---
title: alkali — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «alkali» in the school dictionary: An alkali is a chemical that is the opposite of an acid; it can cancel out an acid. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# alkali

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** alkali, that, Strong alkalis, Soap, We, acids · **What happens:** be, cancel out, dissolve, make, burn, feel · **To what, where:** chemical, opposite, acid, water, solution, skin

<!-- .vabout -->
«alkali» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [alkali in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/alkali.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alkali is a chemical that is the opposite of an acid; it can cancel out an acid.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:m1:1
# text = An alkali is a chemical that is the opposite of an acid; it can cancel out an acid.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	chemical	chemical	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	cancel	cancel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
17	out	out	ADP	RP	_	16	compound:prt	_	_
18	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a alkali | a chemical and the opposite |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | that | the opposite |  |  |  | of a acid | tree rules |
| 3 | **cancel out** | can | alkali | a acid |  |  |  |  | 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: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alkali dissolves in water and makes a solution with a pH above 7.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:m2:1
# text = An alkali dissolves in water and makes a solution with a pH above 7.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dissolves	dissolve	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	solution	solution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	pH	ph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	above	above	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dissolve** | present | a alkali |  |  | water |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | present | a alkali *not said here* | a solution |  |  |  | with a pH above 7 | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset solution=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Strong alkalis, like some oven cleaners, can burn skin and eyes, just like strong acids.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:m3:1
# text = Strong alkalis, like some oven cleaners, can burn skin and eyes, just like strong acids.
1	Strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	alkalis	alkali	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
6	oven	oven	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	cleaners	cleaner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	burn	burn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
11	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	just	just	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	acids	acid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **burn** | can | Strong alkalis and some oven cleaners | skin and eyes |  |  |  | like strong acids | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent skin=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soap is a mild alkali, so it feels slippery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:x1:1
# text = Soap is a mild alkali, so it feels slippery.
1	Soap	soap	NOUN	NN	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	mild	mild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
10	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Soap | a mild alkali |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | present | Soap |  |  |  |  | slippery *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tested the liquids to see which were acids and which were alkalis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:x2:1
# text = We tested the liquids to see which were acids and which were alkalis.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tested	test	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	liquids	liquid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	acids	acid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
12	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	alkalis	alkali	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | We | the liquids |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent liquid=Theme |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is a** | past |  | acids and alkalis |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is a** | past | acids and alkalis | alkalis |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Litmus paper turns blue in an alkali.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:x3:1
# text = Litmus paper turns blue in an alkali.
1	Litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | Litmus paper |  |  | a alkali |  | blue *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in alkali=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alkali can neutralise an acid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:x4:1
# text = An alkali can neutralise an acid.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	neutralise	neutralise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **neutralise** | can | a alkali | a acid |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Indigestion tablets contain a weak alkali that calms stomach acid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:x5:1
# text = Indigestion tablets contain a weak alkali that calms stomach acid.
1	Indigestion	indigestion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tablets	tablet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	contain	contain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	calms	calm	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	stomach	stomach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contain** | present | Indigestion tablets | a weak alkali |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot alkali=Theme |
| 2 | **calm** | present | a weak alkali | stomach acid |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus acid=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The oven cleaner is a strong alkali, so Mum wears rubber gloves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:x6:1
# text = The oven cleaner is a strong alkali, so Mum wears rubber gloves.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	oven	oven	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cleaner	cleaner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	wears	wear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
12	rubber	rubber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	gloves	glove	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the oven cleaner | a strong alkali |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wear** | present | Mum | rubber gloves |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent glove=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toothpaste is slightly alkaline.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:x7:1
# text = Toothpaste is slightly alkaline.
1	Toothpaste	toothpaste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	alkaline	alkaline	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Toothpaste |  |  |  |  | alkaline, slightly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bicarbonate of soda makes an alkaline solution in water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alkali:x8:1
# text = Bicarbonate of soda makes an alkaline solution in water.
1	Bicarbonate	bicarbonate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	soda	soda	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	alkaline	alkaline	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	solution	solution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Bicarbonate of soda | a alkaline solution |  | water |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset solution=Product |

<!-- 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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