---
title: possibly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «possibly» in the school dictionary: Perhaps; maybe — used when something could be true or could happen but you are not sure. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# possibly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, you, I, That, We · **What happens:** use, be, happen, not be, come, help · **To what, where:** way, me, that, window, best cake, homework · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«possibly» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [possibly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/possibly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Perhaps; maybe — used when something could be true or could happen but you are not sure.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:m1:1
# text = Perhaps; maybe — used when something could be true or could happen but you are not sure.
1	Perhaps	perhaps	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
3	maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
8	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
10	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
14	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
16	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
18	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past |  |  |  |  |  | maybe, perhaps *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | could | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **happen** | could | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | sure *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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: with can/could — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In any way possible: «I'll come as soon as I possibly can».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:m2:1
# text = In any way possible: «I'll come as soon as I possibly can».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	possible	possible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	as	as	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** *in a quote* | future | I |  |  | any way |  | soon *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in way=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: in polite requests — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Could you possibly help me?».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:m3:1
# text = «Could you possibly help me?».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** *in a quote* | could | you |  | me |  |  | possibly *property* | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: with can't — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used to say something is impossible: «I can't possibly eat all that».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:m4:1
# text = Used to say something is impossible: «I can't possibly eat all that».
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
10	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
12	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	parataxis	_	_
14	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	15	det:predet	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **eat** *in a quote* | can | I | that |  |  |  | possibly *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It will possibly rain later.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:x1:1
# text = It will possibly rain later.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Could you possibly open the window?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:x2:1
# text = Could you possibly open the window?
1	Could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	open	open	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | could | you | the window |  |  |  | possibly *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location window=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That was possibly the best cake I've ever eaten.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:x3:1
# text = That was possibly the best cake I've ever eaten.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	10	advmod	_	_
10	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | That | the best cake |  |  |  | possibly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | present · perfect | I | the best cake *not said here* |  |  | ever |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cake=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I can't possibly finish all this homework tonight!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:x4:1
# text = I can't possibly finish all this homework tonight!
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	finish	finish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	tonight	tonight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **finish** | can | I | all homework |  |  | tonight | possibly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Affector homework=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Will you come?" "Possibly."

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Will you come?" "

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:x5:1
# text = "Will you come?" "
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** *in a quote* | future | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Possibly."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:x5:2
# text = Possibly."
1	Possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We'll get there as fast as we possibly can.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:x6:1
# text = We'll get there as fast as we possibly can.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
5	as	as	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | future | We |  |  | there |  | fast *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What more can you possibly want?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possibly:x7:1
# text = What more can you possibly want?"
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	obj	_	_
2	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	1	amod	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	possibly	possibly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | can | you |  |  |  |  | possibly *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |

<!-- 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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