---
title: possibility — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «possibility» in the school dictionary: Something that might happen or might be true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# possibility

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, chance, you, old shed, possibility, We · **What happens:** happen, be, take, become, have, list · **To what, where:** chance, possibility, option, plural good things, possibilities, two dice

<!-- .vabout -->
«possibility» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [possibility in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/possibility.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that might happen or might be true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:m1:1
# text = Something that might happen or might be true.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
3	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	acl:relcl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | might |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | might |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
The chance that something can happen: «There is a possibility of rain.».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:m2:1
# text = The chance that something can happen: «There is a possibility of rain.».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	10	expl	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	possibility	possibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | can | something | the chance *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | the chance | a possibility |  |  |  | of rain | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A choice or option you could take.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:m3:1
# text = A choice or option you could take.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	option	option	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | could | you | option *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent option=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
possibilities (plural) The good things that something could become: «The old shed has possibilities.».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:m4:1
# text = possibilities (plural) The good things that something could become: «The old shed has possibilities.».
1	possibilities	possibility	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	plural	plural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
10	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	shed	shed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
18	possibilities	possibility	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | could | something | the plural good things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Patient thing=Result |
| 2 | **have** *in a quote* | present | the old shed | possibilities |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possibility=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a possibility of snow tomorrow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:x1:1
# text = There is a possibility of snow tomorrow.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	possibility	possibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	tomorrow	tomorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a possibility of snow |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We listed every possibility when we rolled two dice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:x2:1
# text = We listed every possibility when we rolled two dice.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	listed	list	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	_
4	possibility	possibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	rolled	roll	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	dice	die	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **list** | past | We | every possibility |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **roll** | past | we | two dice |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent die=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is there any possibility we can stay up late?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:x3:1
# text = Is there any possibility we can stay up late?
1	Is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	1	expl	_	_
3	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	possibility	possibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | any possibility |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **stay up** | can | we | any possibility *not said here* |  |  |  | late *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme possibility=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective did not rule out the possibility of a second thief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:x4:1
# text = The detective did not rule out the possibility of a second thief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	rule	rule	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	possibility	possibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **rule out** | past · do-support | the detective | the possibility of a second thief |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possibility=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving to Canada is a real possibility for our family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:x5:1
# text = Moving to Canada is a real possibility for our family.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	possibility	possibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  |  | Canada |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme to canada=Result |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Moving | a real possibility |  |  |  | for our family | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A blank page is full of possibilities.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:x6:1
# text = A blank page is full of possibilities.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	blank	blank	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	page	page	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	possibilities	possibility	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a blank page |  |  |  |  | of possibilities; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tossing a coin has two possibilities: heads or tails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:x7:1
# text = Tossing a coin has two possibilities: heads or tails.
1	Tossing	toss	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	possibilities	possibility	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	tails	tail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toss** | gerund |  | a coin |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coin=Patient |
| 2 | **have** | present | Tossing | two possibilities and heads or tails |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possibility=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Always think about the possibility of a slippery floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibility:x8:1
# text = Always think about the possibility of a slippery floor.
1	Always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	2	advmod	_	_
2	think	think	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	possibility	possibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	slippery	slippery	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about the possibility of a slippery floor; always *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about possibility=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->

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