---
title: probability — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «probability» in the school dictionary: How likely something is to happen, given as a number from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain), or as a fraction or percentage. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# probability

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, chance, probability, high probability, bus, you · **What happens:** be, give, happen, mean, get, roll · **To what, where:** 1, chance, high probability, heads, one half, six

<!-- .vabout -->
«probability» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [probability in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/probability.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: maths — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How likely something is to happen, given as a number from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain), or as a fraction or percentage.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:m1:1
# text = How likely something is to happen, given as a number from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain), or as a fraction or percentage.
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nmod	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	obl	_	_
19	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
24	as	as	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	fraction	fraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	percentage	percentage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | happen *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  |  | 1 |  |  | as a number from 0 | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to 1=Recipient |

<!-- .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 will happen: «There's a high probability of rain.».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:m2:1
# text = The chance that something will happen: «There's a high probability of rain.».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
5	will	will	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	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«In all probability» means «very likely».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:m3:1
# text = «In all probability» means «very likely».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	_
4	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | all probability |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The probability of getting heads is one half.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:x1:1
# text = The probability of getting heads is one half.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | gerund | the probability *not said here* | heads |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer head=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the probability | one half |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What is the probability of rolling a six on a dice?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:x2:1
# text = What is the probability of rolling a six on a dice?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	rolling	roll	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	dice	dice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the probability |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **roll** | gerund | the probability *not said here* | a six |  | a dice |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent six=Theme on dice=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's a high probability of snow tomorrow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:x3:1
# text = There's a high probability of snow tomorrow.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	tomorrow	tomorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In all probability, the bus will be late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:x4:1
# text = In all probability, the bus will be late.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | future | the bus |  |  | all probability |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Draw an arrow on the probability scale to show «unlikely».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:x5:1
# text = Draw an arrow on the probability scale to show «unlikely».
1	Draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	arrow	arrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	scale	scale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	unlikely	unlikely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | imperative | you *not said here* | a arrow |  | the probability scale |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent arrow=Theme on scale=Destination |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If a bag has 3 red and 1 blue marble, the probability of red is 3/4.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:x6:1
# text = If a bag has 3 red and 1 blue marble, the probability of red is 3/4.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	advcl	_	_
5	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	red	red	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
9	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	marble	marble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	red	red	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	3/4	3/4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	17	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a bag | 3 red and 1 blue marble and the probability of red |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent red=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | 3/4 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The probability of an impossible event is 0.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:x7:1
# text = The probability of an impossible event is 0.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the probability of a impossible event | 0 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is only a probability, but we cannot in any case reach more than probability in this matter, just at present.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:probability:x8:1
# text = It is only a probability, but we cannot in any case reach more than probability in this matter, just at present.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	13	det	_	_
13	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
15	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	17	advmod	_	_
16	than	than	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	20	det	_	_
20	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	just	just	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
23	at	at	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	present	present	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a probability |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **reach** | can | we | probability |  | this matter and present |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent probability=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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