alternate
part of speech
adjective (alternate); verb (alternate, alternates, alternated, alternating); noun (an alternate)
meaning for a pupil
1) To alternate means to change again and again between two things, one after the other: red, blue, red, blue. tree →
2) As an adjective, alternate means every second one: «on alternate days» = one day yes, one day no. tree →
3) In US English alternate also means another one you can use instead (an alternate route); a person who can take someone's place is an alternate. tree →
sense in the lessons
In maths, alternating patterns repeat (ABAB), and «alternate numbers» are every other number (1, 3, 5…). In geometry, «alternate angles» are equal angles on opposite sides of a line crossing two parallel lines. In everyday life you take turns («alternate» who goes first) and some families alternate weekends. Phrases: «alternate between», «on alternate days», «alternate angles», «alternating current» (AC, in science).
examples
- Alternate red and yellow beads on the string. tree →
- We have PE on alternate days. tree →
- The weather alternated between sun and rain. tree →
- Take alternate steps on the stones to cross. tree →
- Write the alternate numbers from 2: 2, 4, 6, 8. tree →
- Mark the alternate angles on the parallel lines. tree →
- The two brothers alternate washing and drying the dishes. tree →
- If the road is closed, take an alternate route. tree →
- Zeus gave the desired permission, and the faithful brothers were both allowed to live, but only on alternate days. tree →
note
Pronunciation differs: adjective/noun «al-TER-nut» (UK) or «AWL-ter-nut» (US); verb «AWL-ter-nate». Trap: UK English «alternate» = every second one; «alternative» = another choice. Americans often use «alternate» for both. In maths, «on alternate days for 10 days» = 5 days.
In the corpora
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «alternate» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.