---
title: target — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «target» in the school dictionary: A target is a thing you aim at and try to hit, like the circle in archery or darts. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# target

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** target, you, goal, She, My, We · **What happens:** be, aim, try, hit, reach, target · **To what, where:** thing, circle, archery, target, 20 books, that

<!-- .vabout -->
«target» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [target in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/target.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A target is a thing you aim at and try to hit, like the circle in archery or darts.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:m1:1
# text = A target is a thing you aim at and try to hit, like the circle in archery or darts.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	target	target	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	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	aim	aim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	hit	hit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	circle	circle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	archery	archery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	darts	dart	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a target | a thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **aim** | present | you | a thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot thing=Theme |
| 3 | **try** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **hit** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the circle |  | archery or darts |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent circle=Theme in archery=Destination |

<!-- .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 -->
A goal or result you try to reach: a target of 20 books.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:m2:1
# text = A goal or result you try to reach: a target of 20 books.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present | a goal or result | a target of 20 books |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **reach** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a goal or result *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **target** |  |  | 20 books |  |  |  |  | nom target «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person or thing that is attacked or criticised.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:m3:1
# text = A person or thing that is attacked or criticised.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	attacked	attack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	parataxis	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	criticised	criticise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attack** | present · passive |  | that |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **criticise** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To target is to aim at or choose someone or something for an action.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:m4:1
# text = To target is to aim at or choose someone or something for an action.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	advcl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	aim	aim	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	conj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | aim *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She hit the middle of the target.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:x1:1
# text = She hit the middle of the target.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | past | She | the middle of the target |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme middle=Co-Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My target is to read 20 books this year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:x2:1
# text = My target is to read 20 books this year.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My target |  |  |  | year | read *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **target** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom target «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Throw the beanbag at the target.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:x3:1
# text = Throw the beanbag at the target.
1	Throw	throw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	beanbag	beanbag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | imperative | you *not said here* | the beanbag |  | the target |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent beanbag=Theme at target=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are on target to finish by lunch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:x4:1
# text = We are on target to finish by lunch.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	finish	finish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | We |  |  | target |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **finish** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | by lunch | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the four numbers to make the target number.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:x5:1
# text = Use the four numbers to make the target number.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the four numbers |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the target number |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset number=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scammers target people who are online a lot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:x6:1
# text = Scammers target people who are online a lot.
1	Scammers	scammer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	compound	_	_
2	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	online	online	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | target people | a lot |  |  |  | online *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The advert targets children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:x7:1
# text = The advert targets children.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	advert	advert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	targets	target	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **target** | present | the advert | children |  |  |  |  | vn confront-98 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shooters were thronging round the target, and Rudy was soon amongst them.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:target:x8:1
# text = The shooters were thronging round the target, and Rudy was soon amongst them.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shooters	shooter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	thronging	throng	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	round	round	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	target	target	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
10	Rudy	Rudy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	14	advmod	_	_
13	amongst	amongst	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throng** | past · progressive | the shooters |  |  |  |  | round the target | vn swarm-47.5.1-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | Rudy |  |  |  |  | amongst them *= they*; soon *property* | 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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