---
title: spotting — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spotting» in the school dictionary: Spotting means noticing or seeing something, often something hard to find. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spotting

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Spotting, something, hobby, bird spotting, She, her · **What happens:** mean, notice, see, find, be, watch · **To what, where:** something, hobby, things, sports, someone, mistakes

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spotting means noticing or seeing something, often something hard to find.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:m1:1
# text = Spotting means noticing or seeing something, often something hard to find.
1	Spotting	spotting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	noticing	notice	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	seeing	see	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	appos	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Spotting |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **notice** *not said to happen* | gerund | Spotting *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **see** | gerund | Spotting *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 4 | **find** | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Spotting is a hobby of watching for and recording things, like bird spotting or train spotting.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:m2:1
# text = Spotting is a hobby of watching for and recording things, like bird spotting or train spotting.
1	Spotting	spotting	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	hobby	hobby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	watching	watch	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	recording	record	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	spotting	spotting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	spotting	spot	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Spotting | a hobby and bird spotting or train |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **watch** | gerund | a hobby and bird spotting or train *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **record** | gerund | a hobby and bird spotting or train *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 4 | **spot** | gerund | bird spotting or train *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In sports and gym, spotting means standing by to help and catch someone so they do not get hurt.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:m3:1
# text = In sports and gym, spotting means standing by to help and catch someone so they do not get hurt.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	gym	gym	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	spotting	spotting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	xcomp	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
14	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
17	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
19	get	get	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	aux:pass	_	_
20	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | spotting |  |  | sports and gym |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stand by** *not said to happen* | gerund | spotting *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive | spotting *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **catch** | infinitive | spotting *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 5 | **not** **hurt** | present · passive · do-support |  | sports *= sport* |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is good at spotting mistakes in her work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:x1:1
# text = She is good at spotting mistakes in her work.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	spotting	spot	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **spot** | gerund | She *not said here* | mistakes |  |  |  | in her work | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent mistake=Destination in work=Theme |
| 3 | **work** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We went bird spotting in the park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:x2:1
# text = We went bird spotting in the park.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	spotting	spot	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | We | bird |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bird=Theme |
| 2 | **spot** | gerund | bird *not said here* |  |  |  |  | in the park | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent in park=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you play «spot the difference»? I'm spotting three already.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Can you play «spot the difference»?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:x3:1
# text = Can you play «spot the difference»?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	spot	spot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	difference	difference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **spot** *in a quote* | infinitive | you *not said here* | the difference |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme difference=Destination |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* I'm spotting three already.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:x3:2
# text = I'm spotting three already.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	spotting	spot	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obj	_	_
5	already	already	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spot** | present · progressive | I | three |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent three=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lifeguard is spotting swimmers who need help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:x4:1
# text = The lifeguard is spotting swimmers who need help.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lifeguard	lifeguard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	spotting	spot	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	swimmers	swimmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spot** | present · progressive | the lifeguard | swimmers |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme swimmer=Destination |
| 2 | **need** | present | swimmers | help |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot help=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spotting a pattern helps you find the next number.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:x5:1
# text = Spotting a pattern helps you find the next number.
1	Spotting	spot	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spot** | gerund |  | a pattern |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme pattern=Destination |
| 2 | **help** | present | Spotting | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **find** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the next number |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach was spotting me on the balance beam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:x6:1
# text = The coach was spotting me on the balance beam.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	spotting	spot	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	balance	balance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	beam	beam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spot** | past · progressive | the coach |  | me | the balance beam |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme i=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep spotting for cars before you cross.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotting:x7:1
# text = Keep spotting for cars before you cross.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	spotting	spot	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	cross	cross	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spot** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for cars | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 3 | **cross** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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