---
title: bystander — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bystander» in the school dictionary: A bystander is a person who is near when something happens, especially an accident, a fight or bullying, but is not part of it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bystander

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bystander, person, you, Several bystanders, falling sign, bystanders · **What happens:** be, not be, call, not do, bully, tell · **To what, where:** person, part, ambulance, bystander, someone, teacher · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bystander is a person who is near when something happens, especially an accident, a fight or bullying, but is not part of it.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bystander:m1:1
# text = A bystander is a person who is near when something happens, especially an accident, a fight or bullying, but is not part of it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bystander	bystander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
8	near	near	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
11	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
22	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
23	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
24	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	25	advmod	_	_
25	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a bystander | a person but part |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a person but part |  |  |  |  | a accident *obl*; happen, near *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **is a** | present | a bystander *not said here* | part |  |  |  | of bystander | 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bystander called the ambulance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bystander:x1:1
# text = A bystander called the ambulance.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bystander	bystander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ambulance	ambulance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | a bystander *not said here* | the ambulance |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent ambulance=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't just be a bystander when someone is being bullied — tell a teacher.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bystander:x2:1
# text = Don't just be a bystander when someone is being bullied — tell a teacher.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	1	advmod	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bystander	bystander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
10	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	bullied	bully	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
12	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	parataxis	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | infinitive |  | a bystander |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **bully** | present · passive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  | a teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Several bystanders saw the accident.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bystander:x3:1
# text = Several bystanders saw the accident.
1	Several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	bystanders	bystander	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | Several bystanders | the accident |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer accident=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An innocent bystander was hurt by the falling sign.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bystander:x4:1
# text = An innocent bystander was hurt by the falling sign.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	innocent	innocent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bystander	bystander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	falling	fall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	amod	_	_
9	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | past · passive | the falling sign | a innocent bystander |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer subject=Patient |
| 2 | **fall** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bystander who helps is called an upstander.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bystander:x5:1
# text = A bystander who helps is called an upstander.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bystander	bystander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	upstander	upstander	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | a bystander |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **call** | present · passive |  | a bystander |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bystanders cheered when the cat was rescued.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bystander:x6:1
# text = The bystanders cheered when the cat was rescued.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bystanders	bystander	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cheered	cheer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	rescued	rescue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cheer** | past | the bystanders |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **rescue** | past · passive |  | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bystander:x7:1
# text = Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
2	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	blow	blow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux:pass	_	_
17	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
18	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	obl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	bystanders	bystander	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund | she *not said here* | her broken wings |  |  |  | by the blow | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **fall** | past | she |  |  |  |  | to the ground | vn acquiesce-95.1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to ground=Theme |
| 4 | **catch** | past · passive | she *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by one of the bystanders | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP» |

<!-- 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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