---
title: alternative — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «alternative» in the school dictionary: An alternative is another choice or possibility instead of the first one. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# alternative

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** alternative, it, Rice, We, you, your · **What happens:** be, mean, describe, rain, take, try · **To what, where:** choice, things, good alternative, alternative route, solar alternative energy sources, alternative method

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alternative is another choice or possibility instead of the first one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:m1:1
# text = An alternative is another choice or possibility instead of the first one.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alternative	alternative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	possibility	possibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a alternative | another choice or possibility |  |  |  | instead the first one | 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 -->
As an adjective, alternative means different from the usual one, as in «an alternative route».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:m2:1
# text = As an adjective, alternative means different from the usual one, as in «an alternative route».
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	alternative	alternative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	alternative	alternative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	route	route	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | alternative |  |  |  |  | as a adjective; different *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alternative can describe things outside the mainstream, like alternative music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:m3:1
# text = Alternative can describe things outside the mainstream, like alternative music.
1	Alternative	alternative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mainstream	mainstream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	alternative	alternative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	music	music	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 | **describe** | can | Alternative | things |  |  |  | outside the mainstream; like alternative music | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If it rains, the alternative is to play indoors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:x1:1
# text = If it rains, the alternative is to play indoors.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rains	rain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	alternative	alternative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	indoors	indoors	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 2 | **is** | present | the alternative |  |  |  |  | indoors, play *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rice is a good alternative to pasta.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:x2:1
# text = Rice is a good alternative to pasta.
1	Rice	rice	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	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	alternative	alternative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	pasta	pasta	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We took an alternative route because of the traffic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:x3:1
# text = We took an alternative route because of the traffic.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	alternative	alternative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	route	route	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	traffic	traffic	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 | **take** | past | We | a alternative route |  |  |  | because the traffic | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent route=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wind and solar are alternative energy sources.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:x4:1
# text = Wind and solar are alternative energy sources.
1	Wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
3	solar	solar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	alternative	alternative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	sources	source	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try an alternative method to check your answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:x5:1
# text = Try an alternative method to check your answer.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	alternative	alternative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	check	check	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* | a alternative method |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent method=Eventuality |
| 2 | **check** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your answer |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |
| 3 | **answer** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had no alternative but to walk home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:x6:1
# text = We had no alternative but to walk home.
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	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	alternative	alternative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
8	home	home	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | no alternative |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alternative=Patient |
| 2 | **walk** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother likes alternative rock music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:x7:1
# text = My brother likes alternative rock music.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	alternative	alternative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | My brother | alternative rock music |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot music=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The author uses some alternative spellings--for example, "arn't" rather than "aren't", "dulness" rather than "dullness", both "shan't" and "sha'n't"--which have been left unchanged.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alternative:x8:1
# text = The author uses some alternative spellings--for example, "arn't" rather than "aren't", "dulness" rather than "dullness", both "shan't" and "sha'n't"--which have been left unchanged.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	author	author	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
5	alternative	alternative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	spellings	spelling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	ar	AR	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
15	rather	rather	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	12	advmod	_	_
16	than	than	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
22	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	dulness	dulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	_
25	rather	rather	ADV	RB	_	28	advmod	_	_
26	than	than	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	dullness	dullness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	33	punct	_	_
31	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	33	nsubj	_	_
32	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	33	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	sha	sha	X	FW	_	28	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	35	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	33	punct	_	_
36	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	45	cc	_	_
37	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	38	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	sha'	sha'	INTJ	UH	_	45	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	38	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	38	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	45	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
42	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	45	nsubj:pass	_	_
43	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	45	aux	_	_
44	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	45	aux:pass	_	_
45	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
46	unchanged	unchanged	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	45	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
47	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | the author | some alternative spellings |  |  |  | for example; than dullness | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | present · perfect · passive |  |  |  |  |  | unchanged *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

<!-- 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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