---
title: flightless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flightless» in the school dictionary: Flightless means not able to fly. It is used for birds and insects that have wings but cannot fly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flightless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Flightless, birds, kiwi, Penguins, Ostriches, dodo · **What happens:** mean, fly, use, have, not fly, be · **To what, where:** Flightless, wings, flightless bird, New Zealand, great swimmers, islands

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flightless means not able to fly. It is used for birds and insects that have wings but cannot fly.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Flightless means not able to fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flightless:m1:1
# text = Flightless means not able to fly.
1	Flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Flightless |  |  |  |  | able *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fly** | to-infinitive | Flightless *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It is used for birds and insects that have wings but cannot fly.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flightless:m1:2
# text = It is used for birds and insects that have wings but cannot fly.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Flightless |  |  |  | for birds and insects | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for bird=Eventuality |
| 2 | **have** | present | birds and insects | wings |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **fly** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kiwi is a flightless bird from New Zealand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flightless:x1:1
# text = The kiwi is a flightless bird from New Zealand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kiwi	kiwi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	flat	_	_
9	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the kiwi | a flightless bird |  | New Zealand |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Penguins are flightless, but they are great swimmers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flightless:x2:1
# text = Penguins are flightless, but they are great swimmers.
1	Penguins	penguin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	swimmers	swimmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Penguins |  |  |  |  | flightless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Penguins *= penguin* | great swimmers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ostriches are flightless and run very fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flightless:x3:1
# text = Ostriches are flightless and run very fast.
1	Ostriches	ostrich	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	run	run	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Ostriches |  |  |  |  | flightless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | present | Ostriches *not said here* |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dodo was a flightless bird that is now extinct.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flightless:x4:1
# text = The dodo was a flightless bird that is now extinct.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dodo	dodo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	10	advmod	_	_
10	extinct	extinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the dodo | a flightless bird |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a flightless bird |  |  |  | now | extinct *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many flightless birds lived on islands with no predators.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flightless:x5:1
# text = Many flightless birds lived on islands with no predators.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	islands	island	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	predators	predator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | Many flightless birds |  |  | islands |  | with no predators | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme with predator=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Emus are flightless birds from Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flightless:x6:1
# text = Emus are flightless birds from Australia.
1	Emus	emu	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Emus | flightless birds |  | Australia |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some flightless insects, like fleas, jump instead.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flightless:x7:1
# text = Some flightless insects, like fleas, jump instead.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
2	flightless	flightless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	fleas	flea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	jump	jump	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | infinitive | some flightless insects and fleas |  |  |  |  | instead *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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