---
title: accountability — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «accountability» in the school dictionary: Accountability means being responsible for what you do and being ready to explain it and accept the results: «taking accountability for a mistake». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# accountability

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Accountability, you, people, Owning, Voters, class · **What happens:** mean, be, do, explain, accept, take · **To what, where:** Accountability, results, government, decisions, others, vase · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Accountability means being responsible for what you do and being ready to explain it and accept the results: «taking accountability for a mistake».

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:accountability:m1:1
# text = Accountability means being responsible for what you do and being ready to explain it and accept the results: «taking accountability for a mistake».
1	Accountability	accountability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
4	responsible	responsible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	obl	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	cop	_	_
11	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	accept	accept	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	taking	take	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	ccomp	_	_
22	accountability	accountability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	_
23	for	for	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Accountability |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *not said to happen* | gerund | Accountability *not said here* |  |  |  |  | responsible *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **explain** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | Accountability |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 6 | **accept** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the results |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent result=Theme |
| 7 | **take** *in a quote* | gerund |  | accountability |  |  |  | for a mistake | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent accountability=Theme for mistake=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In government and work, accountability means that people in charge must explain their decisions to others and can be held to blame.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:accountability:m2:1
# text = In government and work, accountability means that people in charge must explain their decisions to others and can be held to blame.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	accountability	accountability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
14	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	decisions	decision	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
19	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
20	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	aux:pass	_	_
21	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	blame	blame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | accountability |  |  | government and work |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* | must | people in charge | people's decisions | others |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent decision=Topic to other=Recipient |
| 3 | **hold** | can · passive | accountability *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: clause=Theme |
| 4 | **blame** | to-infinitive | accountability *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **decide** |  | people |  |  |  |  |  | nom decision «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Owning up to breaking the vase showed real accountability.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:accountability:x1:1
# text = Owning up to breaking the vase showed real accountability.
1	Owning	own	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	accountability	accountability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **own up** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **break** | gerund |  | the vase |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer vase=Patient |
| 3 | **show** | past | Owning | real accountability |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent accountability=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Voters want accountability from their leaders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:accountability:x2:1
# text = Voters want accountability from their leaders.
1	Voters	voter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	accountability	accountability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | Voters | accountability |  | Voters's leaders |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot accountability=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class has a rota so there is accountability for tidying up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:accountability:x3:1
# text = Our class has a rota so there is accountability for tidying up.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	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	5	det	_	_
5	rota	rota	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	8	expl	_	_
8	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	accountability	accountability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
10	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	tidying	tidy	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
12	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our class | a rota |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rota=Patient |
| 2 | **be** | present | accountability |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **tidy up** | gerund | accountability *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach talked about accountability: everyone is responsible for the team.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:accountability:x4:1
# text = The coach talked about accountability: everyone is responsible for the team.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	accountability	accountability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	responsible	responsible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | past | the coach |  |  |  |  | about accountability | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about accountability=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | everyone |  |  |  |  | for the team; responsible *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The report called for more accountability in the council.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:accountability:x5:1
# text = The report called for more accountability in the council.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	accountability	accountability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle |  | the report *not said here* |  |  |  | for more accountability in the council | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient S\_INF»: agent=Agent for accountability=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taking accountability means saying sorry and fixing things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:accountability:x6:1
# text = Taking accountability means saying sorry and fixing things.
1	Taking	take	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	accountability	accountability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fixing	fix	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	conj	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | gerund |  | accountability |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent accountability=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Taking |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | gerund | Taking *not said here* | sorry |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent sorry=Topic |
| 4 | **fix** | gerund | Taking *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |

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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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