---
title: inability — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «inability» in the school dictionary: Not being able to do something; a lack of skill, power or means. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# inability

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** inability, her, Fox, young · **What happens:** not be, do, mean, lack, swim, keep · **To what, where:** something, skill, him, boat, her, shop · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not being able to do something; a lack of skill, power or means.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inability:m1:1
# text = Not being able to do something; a lack of skill, power or means.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
3	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | able *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **lack** |  |  | skill |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His inability to swim kept him out of the boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inability:x1:1
# text = His inability to swim kept him out of the boat.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	inability	inability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | to-infinitive | His inability *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | past | His inability | him *= he* |  | the boat |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent he=Theme out boat=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby's inability to talk made her cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inability:x2:1
# text = The baby's inability to talk made her cry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	inability	inability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	cry	cry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | to-infinitive | the baby's inability *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | past | the baby's inability | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cry** *speech: express* | infinitive | her *= she* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her inability to sleep made her tired.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inability:x3:1
# text = Her inability to sleep made her tired.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	inability	inability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	TO	_	4	case	_	_
4	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Her inability to sleep | her *= she* |  |  |  | tired *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset she=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop closed because of its inability to pay the rent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inability:x4:1
# text = The shop closed because of its inability to pay the rent.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	inability	inability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	rent	rent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | participle |  | the shop *not said here* |  |  |  | because shop's inability | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **pay** | to-infinitive |  | the rent |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rent=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An inability to see colours is called colour blindness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inability:x5:1
# text = An inability to see colours is called colour blindness.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	inability	inability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	blindness	blindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | to-infinitive |  | colours |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer colour=Stimulus |
| 2 | **call** | present · passive |  | a inability |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His inability to say sorry made things worse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inability:x6:1
# text = His inability to say sorry made things worse.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	inability	inability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
8	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | His inability | sorry made things |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Fox on her return, discovered what had happened, but was less grieved for the death of her young than for her inability to avenge them.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inability:x7:1
# text = The Fox on her return, discovered what had happened, but was less grieved for the death of her young than for her inability to avenge them.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	return	return	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	discovered	discover	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	nsubj	_	_
9	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	happened	happen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
14	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	15	advmod	_	_
15	grieved	grieve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	young	young	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
22	than	than	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	for	for	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	inability	inability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
26	to	to	PART	TO	_	27	mark	_	_
27	avenge	avenge	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
28	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **discover** | past | the Fox on Fox's return |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** | past · perfect |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **grieve** | past · passive | the Fox on Fox's return *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the death of Fox's young; than Fox's inability; less *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle» |
| 4 | **avenge** | to-infinitive | the Fox on Fox's return *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **return** |  | Fox |  |  |  |  |  | nom return «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |
| 6 | **die** |  | Fox's young |  |  |  |  |  | nom death «event intransitive»: of=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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