---
title: sighting — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sighting» in the school dictionary: A sighting is an occasion when someone sees something rare, unusual or wanted: a bird, a whale, a UFO or a missing person. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sighting

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sighting, someone, telescope, rare sighting, class, Police · **What happens:** be, see, want, catch, aim, sight · **To what, where:** occasion, something, ing form, sight, gun, kingfisher

<!-- .vabout -->
«sighting» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [sighting in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sighting.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sighting is an occasion when someone sees something rare, unusual or wanted: a bird, a whale, a UFO or a missing person.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sighting:m1:1
# text = A sighting is an occasion when someone sees something rare, unusual or wanted: a bird, a whale, a UFO or a missing person.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sighting	sighting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	occasion	occasion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sees	see	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	rare	rare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	unusual	unusual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	UFO	ufo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sighting | a occasion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | present | someone | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 3 | **want** | past | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

<!-- .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 -->
«Sighting» is also the -ing form of «sight» (to see or catch sight of), or of aiming a gun or telescope (sighting it).

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sighting:m2:1
# text = «Sighting» is also the -ing form of «sight» (to see or catch sight of), or of aiming a gun or telescope (sighting it).
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Sighting	sighting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	ing	ing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	sight	sight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	see	see	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	catch	catch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
19	sight	sight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
25	aiming	aim	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	advcl	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	gun	gun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obj	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	telescope	telescope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	conj	_	_
30	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	sighting	sight	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	29	acl	_	_
32	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	31	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sighting | the ing form |  |  |  | of sight | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **catch** | infinitive |  | sight |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sight=Theme |
| 4 | **aim** | gerund |  | a gun or telescope |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot gun=Theme |
| 5 | **sight** | gerund | telescope *not said here* | sight |  |  |  |  | vn sight-30.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a rare sighting of a kingfisher by the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sighting:x1:1
# text = There was a rare sighting of a kingfisher by the river.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	rare	rare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sighting	sighting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	kingfisher	kingfisher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a rare sighting of a kingfisher by the river |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sight** |  |  | a kingfisher by the river |  |  |  |  | nom sighting «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class recorded ten bird sightings in one hour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sighting:x2:1
# text = Our class recorded ten bird sightings in one hour.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	recorded	record	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	sightings	sighting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **record** | past | Our class | ten bird sightings |  |  | hour |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sighting=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police asked for any sightings of the missing dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sighting:x3:1
# text = Police asked for any sightings of the missing dog.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	sightings	sighting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Police |  |  |  |  | for any sightings of the missing dog | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sight** |  |  | the missing dog |  |  |  |  | nom sighting «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The first sighting of land made the sailors cheer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sighting:x4:1
# text = The first sighting of land made the sailors cheer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	sighting	sighting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	cheer	cheer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the first sighting of land |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cheer** | present | the sailors |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **sight** |  |  | land |  |  |  |  | nom sighting «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There have been many UFO sightings, but none has been proved.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sighting:x5:1
# text = There have been many UFO sightings, but none has been proved.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	cop	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	UFO	ufo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	sightings	sighting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	none	none	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	12	nsubj	_	_
10	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	proved	prove	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present |  |  |  | there |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | participle |  | many UFO sightings |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **prove** | present · perfect · passive |  | none |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tally chart showed sightings of each bird.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sighting:x6:1
# text = The tally chart showed sightings of each bird.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tally	tally	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	chart	chart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	sightings	sighting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the tally chart | sightings of each bird |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent sighting=Recipient |
| 2 | **sight** |  |  | each bird |  |  |  |  | nom sighting «act transitive»: of=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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