water, food, sunlight, roots, word, plural

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alga is a single simple plant-like living thing that grows in water or damp places and makes food from sunlight; it has no roots, stems, leaves or flowers.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:m1:1
# text = An alga is a single simple plant-like living thing that grows in water or damp places and makes food from sunlight; it has no roots, stems, leaves or flowers.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alga	alga	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
5	single	single	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
6	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
7	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
21	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
22	from	from	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
25	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
26	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
27	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	28	det	_	_
28	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
30	stems	stem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
32	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	appos	_	_
33	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	34	cc	_	_
34	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	32	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a alga |  |  |  |  | like a single simple plant living thing | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present | a single simple plant living thing |  |  | water or damp places |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in water=Location |
| 3 | **make** | present | a single simple plant living thing *not said here* | food |  | sunlight |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset food=Product from sunlight=Material |
| 4 | **have** | present | alga | no roots and stems |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent root=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 -->
Usually the word is used in the plural, algae: the green slime in ponds, the green on fish tanks, and seaweeds are all algae.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:m2:1
# text = Usually the word is used in the plural, algae: the green slime in ponds, the green on fish tanks, and seaweeds are all algae.
1	Usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	plural	plural	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	slime	slime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	ponds	pond	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	green	green	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	tanks	tank	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
25	seaweeds	seaweed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	nsubj	_	_
26	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	28	cop	_	_
27	all	all	ADV	RB	_	28	advmod	_	_
28	algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | the word |  | the plural and algae |  | the green slime in ponds and algae *obl*; usually *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | seaweeds | algae |  |  |  | all *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Algae made the pond look green.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:x1:1
# text = Algae made the pond look green.
1	Algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Algae | the pond |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | infinitive | the pond *not said here* |  |  |  |  | green *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One tiny alga can only be seen under a microscope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:x2:1
# text = One tiny alga can only be seen under a microscope.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
2	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	alga	alga	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | can · passive |  | One tiny alga |  | a microscope |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seaweed is a kind of algae.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:x3:1
# text = Seaweed is a kind of algae.
1	Seaweed	seaweed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Seaweed | a kind |  |  |  | of algae | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Algae make food from sunlight like plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:x4:1
# text = Algae make food from sunlight like plants.
1	Algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Algae | food |  | sunlight |  | like plants | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset food=Product from sunlight=Material |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We cleaned the algae off the fish tank glass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:x5:1
# text = We cleaned the algae off the fish tank glass.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cleaned	clean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	tank	tank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | past | We | the algae |  | the tank glass |  |  | vn clear-10.3 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent alga=Theme off glass=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Watch out, the rocks are slippery with algae.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:x6:1
# text = Watch out, the rocks are slippery with algae.
1	Watch	watch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch out** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | the rocks |  |  |  |  | with algae; slippery *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some blue-green algae are poisonous to dogs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:x7:1
# text = Some blue-green algae are poisonous to dogs.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
2	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	poisonous	poisonous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some green algae |  |  |  |  | to dogs; poisonous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fish and tadpoles eat algae.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alga:x8:1
# text = Fish and tadpoles eat algae.
1	Fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	tadpoles	tadpole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	algae	alga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Fish and tadpoles | algae |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alga=Patient |

<!-- 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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