---
title: fallible — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fallible» in the school dictionary: Fallible means able to make mistakes or be wrong. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fallible

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fallible, Fallible things, people, memory, we, Computers · **What happens:** mean, make, be, not be, write down, check · **To what, where:** mistakes, things, answers, sign · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fallible means able to make mistakes or be wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallible:m1:1
# text = Fallible means able to make mistakes or be wrong.
1	Fallible	fallible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	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	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fallible |  |  |  |  | able *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | Fallible *not said here* | mistakes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mistake=Product |
| 3 | **is** | infinitive | Fallible *not said here* |  |  |  |  | wrong *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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fallible things, like memory or tests, are not always reliable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallible:m2:1
# text = Fallible things, like memory or tests, are not always reliable.
1	Fallible	fallible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	tests	test	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	12	advmod	_	_
12	reliable	reliable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Fallible things |  |  |  |  | always, reliable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All people are fallible, even teachers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallible:x1:1
# text = All people are fallible, even teachers.
1	All	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	fallible	fallible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	even	even	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | all people |  |  |  |  | teachers *obl*; fallible *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our memory is fallible, so we write things down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallible:x2:1
# text = Our memory is fallible, so we write things down.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	fallible	fallible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	down	down	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Our memory |  |  |  |  | fallible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **write down** | present | we | things |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Computers are fallible too when the data is wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallible:x3:1
# text = Computers are fallible too when the data is wrong.
1	Computers	computer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	fallible	fallible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Computers |  |  |  |  | fallible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the data |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being fallible is why we check our answers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallible:x4:1
# text = Being fallible is why we check our answers.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	fallible	fallible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	0	root	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	check	check	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl:relcl	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	answers	answer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | fallible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | why *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **check** | present | we | our answers |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |
| 4 | **answer** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective knew eyewitnesses are fallible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallible:x5:1
# text = The detective knew eyewitnesses are fallible.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	eyewitnesses	eyewitness	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	fallible	fallible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | past | the detective |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | eyewitnesses |  |  |  |  | fallible *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Admitting you are fallible is a sign of good sense.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fallible:x6:1
# text = Admitting you are fallible is a sign of good sense.
1	Admitting	admit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	fallible	fallible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	ccomp	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **admit** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn confess-37.10 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | fallible *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Admitting | a sign |  |  |  | of good sense | 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 -->

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