discern Who acts: you, we, she, Babies, Good readers, clues · What happens: see, hear, notice, be, understand, recognise · To what, where: something, lighthouse, fog, pattern, numbers, voice
«discern» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: discern in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 To see, hear or notice something that is hard to see or hear.
The tree, 13 words mark advcl punct cc conj obj nsubj cop acl:relcl mark xcomp cc conj punct root To PART see VERB , PUNCT hear VERB or CCONJ notice VERB something PRON that PRON is AUX hard ADJ to PART see VERB or CCONJ hear VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 see mark 2 see see VERB VerbForm=Inf 4 hear advcl 3 , , PUNCT _ 4 hear punct 4 hear hear VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 5 or or CCONJ _ 6 notice cc 6 notice notice VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 4 hear conj 7 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 6 notice obj 8 that that PRON PronType=Rel 10 hard nsubj 9 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 10 hard cop 10 hard hard ADJ Degree=Pos 7 something acl:relcl 11 to to PART _ 12 see mark 12 see see VERB VerbForm=Inf 10 hard xcomp 13 or or CCONJ _ 14 hear cc 14 hear hear VERB VerbForm=Inf 12 see conj 15 . . PUNCT _ 4 hear punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 see to-infinitive you not said here vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer 2 hear imperative you not said here vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer 3 notice infinitive you not said here something vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus 4 is present hard property tree rules 5 see to-infinitive vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer 6 hear infinitive vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer
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 To understand or recognise something, often a difference, by thinking carefully.
mark cc conj obj punct advmod det conj punct mark advcl advmod punct root To PART understand VERB or CCONJ recognise VERB something PRON , PUNCT often ADV a DET difference NOUN , PUNCT by SCONJ thinking VERB carefully ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 understand mark 2 understand understand VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 3 or or CCONJ _ 4 recognise cc 4 recognise recognise VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 2 understand conj 5 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 4 recognise obj 6 , , PUNCT _ 9 difference punct 7 often often ADV _ 9 difference advmod 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 9 difference det 9 difference difference NOUN Number=Sing 5 something conj 10 , , PUNCT _ 12 thinking punct 11 by by SCONJ _ 12 thinking mark 12 thinking think VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 4 recognise advcl 13 carefully carefully ADV _ 12 thinking advmod 14 . . PUNCT _ 2 understand punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 understand to-infinitive vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer 2 recognise infinitive something vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus 3 think speech: other gerund carefully property vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
Meaning 3 Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.
To tell apart, such as right from wrong.
mark advmod punct case fixed ccomp case obl punct root To PART tell VERB apart ADV , PUNCT such ADJ as ADP right ADJ from ADP wrong ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 tell mark 2 tell tell VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 3 apart apart ADV _ 2 tell advmod 4 , , PUNCT _ 7 right punct 5 such such ADJ Degree=Pos ExtPos=ADP 7 right case 6 as as ADP _ 5 such fixed 7 right right ADJ Degree=Pos 2 tell ccomp 8 from from ADP _ 9 wrong case 9 wrong wrong ADJ Degree=Pos 7 right obl 10 . . PUNCT _ 2 tell punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 tell apart speech: assert to-infinitive apart property vn distinguish-23.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent
Example 1 Through the fog we could just discern the lighthouse.
case det obl nsubj aux advmod det obj punct root Through ADP the DET fog NOUN we PRON could AUX just ADV discern VERB the DET lighthouse NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Through through ADP _ 3 fog case 2 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 fog det 3 fog fog NOUN Number=Sing 7 discern obl 4 we we PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=1 PronType=Prs 7 discern nsubj 5 could could AUX VerbForm=Fin 7 discern aux 6 just just ADV _ 7 discern advmod 7 discern discern VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 lighthouse det 9 lighthouse lighthouse NOUN Number=Sing 7 discern obj 10 . . PUNCT _ 7 discern punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 discern could we the lighthouse the fog vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer lighthouse=Stimulus
Example 2 Can you discern a pattern in these numbers?
aux nsubj det obj case det nmod punct root Can AUX you PRON discern VERB a DET pattern NOUN in ADP these DET numbers NOUN ? PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 discern aux 2 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 3 discern nsubj 3 discern discern VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 pattern det 5 pattern pattern NOUN Number=Sing 3 discern obj 6 in in ADP _ 8 numbers case 7 these this DET Number=Plur PronType=Dem 8 numbers det 8 numbers number NOUN Number=Plur 5 pattern nmod 9 ? ? PUNCT _ 3 discern punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 discern can you a pattern this numbers vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer pattern=Stimulus
Example 3 It was hard to discern what she meant.
expl cop mark csubj obj nsubj acl:relcl punct root It PRON was AUX hard ADJ to PART discern VERB what PRON she PRON meant VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 It it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 3 hard expl 2 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 hard cop 3 hard hard ADJ Degree=Pos root root 4 to to PART _ 5 discern mark 5 discern discern VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 hard csubj 6 what what PRON PronType=Int 5 discern obj 7 she she PRON Case=Nom Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 8 meant nsubj 8 meant mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 6 what acl:relcl 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 hard punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is past hard property tree rules 2 discern to-infinitive vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer what=Stimulus 3 mean past she vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent
Example 4 Babies soon learn to discern their mother's voice.
nsubj advmod mark xcomp nmod:poss nmod:poss case obj punct root Babies NOUN soon ADV learn VERB to PART discern VERB their PRON mother NOUN 's PART voice NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Babies baby NOUN Number=Plur 3 learn nsubj 2 soon soon ADV Degree=Pos 3 learn advmod 3 learn learn VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 to to PART _ 5 discern mark 5 discern discern VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 learn xcomp 6 their their PRON Case=Gen Number=Plur Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 7 mother nmod:poss 7 mother mother NOUN Number=Sing 9 voice nmod:poss 8 's 's PART _ 7 mother case 9 voice voice NOUN Number=Sing 5 discern obj 10 . . PUNCT _ 3 learn punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 learn present Babies soon property vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 discern to-infinitive Babies not said here Babies's mother's voice vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer voice=Stimulus
Example 5 Good readers discern clues the writer has hidden.
amod nsubj obj det nsubj:pass aux acl:relcl punct root Good ADJ readers NOUN discern VERB clues NOUN the DET writer NOUN has AUX hidden VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Good good ADJ Degree=Pos 2 readers amod 2 readers reader NOUN Number=Plur 3 discern nsubj 3 discern discern VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 clues clue NOUN Number=Plur 3 discern obj 5 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 6 writer det 6 writer writer NOUN Number=Sing 8 hidden nsubj:pass 7 has have AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 8 hidden aux 8 hidden hide VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 4 clues acl:relcl 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 discern punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 discern present Good readers clues vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer clue=Stimulus 2 hide present · perfect · passive clues not said here the writer vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient
Example 6 He could not discern any difference between the two cakes.
nsubj aux advmod det obj case det nummod nmod punct root He PRON could AUX not PART discern VERB any DET difference NOUN between ADP the DET two NUM cakes NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 He he PRON Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 4 discern nsubj 2 could could AUX VerbForm=Fin 4 discern aux 3 not not PART Polarity=Neg 4 discern advmod 4 discern discern VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 5 any any DET PronType=Ind 6 difference det 6 difference difference NOUN Number=Sing 4 discern obj 7 between between ADP _ 10 cakes case 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 10 cakes det 9 two two NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 10 cakes nummod 10 cakes cake NOUN Number=Plur 6 difference nmod 11 . . PUNCT _ 4 discern punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not discern could He any difference between the two cakes vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer difference=Stimulus
Example 7 The judge must discern truth from lies.
det nsubj aux obj case obl punct root The DET judge NOUN must AUX discern VERB truth NOUN from ADP lies NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 judge det 2 judge judge NOUN Number=Sing 4 discern nsubj 3 must must AUX VerbForm=Fin 4 discern aux 4 discern discern VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 5 truth truth NOUN Number=Sing 4 discern obj 6 from from ADP _ 7 lies case 7 lies lie NOUN Number=Plur 4 discern obl 8 . . PUNCT _ 4 discern punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 discern must the judge truth lies vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer truth=Stimulus
Example 8 So rapidly did they grow, that Cadmus now discerned the fierce countenance of a man beneath every one.
The tree, 18 words advmod advmod aux nsubj punct mark nsubj advmod conj det amod obj case det nmod case det obl punct root So ADV rapidly ADV did AUX they PRON grow VERB , PUNCT that SCONJ Cadmus PROPN now ADV discerned VERB the DET fierce ADJ countenance NOUN of ADP a DET man NOUN beneath ADP every DET one NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 So so ADV _ 5 grow advmod 2 rapidly rapidly ADV _ 5 grow advmod 3 did do AUX Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 5 grow aux 4 they they PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 5 grow nsubj 5 grow grow VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 6 , , PUNCT _ 10 discerned punct 7 that that SCONJ _ 10 discerned mark 8 Cadmus Cadmus PROPN Number=Sing 10 discerned nsubj 9 now now ADV PronType=Dem 10 discerned advmod 10 discerned discern VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 5 grow conj 11 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 13 countenance det 12 fierce fierce ADJ Degree=Pos 13 countenance amod 13 countenance countenance NOUN Number=Sing 10 discerned obj 14 of of ADP _ 16 man case 15 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 16 man det 16 man man NOUN Number=Sing 13 countenance nmod 17 beneath beneath ADP _ 19 one case 18 every every DET PronType=Tot 19 one det 19 one one NOUN Number=Sing 10 discerned obl 20 . . PUNCT _ 5 grow punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 grow past · do-support they rapidly property vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme 2 discern past Cadmus the fierce countenance of a man now beneath every one vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer countenance=Stimulus
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.
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