---
title: perceive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «perceive» in the school dictionary: To notice or become aware of something through the senses: perceive a sound. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# perceive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** animals, we, Bats, He, cells, others · **What happens:** notice, become, perceive, understand, think, not hear · **To what, where:** sound, She, sounds, objects, change, voice

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To notice or become aware of something through the senses: perceive a sound.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:m1:1
# text = To notice or become aware of something through the senses: perceive a sound.
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	become	become	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	aware	aware	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	through	through	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	senses	sens	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	perceive	perceive	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	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 | **become** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | aware *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **perceive** | infinitive |  | a sound |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer sound=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 understand or think of something in a certain way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:m2:1
# text = To understand or think of something in a certain way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	understand	understand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	think	think	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understand** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | of something | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was perceived as shy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:m2e:1
# text = She was perceived as shy.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	perceived	perceive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	shy	shy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perceive** | past · passive |  | She |  |  |  | as shy | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Theme as shy=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some animals can perceive sounds we cannot hear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:x1:1
# text = Some animals can perceive sounds we cannot hear.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	perceive	perceive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perceive** | can | some animals | sounds |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer sound=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **hear** | can | we | sounds *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer sound=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats perceive objects by echoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:x2:1
# text = Bats perceive objects by echoes.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	perceive	perceive	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	objects	object	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	echoes	echo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perceive** | present | Bats | objects |  |  |  | by echoes | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer object=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He perceived a change in her voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:x3:1
# text = He perceived a change in her voice.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	perceived	perceive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perceive** | past | He | a change |  | her voice |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer change=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plan was perceived as unfair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:x4:1
# text = The plan was perceived as unfair.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	perceived	perceive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perceive** | past · passive |  | the plan |  |  |  | as unfair | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Theme as unfair=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Colour is perceived by cells in the eye.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:x5:1
# text = Colour is perceived by cells in the eye.
1	Colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	perceived	perceive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perceive** | present · passive | cells | Colour |  | the eye |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer subject=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How do others perceive our school?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:x6:1
# text = How do others perceive our school?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	perceive	perceive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perceive** | present · do-support | others | our school |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer school=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perceive:x7:1
# text = The Ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Ant	Ant	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	perceiving	perceive	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	design	design	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
8	stung	sting	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perceive** | gerund | the Ant *not said here* | Ant's design |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer design=Stimulus |
| 2 | **sting** | past | the Ant | him *= he* |  | the foot |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus he=Experiencer |
| 3 | **design** |  | Ant |  |  |  |  |  | nom design «act transitive»: poss=agent |

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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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