---
title: impracticability — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «impracticability» in the school dictionary: The quality of being impossible or almost impossible to do in practice. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# impracticability

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** quality, council, impracticability, report, teacher, Everyone · **What happens:** be, do, not do, drop, move, owe · **To what, where:** practice, bridge plan, whole school, impracticability, trip, marsh

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The quality of being impossible or almost impossible to do in practice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticability:m1:1
# text = The quality of being impossible or almost impossible to do in practice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
5	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund | the quality |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the quality *not said here* |  |  |  |  | almost *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | the quality *not said here* |  |  | practice |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that cannot be done because of real-world limits like cost, time or difficulty.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticability:m2:1
# text = Something that cannot be done because of real-world limits like cost, time or difficulty.
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	_	_
7	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	limits	limit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	cost	cost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **do** | can · passive |  |  |  |  |  | because world limits like cost and time or difficulty | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: that=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council dropped the bridge plan because of its impracticability.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticability:x1:1
# text = The council dropped the bridge plan because of its impracticability.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	impracticability	impracticability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | past | the council | the bridge plan |  |  |  | because council's impracticability | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The impracticability of moving the whole school in one day was obvious.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticability:x2:1
# text = The impracticability of moving the whole school in one day was obvious.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	impracticability	impracticability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	obvious	obvious	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 | **move** | gerund | the impracticability *not said here* | the whole school |  |  | day |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent school=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | the impracticability |  |  |  |  | obvious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Owing to the impracticability of the trip, it was cancelled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticability:x3:1
# text = Owing to the impracticability of the trip, it was cancelled.
1	Owing	owe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	impracticability	impracticability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **owe** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to the impracticability of the trip *goal* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent to impracticability=Goal |
| 2 | **cancel** | past · passive |  | trip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The report explained the impracticability of building on the marsh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticability:x4:1
# text = The report explained the impracticability of building on the marsh.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	explained	explain	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	impracticability	impracticability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	marsh	marsh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | the report | the impracticability of building |  | the marsh |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent impracticability=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My teacher pointed out the impracticability of feeding a hundred pets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticability:x5:1
# text = My teacher pointed out the impracticability of feeding a hundred pets.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pointed	point	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	impracticability	impracticability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	feeding	feed	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	pets	pet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point out** | past | My teacher | the impracticability |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent impracticability=Patient |
| 2 | **feed** | gerund | the impracticability *not said here* |  | hundred pets |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pet=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone could see the impracticability of a swimming pool on the roof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticability:x6:1
# text = Everyone could see the impracticability of a swimming pool on the roof.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	impracticability	impracticability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | could | Everyone | the impracticability of a swimming pool on the roof |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer impracticability=Stimulus |

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**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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