---
title: serviceable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «serviceable» in the school dictionary: Good enough to be used; working well, even if not new or beautiful. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# serviceable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** old coat, tent, She, Spanish, car, film · **What happens:** use, work, make, last, repair, service · **To what, where:** Good, serviceable shoes, serviceable boots, food, serviceable condition, serviceable plot

<!-- .vabout -->
«serviceable» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [serviceable in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/serviceable.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good enough to be used; working well, even if not new or beautiful.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:m1:1
# text = Good enough to be used; working well, even if not new or beautiful.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obl	_	_
2	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
8	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	even	even	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	parataxis	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | to-infinitive · passive |  | Good |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V» |
| 2 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Strong and practical, made to last: serviceable shoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:m2:1
# text = Strong and practical, made to last: serviceable shoes.
1	Strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	practical	practical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	last	last	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	serviceable	serviceable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **last** | to-infinitive |  | serviceable shoes |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Able to be repaired or serviced.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:m3:1
# text = Able to be repaired or serviced.
1	Able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	repaired	repair	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	serviced	service	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repair** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient» |
| 2 | **service** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Useful and helpful to people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:m4:1
# text = Useful and helpful to people.
1	Useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	helpful	helpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My old coat is still perfectly serviceable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:x1:1
# text = My old coat is still perfectly serviceable.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	perfectly	perfectly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	serviceable	serviceable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My old coat |  |  |  | still | perfectly, serviceable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tent was old but serviceable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:x2:1
# text = The tent was old but serviceable.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tent	tent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	serviceable	serviceable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the tent |  |  |  |  | old *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the tent *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wore serviceable boots for the farm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:x3:1
# text = She wore serviceable boots for the farm.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	serviceable	serviceable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | She | serviceable boots |  |  |  | for the farm | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent boot=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His Spanish is serviceable — good enough to order food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:x4:1
# text = His Spanish is serviceable — good enough to order food.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	Spanish	Spanish	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	serviceable	serviceable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	order	order	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
10	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | His Spanish |  |  |  |  | serviceable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | His Spanish *not said here* |  |  |  |  | enough *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **order** | to-infinitive | His Spanish *not said here* | food |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car is in serviceable condition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:x5:1
# text = The car is in serviceable condition.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	serviceable	serviceable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	condition	condition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the car |  |  | serviceable condition |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film had a serviceable plot, but nothing exciting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serviceable:x6:1
# text = The film had a serviceable plot, but nothing exciting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	serviceable	serviceable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plot	plot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	parataxis	_	_
10	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the film | a serviceable plot |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plot=Patient |

<!-- 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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