replace
part of speech
verb (replace, replaces, replaced, replacing)
meaning for a pupil
1) To replace something means to put a new thing in the place of an old or broken one. tree →
2) To replace someone means to take their place. tree →
3) To replace something can mean to put it back where it was. tree →
sense in the lessons
In everyday life you replace dead batteries, a broken toy or lost books; «Please replace the lid» means put it back on. In safety, replace a smoke alarm battery when it beeps, and replace a cracked helmet. In maths, «replace the letter with a number» means substitute: if n = 3, replace n in 2 × n to get 6. In sport, a substitute replaces a tired player. In science, old leaves are replaced by new ones.
examples
- We need to replace the batteries in the remote. tree →
- Please replace the books on the shelf. tree →
- Replace x with 5 and work out the answer. tree →
- A new teacher will replace Mrs Brown next term. tree →
- Replace the lid tightly after using the glue. tree →
- Replace your helmet if it has been in a crash. tree →
- Nothing can replace a good night's sleep. tree →
- The pirates listened grimly, and then replaced the mushroom. tree →
note
Regular verb: replaced, replacing. Noun «replacement». «Replace A with B» = take A away and put B. In maths, replacing a letter with a number is called substitution. Do not confuse with «re-place» meaning place again (rare).
In the corpora
- A new partner does not replace your mum or dad.
- A helmet that has had a hard crash should be replaced, even if it looks fine.
- A new pet does not replace one that died, so a family waits until it is ready.
- Proper shoes that fit protect and support the feet, and children's feet grow fast, so tight shoes are replaced.
- A new pet does not replace the old one, and it is wise to wait and talk it over first.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «replace» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.