---
title: counteract — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «counteract» in the school dictionary: To act against something so that it has less effect or no effect: «Exercise helps counteract sitting all day». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# counteract

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, Exercise, doctor, Toothpaste, acids, Drinking · **What happens:** act, have, help, counteract, sit, give · **To what, where:** less effect, medicine, him, poison, acids, teeth · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«counteract» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 7 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: [counteract in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/counteract.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To act against something so that it has less effect or no effect: «Exercise helps counteract sitting all day».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counteract:m1:1
# text = To act against something so that it has less effect or no effect: «Exercise helps counteract sitting all day».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	act	act	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	against	against	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	8	mark	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	13	det	_	_
13	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	Exercise	exercise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
18	counteract	counteract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
19	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	obj	_	_
20	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	21	det	_	_
21	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | against something | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **have** | present | it | less effect or no effect |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent effect=Patient |
| 3 | **help** *in a quote* | present | Exercise |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **counteract** *in a quote* | infinitive | Exercise *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **sit** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  | day |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor gave him a medicine to counteract the poison.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counteract:x1:1
# text = The doctor gave him a medicine to counteract the poison.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	counteract	counteract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	poison	poison	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 | **give** | past | the doctor | a medicine | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient medicine=Theme |
| 2 | **counteract** | to-infinitive | the doctor *not said here* | the poison |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent poison=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toothpaste helps counteract the acids that damage your teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counteract:x2:1
# text = Toothpaste helps counteract the acids that damage your teeth.
1	Toothpaste	toothpaste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	counteract	counteract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	acids	acid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	damage	damage	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Toothpaste |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **counteract** | infinitive | Toothpaste *not said here* | the acids |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent acid=Patient |
| 3 | **damage** | present | the acids | your teeth |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tooth=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Drinking water counteracts the hot weather's drying effect.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counteract:x3:1
# text = Drinking water counteracts the hot weather's drying effect.
1	Drinking	drink	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	counteracts	counteract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	drying	drying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drink** | gerund |  | water |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |
| 2 | **counteract** | present | Drinking | the hot weather's drying effect |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent effect=Patient |
| 3 | **effect** |  | the hot weather |  |  |  |  |  | nom effect «phenomenon transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Planting trees can help counteract air pollution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counteract:x4:1
# text = Planting trees can help counteract air pollution.
1	Planting	plant	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	counteract	counteract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
6	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	pollution	pollution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plant** | gerund |  | trees |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tree=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | can | Planting |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **counteract** | infinitive | Planting *not said here* | air pollution |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent pollution=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A short walk can counteract hours of sitting at a screen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counteract:x5:1
# text = A short walk can counteract hours of sitting at a screen.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	walk	walk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	counteract	counteract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	advcl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	screen	screen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **counteract** | can | a short walk |  |  |  | hour |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sit** | gerund | a short walk *not said here* |  |  | a screen |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent at screen=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counteract:x6:1
# text = An alkali counteracts an acid.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	counteracts	counteract	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **counteract** | present | a alkali | a acid |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent acid=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘They would have disappeared completely,’ said the pretended doctor, ‘if there did not exist something to counteract the effect.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:counteract:x7:1
# text = ‘They would have disappeared completely,’ said the pretended doctor, ‘if there did not exist something to counteract the effect.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux	_	_
5	disappeared	disappear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	9	ccomp	_	_
6	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	pretended	pretend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	amod	_	_
12	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
16	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	19	expl	_	_
17	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	exist	exist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
20	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	19	obj	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	counteract	counteract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	acl	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disappear** | would · perfect | They |  |  |  |  | completely *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  | the pretended doctor |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **pretend** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **exist** *a condition, not said to happen* | past · do-support |  | something |  | there |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **counteract** | to-infinitive |  | the effect |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent effect=Patient |

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**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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