---
title: proficient — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «proficient» in the school dictionary: Good at something because of practice and training; skilled. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# proficient

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** She, You, He, report, I, signals · **What happens:** reach, expect, be, become, join, say · **To what, where:** expected level, subject, proficient swimmer, maths, club, three languages · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good at something because of practice and training; skilled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:m1:1
# text = Good at something because of practice and training; skilled.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	_
4	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	training	training	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	skilled	skilled	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is a proficient swimmer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:m1e:1
# text = She is a proficient swimmer.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|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	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	proficient	proficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	swimmer	swimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | a proficient swimmer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having reached the expected level in a subject: «proficient in reading».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:m2:1
# text = Having reached the expected level in a subject: «proficient in reading».
1	Having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	aux	_	_
2	reached	reach	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	expected	expect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	proficient	proficient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | gerund · perfect |  | the expected level |  | a subject |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent level=Theme |
| 2 | **expect** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a year of lessons, she became a proficient swimmer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:x1:1
# text = After a year of lessons, she became a proficient swimmer.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	lessons	lesson	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	proficient	proficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	swimmer	swimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | she | a proficient swimmer |  |  | year |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You must be proficient at maths to join the club.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:x2:1
# text = You must be proficient at maths to join the club.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	proficient	proficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | must | You |  |  | maths |  | proficient *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | to-infinitive | You *not said here* | the club |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent club=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is proficient in three languages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:x3:1
# text = He is proficient in three languages.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	proficient	proficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  | three languages |  | proficient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The report says I am proficient in reading.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:x4:1
# text = The report says I am proficient in reading.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	proficient	proficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the report |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | I |  |  | reading |  | proficient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A proficient cyclist always signals before turning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:x5:1
# text = A proficient cyclist always signals before turning.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	proficient	proficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cyclist	cyclist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	5	advmod	_	_
5	signals	signal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | gerund | signals *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It takes practice to become proficient at the piano.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:x6:1
# text = It takes practice to become proficient at the piano.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	proficient	proficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	piano	piano	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | It | practice |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent practice=Theme |
| 2 | **become** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | proficient *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is highly proficient with a computer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:proficient:x7:1
# text = She is highly proficient with a computer.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	highly	highly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	proficient	proficient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | with a computer; highly, proficient *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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