---
title: skilful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «skilful» in the school dictionary: Skilful means very good at doing something because of practice and ability. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# skilful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Skilful, She, skilful footballer, skilful potter, It, He · **What happens:** mean, do, be, dribble, make, take · **To what, where:** something, skilful way, skilful footballer, anyone, perfect bowl, skilful hands

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Skilful means very good at doing something because of practice and ability.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:m1:1
# text = Skilful means very good at doing something because of practice and ability.
1	Skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Skilful |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | Skilful *not said here* | something |  |  |  | because practice and ability | 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 -->
Something done in a skilful way is done with great skill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:m2:1
# text = Something done in a skilful way is done with great skill.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
2	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | participle |  |  |  | a skilful way |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | present · passive |  | Something |  |  |  | with great skill | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is a skilful footballer who can dribble past anyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:x1:1
# text = She is a skilful footballer who can dribble past anyone.
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	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	footballer	footballer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	dribble	dribble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	past	past	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | a skilful footballer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dribble** | can | a skilful footballer |  |  | anyone |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme past anyone=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skilful potter made a perfect bowl.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:x2:1
# text = The skilful potter made a perfect bowl.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	potter	potter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bowl	bowl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the skilful potter | a perfect bowl |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bowl=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It took skilful hands to fix the old clock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:x3:1
# text = It took skilful hands to fix the old clock.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | It | skilful hands |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |
| 2 | **fix** | to-infinitive |  | the old clock |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent clock=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was a skilful liar, but he got caught in the end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:x4:1
# text = He was a skilful liar, but he got caught in the end.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	got	get	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | He | a skilful liar |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | past · passive |  | he |  |  | in the end |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skilful pilot landed the plane in the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:x5:1
# text = The skilful pilot landed the plane in the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pilot	pilot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	landed	land	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **land** | past | the skilful pilot | the plane |  | the storm |  |  | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent plane=Theme in storm=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With practice you can become a skilful juggler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:x6:1
# text = With practice you can become a skilful juggler.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	juggler	juggler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | can | you | a skilful juggler |  |  |  | with practice | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She made a skilful drawing of a horse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:x7:1
# text = She made a skilful drawing of a horse.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	drawing	drawing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | She | a skilful drawing of a horse |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drawing=Product |
| 2 | **draw** |  | a horse |  |  |  |  |  | nom drawing «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The game was set then, and her play was so skilful that Art was hard put to counter her moves.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skilful:x8:1
# text = The game was set then, and her play was so skilful that Art was hard put to counter her moves.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	set	set	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	skilful	skilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
14	Art	Art	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux:pass	_	_
16	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	17	advmod	_	_
17	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	advcl	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	counter	counter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	moves	move	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set** | past · passive |  | the game |  |  | then |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Result |
| 2 | **is** | past | her play |  |  |  |  | skilful *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **put** | past · passive |  | Art |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **counter** | infinitive |  | Art's moves |  |  |  |  | vn confront-98 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent move=Theme |
| 5 | **play** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom play «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |
| 6 | **move** |  | Art |  |  |  |  |  | nom move «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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