---
title: observation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «observation» in the school dictionary: Observation is watching something carefully to learn about it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# observation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Observation, you, doctors, your, birds, My · **What happens:** watch, learn, be, notice, record, mean · **To what, where:** something, science, remark, observation, observations, table · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«observation» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [observation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/observation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Observation is watching something carefully to learn about it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:m1:1
# text = Observation is watching something carefully to learn about it.
1	Observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	watching	watch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | present · progressive | Observation | something |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Observation *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about Observation | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
An observation is something you noticed or recorded, often in science.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:m2:1
# text = An observation is something you noticed or recorded, often in science.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	observation	observation	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	6	nsubj	_	_
6	noticed	notice	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	recorded	record	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a observation | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **notice** | past | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **record** | participle | you *not said here* |  |  | science |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in science=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An observation is a remark or comment about something you noticed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:m3:1
# text = An observation is a remark or comment about something you noticed.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	observation	observation	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	remark	remark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	comment	comment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	noticed	notice	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a observation | a remark or comment about something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **notice** | past | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Under observation means being watched carefully, for example by doctors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:m4:1
# text = Under observation means being watched carefully, for example by doctors.
1	Under	under	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	watched	watch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | observation |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **watch** | gerund · passive | doctors |  |  |  |  | for example; carefully *property* | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for example=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write down your observations in the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:x1:1
# text = Write down your observations in the table.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	down	down	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	observations	observation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write down** | imperative | you *not said here* | your observations |  | the table |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent observation=Theme in table=Destination |
| 2 | **observe** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom observation «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Observation of the birds showed they came every morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:x2:1
# text = Observation of the birds showed they came every morning.
1	Observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Observation of the birds |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **come** | past | birds *= bird* |  |  |  | morning |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **observe** |  |  | the birds |  |  |  |  | nom observation «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My observation is that the ice melted faster in the sun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:x3:1
# text = My observation is that the ice melted faster in the sun.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	melted	melt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sun.	sun.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My observation |  |  | the sun. |  | fast, melt *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **observe** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom observation «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor kept her under observation overnight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:x4:1
# text = The doctor kept her under observation overnight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	overnight	overnight	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the doctor | her *= she* |  | observation |  | overnight *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent she=Theme under observation=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has great powers of observation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:x5:1
# text = She has great powers of observation.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	powers	power	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | She | great powers of observation |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent power=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our observation lasted ten minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:x6:1
# text = Our observation lasted ten minutes.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lasted	last	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	minutes	minute	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 | **last** | past | Our observation |  |  |  | minute |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **observe** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom observation «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That's an interesting observation, Jack.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:x7:1
# text = That's an interesting observation, Jack.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	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	interesting	interesting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	Jack	Jack	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | a interesting observation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made 12 observations, one every 5 minutes, so the test lasted an hour.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:x8:1
# text = We made 12 observations, one every 5 minutes, so the test lasted an hour.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	observations	observation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	appos	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
8	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	lasted	last	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
15	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | 12 observations |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent observation=Product |
| 2 | **last** | past | the test |  |  |  | hour |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He always coughed before he made any observation, so as to attract attention.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observation:x9:1
# text = He always coughed before he made any observation, so as to attract attention.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	3	advmod	_	_
3	coughed	cough	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	observation	observation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	attract	attract	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
14	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cough** | past | He |  |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | past | he | any observation |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent observation=Product |
| 3 | **attract** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | attention |  |  |  |  | vn lure-59.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attention=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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