---
title: spotter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spotter» in the school dictionary: A spotter is a person who watches out for something, especially as a hobby: a train spotter, a bird spotter, a plane spotter. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spotter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spotter, person, you, Grandpa, Bird spotters, Weather spotters · **What happens:** be, watch out, stand, catch, help, lose · **To what, where:** person, gym, you, control, someone, spotter

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spotter is a person who watches out for something, especially as a hobby: a train spotter, a bird spotter, a plane spotter.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:m1:1
# text = A spotter is a person who watches out for something, especially as a hobby: a train spotter, a bird spotter, a plane spotter.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spotter	spotter	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	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	hobby	hobby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
27	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	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 spotter | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **watch out** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | for something | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for something=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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: sport — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In gym and weightlifting, a spotter stands by to catch you or help if you lose control.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:m2:1
# text = In gym and weightlifting, a spotter stands by to catch you or help if you lose control.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	gym	gym	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	weightlifting	weightlifting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	stands	stand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
15	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	lose	lose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
18	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | present | a spotter |  |  | gym and weightlifting |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **catch** | to-infinitive | a spotter *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |
| 3 | **help** | infinitive | a spotter *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **lose** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | control |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent control=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spotter is someone who watches for danger or for an enemy and reports it, like a fire spotter or an aircraft spotter in wartime.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:m3:1
# text = A spotter is someone who watches for danger or for an enemy and reports it, like a fire spotter or an aircraft spotter in wartime.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	watches	watch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	reports	report	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	parataxis	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	aircraft	aircraft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
25	in	in	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	wartime	wartime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spotter | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **watch** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for danger or a enemy | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for danger=Theme |
| 3 | **report** | present |  | spotter |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa has been a train spotter since he was a boy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:x1:1
# text = Grandpa has been a train spotter since he was a boy.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
3	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present · perfect | Grandpa | a train spotter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Grandpa | a boy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spotter stood beside the trampoline.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:x2:1
# text = A spotter stood beside the trampoline.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	beside	beside	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trampoline	trampoline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | a spotter |  |  | the trampoline |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent beside trampoline=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never lift heavy weights without a spotter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:x3:1
# text = Never lift heavy weights without a spotter.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	lift	lift	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	weights	weight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **lift** | imperative | you *not said here* | heavy weights |  |  |  | without a spotter | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent weight=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bird spotters waited quietly in the hide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:x4:1
# text = Bird spotters waited quietly in the hide.
1	Bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	spotters	spotter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	waited	wait	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hide	hide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | past | Bird spotters |  |  | the hide |  | quietly *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in hide=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the war, spotters on rooftops watched for enemy planes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:x5:1
# text = In the war, spotters on rooftops watched for enemy planes.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	spotters	spotter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	rooftops	rooftop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	watched	watch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	planes	plane	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | participle |  | rooftops *not said here* |  |  |  | for enemy planes | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for plane=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weather spotters reported the tornado.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:x6:1
# text = Weather spotters reported the tornado.
1	Weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	spotters	spotter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	reported	report	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tornado	tornado	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **report** | past | Weather spotters | the tornado |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tornado=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The talent spotter asked the girl to join the football academy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotter:x7:1
# text = The talent spotter asked the girl to join the football academy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	talent	talent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	spotter	spotter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	asked	ask	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	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	academy	academy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the talent spotter |  | the girl |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent girl=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **join** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the talent spotter *not said here* | the football academy |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent academy=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 -->

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