---
title: incapacity — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «incapacity» in the school dictionary: Not being able to do something, especially because of illness, injury or weakness. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# incapacity

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** countries, incapacity, She, Long illness, law, they · **What happens:** not be, do, be, work, pay, mean · **To what, where:** something, incapacity benefit, help, home, support, secret · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not being able to do something, especially because of illness, injury or weakness.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapacity:m1:1
# text = Not being able to do something, especially because of illness, injury or weakness.
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	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	11	case	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	injury	injury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	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 |

<!-- .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: law, money — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being unable to work because of illness or disability; some countries pay incapacity benefit.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapacity:m2:1
# text = Being unable to work because of illness or disability; some countries pay incapacity benefit.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	disability	disability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	pay	pay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
14	incapacity	incapacity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	benefit	benefit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | unable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | because illness or disability | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **pay** | present | some countries | incapacity benefit |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent benefit=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad's incapacity after his fall meant he needed help at home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapacity:x1:1
# text = Grandad's incapacity after his fall meant he needed help at home.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	incapacity	incapacity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	fall	fall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	_
10	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | Grandad's incapacity after incapacity's fall |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **need** | past | incapacity | help |  | home |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot help=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She received support during her incapacity to work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapacity:x2:1
# text = She received support during her incapacity to work.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	during	during	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	incapacity	incapacity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **receive** | past | She | support |  |  | during her incapacity |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent support=Theme |
| 2 | **work** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His incapacity to keep a secret got him into trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapacity:x3:1
# text = His incapacity to keep a secret got him into trouble.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	incapacity	incapacity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | to-infinitive | His incapacity *not said here* | a secret |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Theme |
| 2 | **get** | past | His incapacity | him *= he* |  | trouble |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer he=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long illness can lead to incapacity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapacity:x4:1
# text = Long illness can lead to incapacity.
1	Long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	lead	lead	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	incapacity	incapacity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | can | Long illness |  |  |  |  | to incapacity | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to incapacity=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The law has rules for people with mental incapacity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapacity:x5:1
# text = The law has rules for people with mental incapacity.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	mental	mental	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	incapacity	incapacity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the law | rules |  |  |  | for people with mental incapacity | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But at length they began to give over, from mere incapacity to hold any more.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incapacity:x6:1
# text = But at length they began to give over, from mere incapacity to hold any more.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	length	length	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	over	over	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	mere	mere	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	incapacity	incapacity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl	_	_
15	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	16	det	_	_
16	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | they |  |  | length |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **give over** | to-infinitive | they *not said here* | mere incapacity |  |  |  | over *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent incapacity=Theme |
| 3 | **hold** | to-infinitive | they *not said here* | mere incapacity *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent more=Theme |

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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.

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