---
title: competent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «competent» in the school dictionary: Competent means able to do something well enough or properly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# competent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Competent, She, We, doctor, He, competent adult · **What happens:** mean, do, allow, decide, act, be · **To what, where:** something, competent swimmer, competent adult, competent cook, papers, chainsaw

<!-- .vabout -->
«competent» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [competent in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/competent.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Competent means able to do something well enough or properly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:competent:m1:1
# text = Competent means able to do something well enough or properly.
1	Competent	competent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	_
8	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	properly	properly	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Competent |  |  |  |  | able *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | Competent *not said here* | something |  |  |  | enough, well *property* | 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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Allowed or able by law to decide or act.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:competent:m2:1
# text = Allowed or able by law to decide or act.
1	Allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	act	act	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allow** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer |
| 2 | **decide** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **act** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is a competent swimmer now.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:competent:x1:1
# text = She is a competent swimmer now.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	competent	competent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	swimmer	swimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | a competent swimmer |  |  | now |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We need a competent adult to supervise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:competent:x2:1
# text = We need a competent adult to supervise.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	competent	competent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	supervise	supervise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | We | a competent adult |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot adult=Theme |
| 2 | **supervise** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | a competent adult *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2-1 «NP V NP.predicate»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor was calm and competent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:competent:x3:1
# text = The doctor was calm and competent.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	competent	competent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the doctor |  |  |  |  | calm *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the doctor *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He's a competent cook but not a great one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:competent:x4:1
# text = He's a competent cook but not a great one.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	competent	competent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cook	cook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | a competent cook but a great one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is he competent to sign the papers?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:competent:x5:1
# text = Is he competent to sign the papers?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	competent	competent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sign	sign	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	papers	paper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | he |  |  |  |  | competent *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sign** | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | the papers |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent paper=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only a competent adult should use the chainsaw.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:competent:x6:1
# text = Only a competent adult should use the chainsaw.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	competent	competent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	chainsaw	chainsaw	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 | **use** | should | a competent adult | the chainsaw |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chainsaw=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He engaged a competent dragon to look after her, and also a respectable griffin whose birth and upbringing he knew all about.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:competent:x7:1
# text = He engaged a competent dragon to look after her, and also a respectable griffin whose birth and upbringing he knew all about.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	engaged	engage	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	competent	competent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	also	also	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	respectable	respectable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	griffin	griffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
16	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	birth	birth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	upbringing	upbringing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
20	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	acl:relcl	_	_
22	all	all	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
23	about	about	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **engage** | past | He | a competent dragon |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dragon=Patient |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  | after dragon |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **know** | past | birth and upbringing |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

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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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