---
title: detect — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «detect» in the school dictionary: To notice or discover something that is hard to see, hear or smell. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# detect

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, smoke alarm, Dogs, Scientists, I, sadness · **What happens:** notice, discover, be, see, hear, smell · **To what, where:** something, special tool, smoke, metal, burnt toast, smells · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To notice or discover something that is hard to see, hear or smell.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detect:m1:1
# text = To notice or discover something that is hard to see, hear or smell.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	notice	notice	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	discover	discover	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	smell	smell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **notice** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **discover** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **see** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **hear** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |
| 6 | **smell** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To find something using a special tool or test (detect smoke, detect metal).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detect:m2:1
# text = To find something using a special tool or test (detect smoke, detect metal).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	detect	detect	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	detect	detect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
15	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | gerund |  | a special tool or test |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tool=Patient |
| 3 | **detect** | imperative | you *not said here* | smoke |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer smoke=Stimulus |
| 4 | **detect** | present |  | metal |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer metal=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The smoke alarm detected the burnt toast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detect:x1:1
# text = The smoke alarm detected the burnt toast.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	detected	detect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	burnt	burnt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	toast	toast	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 | **detect** | past | the smoke alarm | the burnt toast |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer toast=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dogs can detect smells we can't.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detect:x2:1
# text = Dogs can detect smells we can't.
1	Dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	detect	detect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	smells	smell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **detect** | can | Dogs | smells |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer smell=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists detected water on Mars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detect:x3:1
# text = Scientists detected water on Mars.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	detected	detect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Mars	Mars	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **detect** | past | Scientists | water |  | Mars |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer water=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I detected a hint of sadness in his voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detect:x4:1
# text = I detected a hint of sadness in his voice.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	detected	detect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hint	hint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	sadness	sadness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **detect** | past | I | a hint of sadness |  | his voice |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer hint=Stimulus |
| 2 | **hint** |  | sadness |  |  |  |  |  | nom hint «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scanner detects metal in bags.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detect:x5:1
# text = The scanner detects metal in bags.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scanner	scanner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	detects	detect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **detect** | present | the scanner | metal |  | bags |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer metal=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats detect insects using echoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detect:x6:1
# text = Bats detect insects using echoes.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	detect	detect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	echoes	echo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **detect** | present | Bats | insects |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer insect=Stimulus |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | Bats *not said here* | echoes |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent echo=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Sultan could not detect any difference between them, and he told his aunt that he would not be so cruel as to kill all three.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detect:x7:1
# text = The Sultan could not detect any difference between them, and he told his aunt that he would not be so cruel as to kill all three.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Sultan	Sultan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	detect	detect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
7	difference	difference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	iobj	_	_
16	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
18	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
20	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	cop	_	_
21	so	so	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	advcl	_	_
23	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	_
25	kill	kill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	advcl	_	_
26	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	27	det	_	_
27	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **detect** | could | the Sultan | any difference |  |  |  | between them *= they* | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer difference=Stimulus |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | Sultan |  | Sultan's aunt |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent aunt=Recipient |
| 3 | **not** **is** | would | Sultan |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **kill** | to-infinitive | Sultan *not said here* | all three |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent three=Theme |

<!-- 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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