---
title: neutralize — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «neutralize» in the school dictionary: To stop something from having an effect, so it no longer does harm. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# neutralize

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** effect, result, Baking soda, We, Bee stings, people · **What happens:** stop, have, do, mix, be, kill · **To what, where:** something, effect, harm, acid, war, enemy · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«neutralize» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [neutralize in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/neutralize.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stop something from having an effect, so it no longer does harm.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neutralize:m1:1
# text = To stop something from having an effect, so it no longer does harm.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	no	no	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	13	advmod	_	_
13	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
14	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **have** | gerund |  | a effect |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent effect=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | present | effect | harm |  |  |  | long *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent harm=Eventuality |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To mix an acid with a base (alkali) so that the result is neither acid nor alkali.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neutralize:m2:1
# text = To mix an acid with a base (alkali) so that the result is neither acid nor alkali.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	mix	mix	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	base	base	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	_
11	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	17	mark	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	neither	neither	CCONJ	CC	Polarity=Neg	17	cc:preconj	_	_
17	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	advcl	_	_
18	nor	nor	CCONJ	CC	Polarity=Neg	19	cc	_	_
19	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mix** | to-infinitive |  | a acid |  |  |  | with a base | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent acid=Patient with base=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the result | acid nor alkali |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In war or crime stories, to stop or kill an enemy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neutralize:m3:1
# text = In war or crime stories, to stop or kill an enemy.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	kill	kill	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | war or crime stories |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in war=Location |
| 2 | **kill** | infinitive |  | a enemy |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enemy=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Baking soda can neutralize vinegar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neutralize:x1:1
# text = Baking soda can neutralize vinegar.
1	Baking	baking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	soda	soda	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	neutralize	neutralize	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	vinegar	vinegar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **neutralize** | can | Baking soda | vinegar |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent vinegar=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We added alkali to neutralize the acid in the test tube.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neutralize:x2:1
# text = We added alkali to neutralize the acid in the test tube.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	added	add	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	alkali	alkali	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	neutralize	neutralize	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	tube	tube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | past | We | alkali |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alkali=Patient |
| 2 | **neutralize** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the acid |  | the test tube |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent acid=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bee stings are acid, so some people use soap to neutralize them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neutralize:x3:1
# text = Bee stings are acid, so some people use soap to neutralize them.
1	Bee	bee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	stings	sting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	soap	soap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	neutralize	neutralize	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bee stings | acid |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | some people | soap |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent soap=Patient |
| 3 | **neutralize** | to-infinitive | some people *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The charcoal neutralized the bad smell in the fridge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neutralize:x4:1
# text = The charcoal neutralized the bad smell in the fridge.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	charcoal	charcoal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	neutralized	neutralize	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	smell	smell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fridge	fridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **neutralize** | past | the charcoal | the bad smell |  | the fridge |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent smell=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The defender neutralized their best striker.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neutralize:x5:1
# text = The defender neutralized their best striker.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	defender	defender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	neutralized	neutralize	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	striker	striker	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 | **neutralize** | past | the defender | their best striker |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent striker=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldiers were told to neutralize the threat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neutralize:x6:1
# text = The soldiers were told to neutralize the threat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	neutralize	neutralize	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past · passive |  | the soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: subject=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **neutralize** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the soldiers *not said here* | the threat |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent threat=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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