---
title: onlooker — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «onlooker» in the school dictionary: An onlooker is a person who watches something happen but does not take part, especially an accident, fight or event in the street. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# onlooker

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** onlooker, person, something, crowd, Onlookers, firefighters · **What happens:** be, watch, happen, not take, gather, crash · **To what, where:** person, something, part, cat, onlooker, fight · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An onlooker is a person who watches something happen but does not take part, especially an accident, fight or event in the street.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:onlooker:m1:1
# text = An onlooker is a person who watches something happen but does not take part, especially an accident, fight or event in the street.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	onlooker	onlooker	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	7	nsubj	_	_
7	watches	watch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
14	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a onlooker | a person and a accident and fight or event in the street |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **watch** | present | a person and a accident and fight or event in the street | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **happen** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **take** | present · do-support | a person and a accident and fight or event in the street *not said here* | part |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=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 -->
A crowd of onlookers gathered round the crashed car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:onlooker:x1:1
# text = A crowd of onlookers gathered round the crashed car.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	onlookers	onlooker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	gathered	gather	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	round	round	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	crashed	crash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	car	car	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 | **gather** | past | a crowd of onlookers |  |  |  |  | round the crashed car | vn herd-47.5.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **crash** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Onlookers cheered as the firefighters saved the cat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:onlooker:x2:1
# text = Onlookers cheered as the firefighters saved the cat.
1	Onlookers	onlooker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cheered	cheer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	saved	save	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cheer** | past | Onlookers |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **save** | past | the firefighters | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was just an onlooker; he didn't join the fight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:onlooker:x3:1
# text = He was just an onlooker; he didn't join the fight.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	onlooker	onlooker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | He | a onlooker |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **join** | past · do-support | he | the fight |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fight=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Onlookers filmed the scuffle on their phones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:onlooker:x4:1
# text = Onlookers filmed the scuffle on their phones.
1	Onlookers	onlooker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	filmed	film	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	scuffle	scuffle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **film** | past | Onlookers | the scuffle |  | Onlookers's phones |  |  | vn transcribe-25.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent scuffle=Theme on phone=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The street performer amazed the onlookers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:onlooker:x5:1
# text = The street performer amazed the onlookers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	performer	performer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	amazed	amaze	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	onlookers	onlooker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **amaze** | past | the street performer | the onlookers |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus onlooker=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An onlooker called the ambulance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:onlooker:x6:1
# text = An onlooker called the ambulance.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	onlooker	onlooker	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 onlooker *not said here* | the ambulance |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent ambulance=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be a silent onlooker when someone is being bullied.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:onlooker:x7:1
# text = Don't be a silent onlooker when someone is being bullied.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	silent	silent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	onlooker	onlooker	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	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Nor did I,” Becuma replied, and she called on the onlookers to confirm that statement.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:onlooker:x8:1
# text = “Nor did I,” Becuma replied, and she called on the onlookers to confirm that statement.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Nor	nor	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	_
3	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	Becuma	Becuma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	replied	reply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	onlookers	onlooker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	confirm	confirm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
18	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	19	det	_	_
19	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** *in a quote* | past | Becuma |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **reply** *speech: assert* | past | Becuma |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **call** | past | Becuma |  |  | the onlookers |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **confirm** | to-infinitive | Becuma *not said here* | that statement |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot statement=Topic |

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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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