---
title: alibi — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «alibi» in the school dictionary: An alibi is proof that a person was somewhere else when a crime happened, so they could not have done it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# alibi

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** alibi, person, crime, they, butler, detective · **What happens:** be, happen, not do, have, check, alibi · **To what, where:** crime, excuse, alibi, shop, bus, iron alibi

<!-- .vabout -->
«alibi» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [alibi in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/alibi.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alibi is proof that a person was somewhere else when a crime happened, so they could not have done it.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alibi:m1:1
# text = An alibi is proof that a person was somewhere else when a crime happened, so they could not have done it.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	proof	proof	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
10	else	else	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
18	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	21	advmod	_	_
20	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	aux	_	_
21	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a alibi |  |  |  |  | proof *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | a person |  |  |  |  | else, somewhere *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **happen** | past | a crime |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **do** | could · perfect | they | crime |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- .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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alibi is an excuse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alibi:m2:1
# text = An alibi is an excuse.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The butler had an alibi: he was at the shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alibi:x1:1
# text = The butler had an alibi: he was at the shop.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the butler | a alibi |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alibi=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | past | butler |  |  | the shop |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective checked every suspect's alibi.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alibi:x2:1
# text = The detective checked every suspect's alibi.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	checked	check	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	suspect	suspect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | past | the detective | every suspect's alibi |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alibi=Theme |
| 2 | **alibi** |  | every suspect |  |  |  |  |  | nom alibi «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her alibi was proved false by the CCTV.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alibi:x3:1
# text = Her alibi was proved false by the CCTV.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	proved	prove	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	CCTV	CCTV	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prove** | past · passive | the CCTV | Her alibi |  |  |  | false *property* | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |
| 2 | **alibi** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom alibi «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I was with my gran" was his alibi.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alibi:x4:1
# text = "I was with my gran" was his alibi.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	gran	gran	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | past | I |  |  |  |  | with my gran | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | my gran | his alibi |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My alibi for being late was the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alibi:x5:1
# text = My alibi for being late was the bus.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
5	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	acl	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund | My alibi *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | My alibi | the bus |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **alibi** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom alibi «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cast-iron alibi cannot be broken.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alibi:x6:1
# text = A cast-iron alibi cannot be broken.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	cast	cast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	alibi	alibi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **break** | can · passive |  | a iron alibi |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=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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