---
title: culpable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «culpable» in the school dictionary: Deserving blame for something wrong or bad: «He was culpable for the accident». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# culpable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** He, Everyone, nothing, judge, company, we · **What happens:** deserve, be, find, know, do, feel · **To what, where:** blame, driver, child, rule, ethics · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deserving blame for something wrong or bad: «He was culpable for the accident».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culpable:m1:1
# text = Deserving blame for something wrong or bad: «He was culpable for the accident».
1	Deserving	deserve	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	csubj	_	_
2	blame	blame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	_
5	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	culpable	culpable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deserve** | gerund |  | blame |  |  |  | for something | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | past | He |  |  |  |  | for the accident; culpable *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The driver was found culpable for the crash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culpable:x1:1
# text = The driver was found culpable for the crash.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	driver	driver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	culpable	culpable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past · passive |  | the driver |  |  |  | for the crash; culpable *property* | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: subject=Theme for crash=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone who knew about the bullying and did nothing felt a little culpable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culpable:x2:1
# text = Everyone who knew about the bullying and did nothing felt a little culpable.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	nsubj	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	10	nsubj	_	_
10	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	obl:unmarked	_	_
13	culpable	culpable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | past | Everyone |  |  |  |  | about the bullying | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer about bullying=Stimulus |
| 2 | **do** | past | Everyone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | past | nothing |  |  |  |  | culpable *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is a child as culpable as an adult for breaking a rule?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culpable:x3:1
# text = Is a child as culpable as an adult for breaking a rule?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	csubj	_	_
4	as	as	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	culpable	culpable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a child |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | gerund |  | a rule |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer rule=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge said the company was culpable for the pollution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culpable:x4:1
# text = The judge said the company was culpable for the pollution.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	culpable	culpable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	pollution	pollution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the company |  |  |  |  | for the pollution; culpable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In ethics we discussed when someone is morally culpable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culpable:x5:1
# text = In ethics we discussed when someone is morally culpable.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	ethics	ethic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	discussed	discuss	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	morally	morally	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	culpable	culpable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **discuss** *speech: other* | past | we |  |  | ethics |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | culpable, morally *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was not culpable, because she did not know the bridge was unsafe.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:culpable:x6:1
# text = She was not culpable, because she did not know the bridge was unsafe.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	culpable	culpable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	unsafe	unsafe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | past | She |  |  |  |  | culpable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **know** | past · do-support | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | past | the bridge |  |  |  |  | unsafe *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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