---
title: incompetence — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «incompetence» in the school dictionary: Lack of the skill or ability needed to do a job properly; doing something badly because you do not know how. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# incompetence

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ability, you, bridge, incompetence, She, company · **What happens:** need, do, not know, lack, fall down, make · **To what, where:** ability, job, something, skill, story, many crashes

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lack of the skill or ability needed to do a job properly; doing something badly because you do not know how.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incompetence:m1:1
# text = Lack of the skill or ability needed to do a job properly; doing something badly because you do not know how.
1	Lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	properly	properly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	_
16	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	14	advmod	_	_
17	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
19	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
20	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	21	advmod	_	_
21	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
22	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	21	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | participle |  | ability *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | ability *not said here* | a job |  |  |  | properly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 3 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **not** **know** | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **lack** |  |  | the skill or ability |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
The bridge fell down because of the builder's incompetence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incompetence:x1:1
# text = The bridge fell down because of the builder's incompetence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	builder	builder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	incompetence	incompetence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall down** | past | the bridge |  |  |  |  | because the builder's incompetence; down *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The robbers' incompetence made the story funny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incompetence:x2:1
# text = The robbers' incompetence made the story funny.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robbers	robber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	incompetence	incompetence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the robbers's incompetence | the story |  |  |  | funny *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset story=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad's incompetence at driving caused many crashes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incompetence:x3:1
# text = Toad's incompetence at driving caused many crashes.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	incompetence	incompetence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	driving	driving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	crashes	crash	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | Toad's incompetence at driving | many crashes |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition crash=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was angry at the incompetence of the company that lost her parcel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incompetence:x4:1
# text = She was angry at the incompetence of the company that lost her parcel.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|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	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	incompetence	incompetence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	parcel	parcel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  | the incompetence of the company |  | angry *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | past | the company | her parcel |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent parcel=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Losing the keys three times was pure incompetence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incompetence:x5:1
# text = Losing the keys three times was pure incompetence.
1	Losing	lose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	keys	key	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	incompetence	incompetence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | gerund |  | the keys |  |  | time |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent key=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Losing | pure incompetence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach was blamed for the team's incompetence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incompetence:x6:1
# text = The coach was blamed for the team's incompetence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	blamed	blame	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	incompetence	incompetence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blame** | past · passive |  | the coach |  |  |  | for the team's incompetence | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Theme for incompetence=Attribute |

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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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