---
title: improbable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «improbable» in the school dictionary: Not likely to happen or to be true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# improbable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** It, Rolling, underdog team, dog, Getting, that · **What happens:** happen, be, snow, roll, win, have · **To what, where:** row, improbable victory, improbable friendship, answer

<!-- .vabout -->
«improbable» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings 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: [improbable in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/improbable.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not likely to happen or to be true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improbable:m1:1
# text = Not likely to happen or to be true.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	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 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | 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 -->
Strange and surprising: an improbable friendship between a cat and a duck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improbable:m2:1
# text = Strange and surprising: an improbable friendship between a cat and a duck.
1	Strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	surprising	surprising	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	improbable	improbable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	friendship	friendship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	between	between	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	duck	duck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is improbable that it will snow in July in London.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improbable:x1:1
# text = It is improbable that it will snow in July in London.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	improbable	improbable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	advcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	July	July	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	London	London	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | improbable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **snow** | future | it |  |  |  | july |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rolling a six ten times in a row is highly improbable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improbable:x2:1
# text = Rolling a six ten times in a row is highly improbable.
1	Rolling	roll	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	highly	highly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	improbable	improbable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roll** | gerund |  |  |  | a row | time |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in row=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is** | present | Rolling |  |  |  |  | highly, improbable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The underdog team won an improbable victory.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improbable:x3:1
# text = The underdog team won an improbable victory.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	underdog	underdog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	improbable	improbable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	victory	victory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | the underdog team | a improbable victory |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent victory=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog and the rabbit had an improbable friendship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improbable:x4:1
# text = The dog and the rabbit had an improbable friendship.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	improbable	improbable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	friendship	friendship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the dog and the rabbit | a improbable friendship |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friendship=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's improbable but not impossible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improbable:x5:1
# text = It's improbable but not impossible.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	improbable	improbable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | improbable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Getting every answer right by guessing is very improbable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improbable:x6:1
# text = Getting every answer right by guessing is very improbable.
1	Getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	right	right	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	guessing	guess	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	improbable	improbable	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 | **get** | gerund |  | every answer |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer answer=Stimulus |
| 2 | **guess** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | right *property* | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | Getting |  |  |  |  | improbable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nay, that is almost too improbable; and yet it is true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improbable:x7:1
# text = Nay, that is almost too improbable; and yet it is true.
1	Nay	nay	INTJ	UH	_	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	improbable	improbable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | that |  |  |  |  | almost, improbable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  | yet | true *property* | 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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