---
title: impediment — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «impediment» in the school dictionary: An impediment is something that gets in the way or makes progress hard. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# impediment

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** impediment, speech impediment, difficulty, people, Lack, He · **What happens:** be, get, make, speak, not marry, lack · **To what, where:** something, way, progress, difficulty, stammer, legal reason · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«impediment» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [impediment in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/impediment.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An impediment is something that gets in the way or makes progress hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impediment:m1:1
# text = An impediment is something that gets in the way or makes progress hard.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	impediment	impediment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	progress	progress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a impediment | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present |  |  |  | the way |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **make** | present |  | progress |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset progress=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
A speech impediment is a difficulty in speaking, like a stammer or a lisp.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impediment:m2:1
# text = A speech impediment is a difficulty in speaking, like a stammer or a lisp.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	impediment	impediment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	stammer	stammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	lisp	lisp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a speech impediment | a difficulty |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | a difficulty *not said here* | a stammer or a lisp |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An impediment to marriage is a legal reason two people cannot marry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impediment:m3:1
# text = An impediment to marriage is a legal reason two people cannot marry.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	impediment	impediment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	marriage	marriage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	legal	legal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	flat	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	marry	marry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a impediment to marriage | a legal reason |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **marry** | can | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lack of money was an impediment to the plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impediment:x1:1
# text = Lack of money was an impediment to the plan.
1	Lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	impediment	impediment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	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** | past | Lack of money | a impediment |  |  |  | to the plan | tree rules |
| 2 | **lack** |  |  | money |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He has a slight speech impediment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impediment:x2:1
# text = He has a slight speech impediment.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	slight	slight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	impediment	impediment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | He | a slight speech impediment |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent impediment=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Speech therapy helped her impediment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impediment:x3:1
# text = Speech therapy helped her impediment.
1	Speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	therapy	therapy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	impediment	impediment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Speech therapy | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The priest asked if anyone knew of an impediment to the marriage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impediment:x4:1
# text = The priest asked if anyone knew of an impediment to the marriage.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	impediment	impediment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	marriage	marriage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the priest |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **know** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | anyone |  |  |  |  | of a impediment; to the marriage | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer of impediment=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fallen trees were an impediment to the rescue.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impediment:x5:1
# text = Fallen trees were an impediment to the rescue.
1	Fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	impediment	impediment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rescue	rescue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Fallen trees | a impediment |  |  |  | to the rescue | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shyness need not be an impediment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impediment:x6:1
# text = Shyness need not be an impediment.
1	Shyness	shyness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	impediment	impediment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **need** | present | Shyness |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is a** | infinitive |  | a impediment |  |  |  |  | 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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