---
title: opposable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «opposable» in the school dictionary: Able to be placed opposite and pressed against the other fingers, like a human thumb, so that the hand can grip and pick things up. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# opposable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hand, Humans, we, you, Chimpanzees, Opposable thumbs · **What happens:** place, press, grip, pick up, have, hold · **To what, where:** things, opposable thumbs, pencil, coin, opposable thumb, early humans

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Able to be placed opposite and pressed against the other fingers, like a human thumb, so that the hand can grip and pick things up.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opposable:m1:1
# text = Able to be placed opposite and pressed against the other fingers, like a human thumb, so that the hand can grip and pick things up.
1	Able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	placed	place	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	xcomp	_	_
5	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	pressed	press	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
8	against	against	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	human	human	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
18	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	23	mark	_	_
19	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	18	fixed	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
22	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
23	grip	grip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	pick	pick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	conj	_	_
26	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obj	_	_
27	up	up	ADP	RP	_	25	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **place** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  | opposite *property* | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP» |
| 2 | **press** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | against the other fingers and a human thumb | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent against finger=Theme |
| 3 | **grip** | can | the hand |  |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **pick up** | infinitive | the hand *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
Humans have opposable thumbs, so we can hold a pencil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opposable:x1:1
# text = Humans have opposable thumbs, so we can hold a pencil.
1	Humans	human	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	opposable	opposable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	pencil	pencil	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 | **have** | present | Humans | opposable thumbs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thumb=Patient |
| 2 | **hold** | can | we | a pencil |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try picking up a coin without using your opposable thumb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opposable:x2:1
# text = Try picking up a coin without using your opposable thumb.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	picking	pick	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	opposable	opposable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **pick up** *not said to happen* | gerund | you *not said here* | a coin |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coin=Topic |
| 3 | **use** | gerund | you *not said here* | your opposable thumb |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thumb=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chimpanzees have opposable thumbs and big toes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opposable:x3:1
# text = Chimpanzees have opposable thumbs and big toes.
1	Chimpanzees	chimpanzee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	opposable	opposable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	toes	toe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Chimpanzees | opposable thumbs and big toes |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thumb=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Opposable thumbs helped early humans to make tools.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opposable:x4:1
# text = Opposable thumbs helped early humans to make tools.
1	Opposable	Opposable	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	thumbs	thumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	humans	human	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	tools	tool	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Opposable thumbs |  | early humans |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent human=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | Opposable thumbs *not said here* | tools |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tool=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Koalas have two opposable digits for gripping branches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opposable:x5:1
# text = Koalas have two opposable digits for gripping branches.
1	Koalas	koala	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	opposable	opposable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	digits	digit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	gripping	grip	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Koalas | two opposable digits |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent digit=Patient |
| 2 | **grip** | gerund | two opposable digits *not said here* | branches |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent branch=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pandas have a special bone that works like an opposable thumb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opposable:x6:1
# text = Pandas have a special bone that works like an opposable thumb.
1	Pandas	panda	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	opposable	opposable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	thumb	thumb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Pandas | a special bone |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bone=Patient |
| 2 | **work** | present | a special bone |  |  |  |  | like a opposable thumb | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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