---
title: unable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unable» in the school dictionary: Unable means not able to do something, because you cannot or are not allowed to: «unable to come». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# unable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unable, I, Penguins, firefighters, She, We · **What happens:** mean, do, not allow, come, be, finish · **To what, where:** something, you, homework, cat, party, question · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unable means not able to do something, because you cannot or are not allowed to: «unable to come».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unable:m1:1
# text = Unable means not able to do something, because you cannot or are not allowed to: «unable to come».
1	Unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux:pass	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unable |  |  |  |  | able *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | Unable *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **not** **allow** | can · passive |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **come** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | Unable *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was unable to finish my homework because I was ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unable:x1:1
# text = I was unable to finish my homework because I was ill.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	finish	finish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | unable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **finish** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | my homework |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality homework=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Penguins are unable to fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unable:x2:1
# text = Penguins are unable to fly.
1	Penguins	penguin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Penguins |  |  |  |  | unable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **fly** | to-infinitive | Penguins *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firefighters were unable to reach the cat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unable:x3:1
# text = The firefighters were unable to reach the cat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the firefighters |  |  |  |  | unable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **reach** | to-infinitive | the firefighters *not said here* | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent cat=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was unable to sleep because of the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unable:x4:1
# text = She was unable to sleep because of the storm.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sleep	sleep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  |  |  | unable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sleep** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | because the storm | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are unable to come to the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unable:x5:1
# text = We are unable to come to the party.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | We |  |  |  |  | unable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  | the party |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to party=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby is unable to walk yet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unable:x6:1
# text = The baby is unable to walk yet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the baby |  |  |  |  | unable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **walk** | to-infinitive | the baby *not said here* |  |  |  | yet |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was unable to answer the question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unable:x7:1
# text = He was unable to answer the question.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | unable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the question |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She sat dumb and shamefaced, unable to reply.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unable:x8:1
# text = She sat dumb and shamefaced, unable to reply.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dumb	dumb	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	shamefaced	shamefac	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	reply	reply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | She |  |  |  |  | dumb *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **shamefac** | participle | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **reply** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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**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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