---
title: algebra — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «algebra» in the school dictionary: Algebra is the part of maths that uses letters and symbols, such as x or n, to stand for numbers that are unknown or that can change. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# algebra

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Algebra, maths, numbers, that, rules, we · **What happens:** be, use, stand, change, work, help · **To what, where:** part, letters, rules, n, algebra, us · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Algebra is the part of maths that uses letters and symbols, such as x or n, to stand for numbers that are unknown or that can change.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:m1:1
# text = Algebra is the part of maths that uses letters and symbols, such as x or n, to stand for numbers that are unknown or that can change.
1	Algebra	Algebra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	symbols	symbol	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	x	x	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	n	n	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	stand	stand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
21	for	for	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	_
23	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	25	nsubj	_	_
24	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
25	unknown	unknown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	acl:relcl	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
27	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	29	nsubj	_	_
28	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	29	aux	_	_
29	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Algebra | the part |  |  |  | of maths | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | maths | letters and symbols and x or n |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Patient |
| 3 | **stand** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for numbers | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer for number=Attribute |
| 4 | **is** | present | numbers |  |  |  |  | unknown *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **change** | can | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: 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 -->
Algebra is also the rules for working with these letters in expressions, equations and formulas.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:m2:1
# text = Algebra is also the rules for working with these letters in expressions, equations and formulas.
1	Algebra	Algebra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	expressions	expression	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	equations	equation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	formulas	formula	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Algebra | the rules |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | gerund | the rules *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with this letters; in expressions and equations and formulas | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in expression=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In algebra, we can use n to stand for any number.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:x1:1
# text = In algebra, we can use n to stand for any number.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	algebra	algebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	n	n	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | can | we | n |  | algebra |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent n=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **stand** | to-infinitive | we *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for any number | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer for number=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Algebra helps us solve problems like «I think of a number, add 5 and get 12».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:x2:1
# text = Algebra helps us solve problems like «I think of a number, add 5 and get 12».
1	Algebra	Algebra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
15	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	obj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
18	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Algebra | us |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **solve** | infinitive | us *not said here* | problems |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | present | I | problems *not said here* |  |  |  | of a number | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot problem=Theme |
| 4 | **add** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | infinitive | us *not said here* | 5 |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 5=Patient |
| 5 | **get** *in a quote* | infinitive | us *not said here* | 12 |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer 12=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If 2x = 10, algebra tells us x = 5.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:x3:1
# text = If 2x = 10, algebra tells us x = 5.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
2	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	x	x	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
4	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	5	case	_	_
5	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	algebra	algebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
8	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	iobj	_	_
10	x	x	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	8	obj	_	_
11	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	12	case	_	_
12	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present |  |  | us |  |  | x algebra | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient x=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our algebra homework was about simplifying expressions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:x4:1
# text = Our algebra homework was about simplifying expressions.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	algebra	algebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	simplifying	simplify	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	expressions	expression	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **simplify** | past · progressive | Our algebra homework | expressions |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The formula for the perimeter of a square is P = 4s; that's algebra.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:x5:1
# text = The formula for the perimeter of a square is P = 4s; that's algebra.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	formula	formula	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	perimeter	perimeter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	P	p	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	12	punct	_	_
12	4s	4	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	16	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	algebra	algebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the formula for the perimeter of a square | P and 4s and that algebra |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the formula for the perimeter of a square *not said here* | that algebra |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The word algebra comes from Arabic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:x6:1
# text = The word algebra comes from Arabic.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	algebra	algebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Arabic	Arabic	PROPN	NNP	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 | **come** | present | the word algebra |  |  | Arabic |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from arabic=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My big sister says algebra is like a puzzle with letters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:x7:1
# text = My big sister says algebra is like a puzzle with letters.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	algebra	algebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	ccomp	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | My big sister |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | algebra |  |  |  |  | like a puzzle; with letters | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then he tried to do the sum by algebra, by simple and by quadratic equations, by trigonometry, by logarithms, and by conic sections.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:algebra:x8:1
# text = Then he tried to do the sum by algebra, by simple and by quadratic equations, by trigonometry, by logarithms, and by conic sections.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	algebra	algebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
12	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	quadratic	quadratic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	equations	equation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	trigonometry	trigonometry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
21	by	by	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	logarithms	logarithm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
25	by	by	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	conic	conic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	sections	section	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | he |  |  |  | then | by conic sections | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | the sum |  |  |  | by algebra; by simple quadratic equations and trigonometry and logarithms | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sum=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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