---
title: ability — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ability» in the school dictionary: Ability is the power or skill to do something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ability

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Ability, person, someone, Bats, She, people · **What happens:** be, do, mean, read, have, find · **To what, where:** power, something, special talent, ability, way, dark · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ability» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [ability in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ability.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ability is the power or skill to do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:m1:1
# text = Ability is the power or skill to do something.
1	Ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Ability | the power or skill |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An ability is a special talent, something a person is good at.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:m2:1
# text = An ability is a special talent, something a person is good at.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	talent	talent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	appos	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ability | a special talent |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ability can also mean how well someone can do something, as in «reading ability».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:m3:1
# text = Ability can also mean how well someone can do something, as in «reading ability».
1	Ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
6	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	amod	_	_
16	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Ability |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | can | someone | something |  |  |  | well *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **read** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats have the ability to find their way in the dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:x1:1
# text = Bats have the ability to find their way in the dark.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Bats | the ability |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ability=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | Bats *not said here* | Bats's way |  | the dark |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has a great ability to make people laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:x2:1
# text = She has a great ability to make people laugh.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | She | a great ability |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ability=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **laugh** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do the test to the best of your ability.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:x3:1
# text = Do the test to the best of your ability.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	1	parataxis	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* | the test |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent test=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ability to swim can save your life.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:x4:1
# text = The ability to swim can save your life.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | to-infinitive | the ability *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **save** | can | the ability | your life |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent life=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each superhero has a different special ability.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:x5:1
# text = Each superhero has a different special ability.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	superhero	superhero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | each superhero | a different special ability |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ability=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Practice will improve your reading ability.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:x6:1
# text = Practice will improve your reading ability.
1	Practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	improve	improve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	ability	ability	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 | **improve** | future | Practice | your reading ability |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent ability=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chameleons have the ability to change colour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:x7:1
# text = Chameleons have the ability to change colour.
1	Chameleons	chameleon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Chameleons | the ability |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ability=Patient |
| 2 | **change** | to-infinitive | Chameleons *not said here* | colour |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent colour=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grateful for these favours, the animals determined to repay him to the best of their ability.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ability:x8:1
# text = Grateful for these favours, the animals determined to repay him to the best of their ability.
1	Grateful	grateful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	favours	favour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	appos	_	_
8	determined	determine	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	repay	repay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	obl	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **determine** | participle |  | the animals *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **repay** | to-infinitive |  |  | him *= he* |  |  | to the best | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent he=Recipient |

<!-- 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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