---
title: detecting — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «detecting» in the school dictionary: Detecting is the -ing form of «detect»: noticing or discovering something that is hard to see, hear or find. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# detecting

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ing form, smoke alarm, dog, food, Bats, Grandpa · **What happens:** detect, be, notice, discover, see, hear · **To what, where:** ing form, something, things, metal, smoke, smell

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Detecting is the -ing form of «detect»: noticing or discovering something that is hard to see, hear or find.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detecting:m1:1
# text = Detecting is the -ing form of «detect»: noticing or discovering something that is hard to see, hear or find.
1	Detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	ing	ing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	detect	detect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	noticing	notice	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	discovering	discover	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	conj	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	_
16	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	acl:relcl	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	conj	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **detect** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | the ing form |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **detect** *in a quote* | infinitive | the ing form *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **notice** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **discover** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 6 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 7 | **see** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 8 | **hear** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |
| 9 | **find** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Detecting is also finding things, especially with a special machine (metal detecting) or by investigating like a detective.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detecting:m2:1
# text = Detecting is also finding things, especially with a special machine (metal detecting) or by investigating like a detective.
1	Detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	finding	find	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl:unmarked	_	_
14	detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
18	investigating	investigate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	conj	_	_
19	like	like	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **detect** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **find** | present · progressive |  | things |  |  |  | with a special machine | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |
| 3 | **detect** | gerund |  | metal |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **investigate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | like a detective | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A smoke alarm is good at detecting smoke early.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detecting:x1:1
# text = A smoke alarm is good at detecting smoke early.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a smoke alarm |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **detect** | gerund | a smoke alarm *not said here* | smoke |  |  |  | early *property* | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer smoke=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog is detecting the smell of food in the bag.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detecting:x2:1
# text = The dog is detecting the smell of food in the bag.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	smell	smell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **detect** | present · progressive | the dog | the smell of food |  | the bag |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer smell=Stimulus |
| 2 | **smell** |  | food |  |  | the bag |  |  | nom smell «cognition intransitive»: of=agent in=place |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats find insects by detecting echoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detecting:x3:1
# text = Bats find insects by detecting echoes.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	echoes	echo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | present | Bats | insects |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent insect=Topic |
| 2 | **detect** | gerund | Bats *not said here* | echoes |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer echo=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa goes metal detecting on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detecting:x4:1
# text = Grandpa goes metal detecting on the beach.
1	Grandpa	grandpa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | Grandpa | metal |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location metal=Theme |
| 2 | **detect** | gerund | metal *not said here* |  |  | the beach |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective was busy detecting clues.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detecting:x5:1
# text = The detective was busy detecting clues.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
6	clues	clue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the detective |  |  |  |  | busy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **detect** | gerund | the detective *not said here* | clues |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer clue=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our eyes are detecting light all the time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detecting:x6:1
# text = Our eyes are detecting light all the time.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **detect** | present · progressive | Our eyes | light |  |  | time |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer light=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doctors use scans for detecting illnesses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:detecting:x7:1
# text = Doctors use scans for detecting illnesses.
1	Doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	scans	scan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	detecting	detect	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	illnesses	illness	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- 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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