---
title: capability — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «capability» in the school dictionary: A capability is the ability or power to do something: «The robot has the capability to climb stairs». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# capability

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** capability, robot, Capabilities, someone, phone, new computer · **What happens:** be, do, have, climb, take, show · **To what, where:** ability, something, capability, stairs, skills, strength · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A capability is the ability or power to do something: «The robot has the capability to climb stairs».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capability:m1:1
# text = A capability is the ability or power to do something: «The robot has the capability to climb stairs».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	capability	capability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	capability	capability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	climb	climb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	acl	_	_
20	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a capability | the ability or power |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **have** *in a quote* | present | the robot | the capability |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent capability=Patient |
| 4 | **climb** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | the robot *not said here* | stairs |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location stair=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Capabilities are the skills, tools or strength someone or something has.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capability:m2:1
# text = Capabilities are the skills, tools or strength someone or something has.
1	Capabilities	capability	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	skills	skill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nsubj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	conj	_	_
12	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Capabilities | the skills and tools or strength |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | someone | strength *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent strength=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This phone has the capability to take underwater photos.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capability:x1:1
# text = This phone has the capability to take underwater photos.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	capability	capability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	underwater	underwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	photos	photo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | this phone | the capability |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent capability=Patient |
| 2 | **take** | to-infinitive | this phone *not said here* | underwater photos |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent photo=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new computer has amazing capabilities.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capability:x2:1
# text = The new computer has amazing capabilities.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	amazing	amazing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	capabilities	capability	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the new computer | amazing capabilities |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent capability=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Climbing that mountain is beyond my capability.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capability:x3:1
# text = Climbing that mountain is beyond my capability.
1	Climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	beyond	beyond	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	capability	capability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | gerund |  | that mountain |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location mountain=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | Climbing |  |  |  |  | beyond my capability | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team showed their full capability in the final.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capability:x4:1
# text = The team showed their full capability in the final.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	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	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	capability	capability	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	final	final	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 | **show** | past | the team | their full capability |  |  |  | in the final | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent capability=Patient in final=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tested the robot's capabilities in class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capability:x5:1
# text = We tested the robot's capabilities in class.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	capabilities	capability	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | We | the robot's capabilities |  | class |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent capability=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Owls have the capability to see in the dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:capability:x6:1
# text = Owls have the capability to see in the dark.
1	Owls	owl	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	capability	capability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Owls | the capability |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent capability=Patient |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | Owls *not said here* | the capability *not said here* |  | the dark |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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