---
title: impossible — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «impossible» in the school dictionary: Not able to happen or be done: «It's impossible to be in two places at once». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# impossible

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** You, They, Nothing, little brother, he, Flying · **What happens:** happen, do, be, deal, not do, try · **To what, where:** two places, impossible, 7, fog, puzzle, west · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«impossible» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [impossible in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/impossible.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not able to happen or be done: «It's impossible to be in two places at once».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:m1:1
# text = Not able to happen or be done: «It's impossible to be in two places at once».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	csubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	cop	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
17	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	parataxis	_	_
18	at	at	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V» |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | two places |  |  | 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 -->
Very difficult to deal with: «You're impossible today!».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:m2:1
# text = Very difficult to deal with: «You're impossible today!».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	deal	deal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
11	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deal** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | You |  |  |  | today | impossible *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that cannot be done: «They tried to do the impossible».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:m3:1
# text = Something that cannot be done: «They tried to do the impossible».
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	obj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **do** | can · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: that=Eventuality |
| 2 | **try** *in a quote* | past | They |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive | They *not said here* | the impossible |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent impossible=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is impossible to roll a 7 with one normal dice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:x1:1
# text = It is impossible to roll a 7 with one normal dice.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	roll	roll	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
10	normal	normal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	dice	dice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **roll** | to-infinitive |  | a 7 |  |  |  | with one normal dice | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent 7=Patient with dice=Instrument |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing is impossible if you keep trying!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:x2:1
# text = Nothing is impossible if you keep trying!
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Nothing |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **try** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's impossible to see in this fog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:x3:1
# text = It's impossible to see in this fog.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	fog	fog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | this fog |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother is impossible when he's tired.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:x4:1
# text = My little brother is impossible when he's tired.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My little brother |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | he |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flying like a bird is impossible for people without a machine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:x5:1
# text = Flying like a bird is impossible for people without a machine.
1	Flying	fly	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	like	like	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
9	without	without	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | like a bird | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | Flying |  |  |  |  | for people; without a machine; impossible *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puzzle seemed impossible, but we solved it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:x6:1
# text = The puzzle seemed impossible, but we solved it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	solved	solve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the puzzle |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **solve** | past | we | puzzle |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mark the event "the sun rises in the west" as impossible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:x7:1
# text = Mark the event "the sun rises in the west" as impossible.
1	Mark	Mark	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	rises	rise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	west	west	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** *in a quote* | present | the Mark event |  |  | the west |  | as impossible | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in west=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“It is impossible!” cried the King.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impossible:x8:1
# text = “It is impossible!” cried the King.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	expl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | the King |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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