---
title: surveillance — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «surveillance» in the school dictionary: Surveillance is carefully watching a person, place or activity, often secretly, to check for crime or danger or to collect information. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# surveillance

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Surveillance, shop, police, Spies, lot, Doctors · **What happens:** watch, check, collect, mean, use, have · **To what, where:** person, information, cameras, equipment, surveillance cameras, door

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Surveillance is carefully watching a person, place or activity, often secretly, to check for crime or danger or to collect information.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surveillance:m1:1
# text = Surveillance is carefully watching a person, place or activity, often secretly, to check for crime or danger or to collect information.
1	Surveillance	surveillance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	watching	watch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	activity	activity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	collect	collect	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
24	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | present · progressive | Surveillance | a person and place or activity |  |  |  | carefully, secretly *property* | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 2 | **check** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for crime or danger | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent for crime=Attribute |
| 3 | **collect** | to-infinitive |  | information |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent information=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 -->
Surveillance can mean the cameras and equipment used for watching, such as CCTV.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surveillance:m2:1
# text = Surveillance can mean the cameras and equipment used for watching, such as CCTV.
1	Surveillance	surveillance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cameras	camera	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	equipment	equipment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	watching	watch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	CCTV	CCTV	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Surveillance | the cameras and equipment |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent camera=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | equipment *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **watch** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | such CCTV | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop has surveillance cameras near the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surveillance:x1:1
# text = The shop has surveillance cameras near the door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	surveillance	surveillance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cameras	camera	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	near	near	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the shop | surveillance cameras |  | the door |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent camera=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police kept the house under surveillance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surveillance:x2:1
# text = The police kept the house under surveillance.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	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	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	surveillance	surveillance	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 | **keep** | past | the police | the house |  | surveillance |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent house=Theme under surveillance=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spies use surveillance to gather secrets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surveillance:x3:1
# text = Spies use surveillance to gather secrets.
1	Spies	spy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	surveillance	surveillance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	gather	gather	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	secrets	secret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Spies | surveillance |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent surveillance=Patient |
| 2 | **gather** | to-infinitive | Spies *not said here* | secrets |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a lot of CCTV surveillance in big cities.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surveillance:x4:1
# text = There is a lot of CCTV surveillance in big cities.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	CCTV	CCTV	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	surveillance	surveillance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a lot of CCTV surveillance in big cities |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doctors use surveillance to spot new flu outbreaks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surveillance:x5:1
# text = Doctors use surveillance to spot new flu outbreaks.
1	Doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	surveillance	surveillance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	spot	spot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	outbreaks	outbreak	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Doctors | surveillance |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent surveillance=Patient |
| 2 | **spot** | to-infinitive | Doctors *not said here* | new flu outbreaks |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme outbreak=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people worry that too much surveillance harms privacy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surveillance:x6:1
# text = Some people worry that too much surveillance harms privacy.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	worry	worry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	surveillance	surveillance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	harms	harm	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	privacy	privacy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **worry** | present | some people |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **harm** | present | much surveillance | privacy |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus privacy=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bird watchers' surveillance of the nest lasted weeks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:surveillance:x7:1
# text = The bird watchers' surveillance of the nest lasted weeks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	watchers	watcher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	surveillance	surveillance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	lasted	last	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | past | the bird watchers's surveillance of the nest |  |  |  | week |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

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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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