---
title: instead — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «instead» in the school dictionary: Instead means in place of something else. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# instead

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, I, Ali, 6, It, you · **What happens:** mean, come, replace, have, drink, put · **To what, where:** tea, thing, milk, water, two pears, start

<!-- .vabout -->
«instead» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [instead in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/instead.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Instead means in place of something else.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:m1:1
# text = Instead means in place of something else.
1	Instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod	_	_
7	else	else	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in place of something; instead *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in place=Attribute |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had no milk, so we drank water instead.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:m1e:1
# text = We had no milk, so we drank water instead.
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	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	drank	drink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | no milk |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent milk=Patient |
| 2 | **drink** | past | we | water |  |  |  | instead *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Instead of» comes before the thing that is replaced: tea instead of coffee.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:m2:1
# text = «Instead of» comes before the thing that is replaced: tea instead of coffee.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	replaced	replace	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
14	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	16	case	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	coffee	coffee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present |  | tea instead coffee |  | the thing |  | instead *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme before thing=Location |
| 2 | **replace** | present · passive |  | the thing |  |  |  |  | vn substitute-13.6.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Co-Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What if at the start I had put two pears instead of what I put?

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:x1:1
# text = What if at the start I had put two pears instead of what I put?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	pears	pear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	obl	_	_
14	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past · perfect | I | two pears |  | the start |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent pear=Theme at start=Destination |
| 2 | **put** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ali bought 5 pens instead of 3.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:x2:1
# text = Ali bought 5 pens instead of 3.
1	Ali	Ali	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	pens	pen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | past | Ali | 5 pens |  |  |  | instead 3 | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pen=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Instead of 4 boxes, there are 6.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:x3:1
# text = Instead of 4 boxes, there are 6.
1	Instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	4	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	boxes	box	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	7	expl	_	_
7	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | 6 |  |  | there |  | instead 4 boxes | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was raining, so we played inside instead.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:x4:1
# text = It was raining, so we played inside instead.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** | past · progressive | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 2 | **play** | past | we |  |  |  |  | inside, instead *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can I have juice instead of milk?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:x5:1
# text = Can I have juice instead of milk?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	milk	milk	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 | **have** | can | I | juice |  |  |  | instead milk | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent juice=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Walk instead of running in the corridor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:x6:1
# text = Walk instead of running in the corridor.
1	Walk	walk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	4	mark	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	fixed	_	_
4	running	run	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	corridor	corridor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **run** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  | the corridor |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in corridor=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Instead of crying, she laughed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:x7:1
# text = Instead of crying, she laughed.
1	Instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	3	mark	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	crying	cry	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | gerund | she *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a pencil instead of a pen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:x8:1
# text = Use a pencil instead of a pen.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a pencil |  |  |  | instead a pen | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It made Peter kick instead of stab.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:instead:x9:1
# text = It made Peter kick instead of stab.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	kick	kick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	stab	stab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | It | Peter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **kick** | infinitive | Peter *not said here* |  |  |  |  | instead stab | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=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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