---
title: incapable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «incapable» in the school dictionary: If you are incapable of doing something, you cannot do it, because you do not have the ability or power. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# incapable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Incapable, grandmother, baby, Penguins, He · **What happens:** be, do, not do, not have, mean, look · **To what, where:** something, it, ability, incapable, steep hill, sign · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you are incapable of doing something, you cannot do it, because you do not have the ability or power.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:m1:1
# text = If you are incapable of doing something, you cannot do it, because you do not have the ability or power.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	incapable	incapable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	advcl	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
17	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | incapable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **not** **do** | can | you | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 4 | **not** **have** | present · do-support | you | the ability or power |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ability=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Incapable can mean not able to look after yourself, for example because of illness or being very drunk.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:m2:1
# text = Incapable can mean not able to look after yourself, for example because of illness or being very drunk.
1	Incapable	incapable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	cop	_	_
18	very	very	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	drunk	drunk	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Incapable |  |  |  |  | able *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | Incapable *not said here* |  |  |  | after yourself | for example; because illness | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for example=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | gerund | Incapable *not said here* |  |  |  |  | drunk *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My grandmother is incapable of being unkind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:x1:1
# text = My grandmother is incapable of being unkind.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandmother	grandmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	incapable	incapable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	cop	_	_
7	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My grandmother | incapable |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby is incapable of walking yet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:x2:1
# text = The baby is incapable of walking yet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	incapable	incapable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the baby |  |  |  |  | incapable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **walk** | gerund | the baby *not said here* |  |  |  | yet |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Penguins are incapable of flying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:x3:1
# text = Penguins are incapable of flying.
1	Penguins	penguin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	incapable	incapable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	flying	fly	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Penguins |  |  |  |  | incapable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **fly** | gerund | Penguins *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He seemed incapable of sitting still.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:x4:1
# text = He seemed incapable of sitting still.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	incapable	incapable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sitting	sitting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	still	still	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | He | incapable of sitting |  |  | still |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme incapable=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old car was incapable of going up the steep hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:x5:1
# text = The old car was incapable of going up the steep hill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	incapable	incapable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	steep	steep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the old car |  |  |  |  | incapable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **go up** | gerund | the old car *not said here* | the steep hill |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient hill=Extent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without his glasses, he was incapable of reading the sign.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:x6:1
# text = Without his glasses, he was incapable of reading the sign.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	glasses	glass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	incapable	incapable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | he |  |  |  |  | without his glasses; incapable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **read** | gerund | he *not said here* | the sign |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's incapable of telling a lie.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:x7:1
# text = She's incapable of telling a lie.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|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	incapable	incapable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lie	lie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | incapable |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | incapable *not said here* | a lie |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent lie=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave his hat to Liza, who took it scornfully; for she had no imagination, and was quite incapable of understanding the motives of such a man.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapable:x8:1
# text = He gave his hat to Liza, who took it scornfully; for she had no imagination, and was quite incapable of understanding the motives of such a man.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Liza	Liza	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	scornfully	scornfully	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
16	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	17	det	_	_
17	imagination	imagination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
21	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	incapable	incapable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
23	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
24	understanding	understand	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	22	acl	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	motives	motive	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	obj	_	_
27	of	of	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
28	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	30	det:predet	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | He | his hat | Liza |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent hat=Theme to liza=Recipient |
| 2 | **take** | past | Liza | hat |  |  |  | scornfully *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 3 | **have** | past | Liza | no imagination |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent imagination=Patient |
| 4 | **is a** | past |  | incapable |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **understand** | gerund | incapable *not said here* | the motives of such man |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer motive=Stimulus |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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