---
title: obstacle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «obstacle» in the school dictionary: Something in your way that stops you or makes it hard to go forward. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# obstacle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, problem, difficulty, We, fallen tree, horse · **What happens:** stop, make, go, do, run, fall · **To what, where:** you, way, difficulty, something, obstacle course, obstacle · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something in your way that stops you or makes it hard to go forward.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:m1:1
# text = Something in your way that stops you or makes it hard to go forward.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | your way | you |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality you=Eventuality |
| 2 | **make** | present | your way *not said here* | way |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 3 | **go** | to-infinitive | way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
A problem or difficulty that makes it hard to do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:m2:1
# text = A problem or difficulty that makes it hard to do something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a problem or difficulty | difficulty |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | difficulty *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We ran an obstacle course on sports day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:x1:1
# text = We ran an obstacle course on sports day.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	obstacle	obstacle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	course	course	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	compound	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | We | a obstacle course |  |  | day |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme course=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fallen tree was an obstacle on the path.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:x2:1
# text = A fallen tree was an obstacle on the path.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	obstacle	obstacle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | a fallen tree | a obstacle |  | the path |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The horse jumped over every obstacle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:x3:1
# text = The horse jumped over every obstacle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	jumped	jump	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	obstacle	obstacle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | past | the horse |  |  | every obstacle |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over obstacle=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not speaking English was an obstacle at first, but she learned fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:x4:1
# text = Not speaking English was an obstacle at first, but she learned fast.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
3	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	obstacle	obstacle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
13	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **speak** *speech: other* | gerund |  | English |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | speaking | a obstacle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **learn** | past | English |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Robots use sensors to avoid obstacles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:x5:1
# text = Robots use sensors to avoid obstacles.
1	Robots	robot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sensors	sensor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	obstacles	obstacle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Robots | sensors |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sensor=Patient |
| 2 | **avoid** | to-infinitive | Robots *not said here* | obstacles |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent obstacle=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clear any obstacles from the stairs so no one trips.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:x6:1
# text = Clear any obstacles from the stairs so no one trips.
1	Clear	clear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	obstacles	obstacle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	trips	trip	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clear** | imperative | you *not said here* | any obstacles |  | the stairs |  |  | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent obstacle=Theme from stair=Source |
| 2 | **trip** | present | no one |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hero had to overcome many obstacles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:x7:1
# text = The hero had to overcome many obstacles.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	overcome	overcome	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	obstacles	obstacle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the hero |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **overcome** | to-infinitive | the hero *not said here* | many obstacles |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot obstacle=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
'You thought that love would conquer all obstacles,' said he; 'well, you have found it hasn't!

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obstacle:x8:1
# text = 'You thought that love would conquer all obstacles,' said he; 'well, you have found it hasn't!
1	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	conquer	conquer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	obstacles	obstacle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
15	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	well	well	INTJ	UH	_	20	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
19	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
20	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | You |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **conquer** | would | that love | all obstacles |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent obstacle=Patient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | love |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **find** | present · perfect | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 5 | **not** **have** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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