---
title: alley — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «alley» in the school dictionary: An alley is a narrow lane or path between or behind buildings. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# alley

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** alley, bowling alley, people, that, Something, you · **What happens:** be, play, bowl, like, run down, not take · **To what, where:** narrow lane, building, alley, kind, thing, shops

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alley is a narrow lane or path between or behind buildings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:m1:1
# text = An alley is a narrow lane or path between or behind buildings.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alley	alley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	lane	lane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	between	between	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	9	conj	_	_
12	buildings	building	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a alley | a narrow lane or path between buildings |  |  |  |  | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bowling alley is a building or lane where people play bowling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:m2:1
# text = A bowling alley is a building or lane where people play bowling.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bowling	bowling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	alley	alley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	lane	lane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	11	advmod	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	bowling	bowl	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a bowling alley | a building or lane |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **bowl** | gerund | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that is "up your alley" (also "right up your street") is the kind of thing you like.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:m3:1
# text = Something that is "up your alley" (also "right up your street") is the kind of thing you like.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	20	nsubj	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	alley	alley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	also	also	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	right	right	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	up	up	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	_
23	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | that | your alley and your street |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Something | the kind |  |  |  | of thing | tree rules |
| 3 | **like** | present | you | thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot thing=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat ran down the alley behind the shops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:x1:1
# text = The cat ran down the alley behind the shops.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	alley	alley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run down** | past | the cat | the alley |  | the shops |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent alley=Theme behind shop=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't take the dark alley home; use the main road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:x2:1
# text = Don't take the dark alley home; use the main road.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	alley	alley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	home	home	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **take** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the dark alley |  |  |  | home *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alley=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the main road |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had my birthday party at the bowling alley.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:x3:1
# text = We had my birthday party at the bowling alley.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	bowling	bowling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	alley	alley	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 | **have** | past | We | my birthday party |  | the bowling alley |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent party=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The alley was too narrow for a car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:x4:1
# text = The alley was too narrow for a car.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alley	alley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the alley |  |  |  |  | for a car; narrow *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This puzzle book is right up your alley.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:x5:1
# text = This puzzle book is right up your alley.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	right	right	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	alley	alley	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** | present | this puzzle book |  |  |  |  | up your alley; right *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thief escaped through a back alley.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:x6:1
# text = The thief escaped through a back alley.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	escaped	escape	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	alley	alley	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 | **escape** | past | the thief |  |  | a back alley |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through alley=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plan led us up a blind alley.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:x7:1
# text = The plan led us up a blind alley.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	blind	blind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	alley	alley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead up** | past | the plan | us |  |  |  | a blind alley *obl:unmarked* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In going thus from place to place, he entered a dark alley at the bottom of which was a closed door.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alley:x8:1
# text = In going thus from place to place, he entered a dark alley at the bottom of which was a closed door.
1	In	in	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
3	thus	thus	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	entered	enter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	alley	alley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
19	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	amod	_	_
22	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  | place to place |  | thus *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme from place=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **enter** | past | he | a dark alley |  | the bottom |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme alley=Destination |
| 3 | **close** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **is a** | past | the bottom | a closed door |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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