---
title: litmus — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «litmus» in the school dictionary: Litmus is a dye made from lichens that turns red in acid and blue in alkali, used to test liquids. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# litmus

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Litmus, lichens, litmus test, test, someone, something · **What happens:** be, make, turn, use, test, show · **To what, where:** dye, lichens, alkali, liquids, test, figurative simple test · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«litmus» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [litmus in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/litmus.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Litmus is a dye made from lichens that turns red in acid and blue in alkali, used to test liquids.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litmus:m1:1
# text = Litmus is a dye made from lichens that turns red in acid and blue in alkali, used to test liquids.
1	Litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dye	dye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	lichens	lichen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	test	test	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	advcl	_	_
21	liquids	liquid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Litmus | a dye |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a dye *not said here* |  | lichens |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset from lichen=Material |
| 3 | **turn** | present | lichens |  |  | alkali |  | red *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in alkali=Trajectory |
| 4 | **use** | participle |  | alkali *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **test** | to-infinitive |  | liquids |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent liquid=Theme |

<!-- .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 litmus test is a test with litmus paper; (figurative) it is also a simple test that clearly shows what someone thinks or what something is really like.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litmus:m2:1
# text = A litmus test is a test with litmus paper; (figurative) it is also a simple test that clearly shows what someone thinks or what something is really like.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	test	test	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	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	figurative	figurative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
16	also	also	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
20	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	22	obj	_	_
21	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	acl:relcl	_	_
23	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	25	obj	_	_
24	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	25	nsubj	_	_
25	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	ccomp	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	25	ccomp	_	_
28	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	31	nsubj	_	_
29	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	31	cop	_	_
30	really	really	ADV	RB	_	31	advmod	_	_
31	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a litmus test | a test |  |  |  | with litmus paper | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | test | a figurative simple test |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **show** | present |  | a figurative simple test |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent that=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **think** *speech: other* | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |
| 5 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | like *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lemon juice turned the blue litmus paper red.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litmus:x1:1
# text = Lemon juice turned the blue litmus paper red.
1	Lemon	lemon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	red	red	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | Lemon juice | the paper red |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent red=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soap turned the red litmus paper blue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litmus:x2:1
# text = Soap turned the red litmus paper blue.
1	Soap	soap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | Soap | the red litmus paper |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent paper=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use litmus to find out if the liquid is an acid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litmus:x3:1
# text = Use litmus to find out if the liquid is an acid.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | litmus |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litmus=Patient |
| 2 | **find out** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | the liquid | a acid |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water does not change the colour of litmus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litmus:x4:1
# text = Water does not change the colour of litmus.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **change** | present · do-support | Water | the colour of litmus |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent colour=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vote was a litmus test for the new leader.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litmus:x5:1
# text = The vote was a litmus test for the new leader.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the vote | a litmus test |  |  |  | for the new leader | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How people treat waiters is a litmus test of their kindness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litmus:x6:1
# text = How people treat waiters is a litmus test of their kindness.
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	treat	treat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
4	waiters	waiter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	litmus	litmus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **treat** | present | people |  | waiters |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent waiter=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a litmus test |  |  |  | of people's kindness | tree rules |

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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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