---
title: sonar — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sonar» in the school dictionary: Sonar is a way of finding things under water by sending out sound waves and listening for their echoes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sonar

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Sonar, way, machine, Animals, natural kind, Fishing boats · **What happens:** be, find, send out, listen, do, use · **To what, where:** way, things, water, sound waves, machine, this · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sonar» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [sonar in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sonar.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sonar is a way of finding things under water by sending out sound waves and listening for their echoes.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonar:m1:1
# text = Sonar is a way of finding things under water by sending out sound waves and listening for their echoes.
1	Sonar	sonar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	finding	find	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	sending	send	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
13	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	listening	listen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	echoes	echo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sonar | a way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | gerund | a way *not said here* | things |  | water |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |
| 3 | **send out** | gerund | a way *not said here* | sound waves |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wave=Theme |
| 4 | **listen** | gerund | a way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for waves's echoes | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for echo=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sonar is also the machine that does this, used by ships and submarines.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonar:m2:1
# text = Sonar is also the machine that does this, used by ships and submarines.
1	Sonar	sonar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	advcl	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	ships	ship	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	submarines	submarine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sonar | the machine |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | the machine | this |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent this=Eventuality |
| 3 | **use** | participle | the machine *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by ships and submarines | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Animals such as bats and dolphins use a natural kind of sonar called echolocation.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonar:m3:1
# text = Animals such as bats and dolphins use a natural kind of sonar called echolocation.
1	Animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	4	case	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	2	fixed	_	_
4	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	sonar	sonar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
13	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
14	echolocation	echolocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Animals such bats and dolphins | a natural kind of sonar |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kind=Patient |
| 2 | **call** | participle | a natural kind of sonar *not said here* | echolocation |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The submarine used sonar to find the shipwreck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonar:x1:1
# text = The submarine used sonar to find the shipwreck.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	submarine	submarine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	sonar	sonar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	shipwreck	shipwreck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive |  | the shipwreck |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shipwreck=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fishing boats use sonar to find shoals of fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonar:x2:1
# text = Fishing boats use sonar to find shoals of fish.
1	Fishing	fishing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	boats	boat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sonar	sonar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	shoals	shoal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Fishing boats | sonar |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sonar=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | Fishing boats *not said here* | shoals of fish |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shoal=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bats use a kind of natural sonar to catch moths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonar:x3:1
# text = Bats use a kind of natural sonar to catch moths.
1	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	sonar	sonar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	moths	moth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Bats | a kind of natural sonar |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kind=Patient |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | Bats *not said here* | moths |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent moth=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sonar screen showed a large shape below the ship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonar:x4:1
# text = The sonar screen showed a large shape below the ship.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sonar	sonar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	screen	screen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	below	below	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the sonar screen | a large shape |  | the ship |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent shape=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sonar works by sending out sound and listening for the echo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonar:x5:1
# text = Sonar works by sending out sound and listening for the echo.
1	Sonar	sonar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	sending	send	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	listening	listen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	echo	echo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | Sonar |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **send out** | gerund | Sonar *not said here* | sound |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=Theme |
| 3 | **listen** | gerund | Sonar *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the echo | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for echo=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dolphins find food with echolocation, which is like sonar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sonar:x6:1
# text = Dolphins find food with echolocation, which is like sonar.
1	Dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	echolocation	echolocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sonar	sonar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | present | Dolphins | food |  |  |  | with echolocation and sonar | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | echolocation and sonar |  |  |  |  | like sonar | tree rules |

<!-- 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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