---
title: powerless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «powerless» in the school dictionary: Without the power or strength to do something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# powerless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, radio, He, Toad, She, women · **What happens:** do, help, act, feel, be, stop · **To what, where:** something, flood, dungeon, them

<!-- .vabout -->
«powerless» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [powerless in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/powerless.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without the power or strength to do something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:powerless:m1:1
# text = Without the power or strength to do something.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Unable to help or act.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:powerless:m2:1
# text = Unable to help or act.
1	Unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	act	act	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **act** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The people felt powerless against the king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:powerless:x1:1
# text = The people felt powerless against the king.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	powerless	powerless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | the people |  |  |  |  | against the king; powerless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The radio was powerless without batteries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:powerless:x2:1
# text = The radio was powerless without batteries.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	radio	radio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	powerless	powerless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	batteries	battery	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the radio |  |  |  |  | without batteries; powerless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was powerless to stop the flood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:powerless:x3:1
# text = He was powerless to stop the flood.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	powerless	powerless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | powerless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  | the flood |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality flood=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad was powerless in the dungeon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:powerless:x4:1
# text = Toad was powerless in the dungeon.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	powerless	powerless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dungeon	dungeon	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 | **is** | past | Toad |  |  | the dungeon |  | powerless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She felt powerless to help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:powerless:x5:1
# text = She felt powerless to help.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	powerless	powerless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | She |  |  |  |  | powerless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without votes, women were powerless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:powerless:x6:1
# text = Without votes, women were powerless.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	votes	vote	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	women	woman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	powerless	powerless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | women |  |  |  |  | without votes; powerless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I am powerless to save them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:powerless:x7:1
# text = I am powerless to save them.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	powerless	powerless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | powerless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **save** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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.

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