---
title: impracticable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «impracticable» in the school dictionary: Impossible to do or carry out in practice, even if it sounds good. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# impracticable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Impossible, practice, road, plan, Walking, flooded road · **What happens:** carry out, sound, use, travel, be, build · **To what, where:** practice, tunnel, desert, grain, books, two trips

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Impossible to do or carry out in practice, even if it sounds good.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticable:m1:1
# text = Impossible to do or carry out in practice, even if it sounds good.
1	Impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	even	even	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
14	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry out** | infinitive · do-support | Impossible |  |  | practice |  |  | vn act-114 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sound** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | practice |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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: of a road or path — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Impossible to use or travel on: the road was impracticable after the flood.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticable:m2:1
# text = Impossible to use or travel on: the road was impracticable after the flood.
1	Impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	travel	travel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	impracticable	impracticable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
12	after	after	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **travel** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | past | the road |  |  |  | after the flood | impracticable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plan to build a tunnel to the island proved impracticable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticable:x1:1
# text = The plan to build a tunnel to the island proved impracticable.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	build	build	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tunnel	tunnel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	island	island	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	proved	prove	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	impracticable	impracticable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | to-infinitive | the plan *not said here* | a tunnel |  |  |  | to the island | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tunnel=Product |
| 2 | **prove** | past | the plan |  |  |  |  | impracticable *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Walking across the desert in a day is impracticable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticable:x2:1
# text = Walking across the desert in a day is impracticable.
1	Walking	walk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	across	across	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	desert	desert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	impracticable	impracticable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | gerund |  |  |  | the desert | day |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across desert=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is** | present | Walking |  |  |  |  | impracticable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flooded road was impracticable for cars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticable:x3:1
# text = The flooded road was impracticable for cars.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	flooded	flood	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	impracticable	impracticable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flood** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | past | the flooded road |  |  |  |  | for cars; impracticable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The idea was clever but impracticable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticable:x4:1
# text = The idea was clever but impracticable.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	impracticable	impracticable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the idea |  |  |  |  | clever *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was impracticable to count every grain of sand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticable:x5:1
# text = It was impracticable to count every grain of sand.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	impracticable	impracticable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	count	count	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	grain	grain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | impracticable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **count** | to-infinitive |  | every grain of sand |  |  |  |  | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grain=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Carrying all the books home at once was impracticable, so we took two trips.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:impracticable:x6:1
# text = Carrying all the books home at once was impracticable, so we took two trips.
1	Carrying	carry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	4	det:predet	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	home	home	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	1	obl	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	impracticable	impracticable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
14	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	trips	trip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | gerund |  | all books |  |  |  | home *property* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | Carrying |  |  |  |  | impracticable *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **take** | past | we | two trips |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trip=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.

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