---
title: alter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «alter» in the school dictionary: To alter something is to change it, usually a little. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# alter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, it, We, our, Grandma, trousers · **What happens:** alter, be, become, fit, shorten, have · **To what, where:** something, clothes, plans, school trousers, shape, road

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To alter something is to change it, usually a little.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:m1:1
# text = To alter something is to change it, usually a little.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	alter	alter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | change *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  | usually *property* | 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 -->
If something alters, it becomes different.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:m2:1
# text = If something alters, it becomes different.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nsubj	_	_
3	alters	alter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	becomes	become	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **become** | present | it |  |  |  |  | different *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To alter clothes is to make them fit better, for example by shortening them.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:m3:1
# text = To alter clothes is to make them fit better, for example by shortening them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	alter	alter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	fit	fit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	better	well	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	shortening	shorten	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** | to-infinitive |  | clothes |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent clothes=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **fit** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for example; well *property* | vn adjust-26.9 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **shorten** | gerund |  | clothes |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had to alter our plans because of the rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:x1:1
# text = We had to alter our plans because of the rain.
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	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	alter	alter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **alter** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | our plans |  |  |  | because the rain | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |
| 3 | **plan** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma altered my school trousers so they fit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:x2:1
# text = Grandma altered my school trousers so they fit.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	altered	alter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|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	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	trousers	trousers	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	fit	fit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** | past | Grandma | my school trousers |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent trousers=Patient |
| 2 | **fit** | present | trousers |  |  |  |  |  | vn adjust-26.9 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Heating can alter the shape of chocolate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:x3:1
# text = Heating can alter the shape of chocolate.
1	Heating	heating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	alter	alter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** | can | Heating | the shape of chocolate |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent shape=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The road was altered to make room for a cycle lane.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:x4:1
# text = The road was altered to make room for a cycle lane.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	altered	alter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	cycle	cycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	lane	lane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** | past · passive |  | the road |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | room |  |  |  | for a cycle lane | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP P.asset»: agent=Agent room=Product for lane=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you alter one number in the sum, the total changes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:x5:1
# text = If you alter one number in the sum, the total changes.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	alter	alter	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	changes	change	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** | present | you | one number |  | the sum and the total changes |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent number=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing can alter the fact that we lost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:x6:1
# text = Nothing can alter the fact that we lost.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	alter	alter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fact	fact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** | can | Nothing | the fact |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent fact=Patient |
| 2 | **lose** | past | we | the fact *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fact=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The caterpillar's body altered completely inside the cocoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:x7:1
# text = The caterpillar's body altered completely inside the cocoon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caterpillar	caterpillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	altered	alter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cocoon	cocoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** | past | the caterpillar's body |  |  | the cocoon |  | completely *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thus may circumstances alter the course of a man's life!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alter:x8:1
# text = Thus may circumstances alter the course of a man's life!
1	Thus	thus	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	alter	alter	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	course	course	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **alter** | may | circumstances | the course of a man's life |  |  |  | thus *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent course=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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