---
title: trace — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «trace» in the school dictionary: To trace a picture is to copy it by drawing over its lines through thin paper. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# trace

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, trace, you, Little children, police, boat · **What happens:** trace, be, draw, come, go, follow · **To what, where:** picture, lines, something, signs, small amount, mark · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«trace» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [trace in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/trace.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To trace a picture is to copy it by drawing over its lines through thin paper.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:m1:1
# text = To trace a picture is to copy it by drawing over its lines through thin paper.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	trace	trace	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	copy	copy	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
11	over	over	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
14	through	through	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trace** | to-infinitive |  | a picture |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent picture=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | copy *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **draw** | gerund |  |  |  | picture's lines |  | through thin paper | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: 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 -->
To trace something is to find where it came from or where it went by following signs.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:m2:1
# text = To trace something is to find where it came from or where it went by following signs.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	trace	trace	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	9	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	14	advmod	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
15	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	following	follow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	_
17	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trace** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | find *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **come** | past | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **go** | past | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **follow** | gerund |  | signs |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trace is a very small amount or mark left behind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:m3:1
# text = A trace is a very small amount or mark left behind.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trace	trace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	behind	behind	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trace | a small amount or mark |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave behind** | participle |  | mark *not said here* |  |  |  | behind *property* | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To trace a line or shape is to draw it or follow it with your finger.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:m4:1
# text = To trace a line or shape is to draw it or follow it with your finger.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	trace	trace	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	follow	follow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trace** | to-infinitive |  | a line or shape |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent line=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | draw *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **follow** | infinitive |  | shape |  |  |  | with your finger | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trace the map onto the thin paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:x1:1
# text = Trace the map onto the thin paper.
1	Trace	trace	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trace** | imperative | you *not said here* | the map |  | the thin paper |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent map=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Little children trace the dotted letters to learn to write.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:x2:1
# text = Little children trace the dotted letters to learn to write.
1	Little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	trace	trace	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	dotted	dot	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trace** | present | Little children | the dotted letters |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Theme |
| 2 | **dot** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Little children *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **write** | to-infinitive | Little children *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police traced the stolen bike to a shop in town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:x3:1
# text = The police traced the stolen bike to a shop in town.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	traced	trace	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	stolen	steal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trace** | past | the police | the stolen bike |  | town |  | to a shop | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent bike=Theme in town=Destination |
| 2 | **steal** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boat disappeared without a trace.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:x4:1
# text = The boat disappeared without a trace.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	disappeared	disappear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trace	trace	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 | **disappear** | past | the boat |  |  |  |  | without a trace | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a trace of chocolate on his chin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:x5:1
# text = There was a trace of chocolate on his chin.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	trace	trace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	chin	chin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a trace of chocolate on trace's chin |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trace the path through the maze with your finger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:x6:1
# text = Trace the path through the maze with your finger.
1	Trace	trace	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	maze	maze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	finger	finger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trace** | imperative | you *not said here* | the path |  | the maze with your finger |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent path=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We traced our family back to Ireland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:x7:1
# text = We traced our family back to Ireland.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	traced	trace	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	back	back	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trace** | past | We | our family |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent family=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The water had a trace of salt in it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:x8:1
# text = The water had a trace of salt in it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trace	trace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the water | a trace of salt in salt |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trace=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not a trace of him was to be found!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trace:x9:1
# text = Not a trace of him was to be found!
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	trace	trace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past · passive |  | a trace of him |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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