---
title: skill — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «skill» in the school dictionary: A skill is something you can do well because you have learned and practised it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# skill

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** skill, you, Reading, She, Swimming, everyone · **What happens:** be, do, learn, practise, show, improve · **To what, where:** something, skill, ability, important skill, great skill, football pitch

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A skill is something you can do well because you have learned and practised it.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:m1:1
# text = A skill is something you can do well because you have learned and practised it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	learned	learn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	practised	practise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a skill | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | can | you |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **learn** | present · perfect | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **practise** | past | you *not said here* | skill |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Skill is the ability to do something well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:m2:1
# text = Skill is the ability to do something well.
1	Skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ability	ability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Skill | the ability |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | well *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reading is an important skill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:x1:1
# text = Reading is an important skill.
1	Reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	skill	skill	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 | Reading | a important skill |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She showed great skill on the football pitch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:x2:1
# text = She showed great skill on the football pitch.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	pitch	pitch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | She | great skill |  | the football pitch |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent skill=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Swimming is a life skill everyone should learn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:x3:1
# text = Swimming is a life skill everyone should learn.
1	Swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	8	nsubj	_	_
7	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Swimming | a life skill |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **learn** | should | everyone | a life skill *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skill=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Practice will improve your skills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:x4:1
# text = Practice will improve your skills.
1	Practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	improve	improve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	skills	skill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **improve** | future | Practice | your skills |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent skill=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It takes skill to juggle three balls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:x5:1
# text = It takes skill to juggle three balls.
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	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	juggle	juggle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	balls	ball	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | It | skill |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skill=Theme |
| 2 | **juggle** | to-infinitive |  | three balls |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned first aid skills at school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:x6:1
# text = We learned first aid skills at school.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	5	amod	_	_
4	aid	aid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	skills	skill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	school	school	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 | **learn** | past | We | first aid skills |  | school |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skill=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chess needs patience and skill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:x7:1
# text = Chess needs patience and skill.
1	Chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	patience	patience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | Chess | patience and skill |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot patience=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He showed so much skill that his grandfather was de-light-ed.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:skill:x8:1
# text = He showed so much skill that his grandfather was de-light-ed.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	grandfather	grandfather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
10	de	de	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	ed	ed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | He | much skill |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent skill=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | much skill | de light ed |  |  |  |  | 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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