witness Who acts: witness, person, something, they, someone, we · What happens: be, see, happen, tell, know, watch · To what, where: person, something, court, someone, important paper, paper · Speech: someone speaks here
«witness» 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: witness in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 A witness is a person who sees something happen, especially an accident or a crime.
The tree, 15 words det nsubj cop det nsubj acl:relcl obj xcomp punct advmod det conj cc det conj punct root A DET witness NOUN is AUX a DET person NOUN who PRON sees VERB something PRON happen VERB , PUNCT especially ADV an DET accident NOUN or CCONJ a DET crime NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 witness det 2 witness witness NOUN Number=Sing 5 person nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 person cop 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 person det 5 person person NOUN Number=Sing root root 6 who who PRON PronType=Rel 7 sees nsubj 7 sees see VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 person acl:relcl 8 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 7 sees obj 9 happen happen VERB VerbForm=Inf 7 sees xcomp 10 , , PUNCT _ 13 accident punct 11 especially especially ADV _ 13 accident advmod 12 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 13 accident det 13 accident accident NOUN Number=Sing 5 person conj 14 or or CCONJ _ 16 crime cc 15 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 16 crime det 16 crime crime NOUN Number=Sing 13 accident conj 17 . . PUNCT _ 5 person punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present a witness a person and a accident or a crime tree rules 2 see present a person and a accident or a crime something tree rules 3 happen infinitive something not said here vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme
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 A witness is a person who tells a court what they know or saw.
The tree, 14 words det nsubj cop det nsubj acl:relcl det iobj obj nsubj ccomp cc conj punct root A DET witness NOUN is AUX a DET person NOUN who PRON tells VERB a DET court NOUN what PRON they PRON know VERB or CCONJ saw VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 witness det 2 witness witness NOUN Number=Sing 5 person nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 person cop 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 person det 5 person person NOUN Number=Sing root root 6 who who PRON PronType=Rel 7 tells nsubj 7 tells tell VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 person acl:relcl 8 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 9 court det 9 court court NOUN Number=Sing 7 tells iobj 10 what what PRON PronType=Int 12 know obj 11 they they PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs 12 know nsubj 12 know know VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 7 tells ccomp 13 or or CCONJ _ 14 saw cc 14 saw see VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 12 know conj 15 . . PUNCT _ 5 person punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present a witness a person tree rules 2 tell speech: assert present a person a court vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent court=Recipient clause=Topic 3 know present they vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer what=Stimulus 4 see past they not said here vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer
Meaning 3 A witness is a person who watches someone sign an important paper and then signs it too.
The tree, 17 words det nsubj cop det nsubj acl:relcl obj xcomp det amod obj cc advmod conj obj advmod punct root A DET witness NOUN is AUX a DET person NOUN who PRON watches VERB someone PRON sign VERB an DET important ADJ paper NOUN and CCONJ then ADV signs VERB it PRON too ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 witness det 2 witness witness NOUN Number=Sing 5 person nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 person cop 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 person det 5 person person NOUN Number=Sing root root 6 who who PRON PronType=Rel 7 watches nsubj 7 watches watch VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 person acl:relcl 8 someone someone PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 7 watches obj 9 sign sign VERB VerbForm=Inf 7 watches xcomp 10 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 12 paper det 11 important important ADJ Degree=Pos 12 paper amod 12 paper paper NOUN Number=Sing 9 sign obj 13 and and CCONJ _ 15 signs cc 14 then then ADV PronType=Dem 15 signs advmod 15 signs sign VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 7 watches conj 16 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 15 signs obj 17 too too ADV _ 15 signs advmod 18 . . PUNCT _ 5 person punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present a witness a person tree rules 2 watch present a person someone tree rules 3 sign infinitive someone not said here a important paper vn image_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent paper=Destination 4 sign present a person not said here paper then vn image_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Destination
Meaning 4 Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.
To witness something means to see it happen.
mark compound nsubj mark xcomp obj xcomp punct root To PART witness NOUN something PRON means VERB to PART see VERB it PRON happen VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 witness mark 2 witness witness NOUN Number=Sing 3 something compound 3 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 4 means nsubj 4 means mean VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 5 to to PART _ 6 see mark 6 see see VERB VerbForm=Inf 4 means xcomp 7 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 6 see obj 8 happen happen VERB VerbForm=Inf 6 see xcomp 9 . . PUNCT _ 4 means punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 mean present something vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 see not said to happen to-infinitive something not said here it tree rules 3 happen infinitive vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:
"we witnessed a rainbow over the sea".
punct nsubj det obj case det obl punct punct root " PUNCT we PRON witnessed VERB a DET rainbow NOUN over ADP the DET sea NOUN " PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 " " PUNCT _ 3 witnessed punct 2 we we PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=1 PronType=Prs 3 witnessed nsubj 3 witnessed witness VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=1 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 rainbow det 5 rainbow rainbow NOUN Number=Sing 3 witnessed obj 6 over over ADP _ 8 sea case 7 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 8 sea det 8 sea sea NOUN Number=Sing 3 witnessed obl 9 " " PUNCT _ 3 witnessed punct 10 . . PUNCT _ 3 witnessed punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 witness in a quote past we a rainbow the sea vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rainbow=Beneficiary
Example 1 A witness saw the car go through the red light.
det nsubj det nsubj ccomp case det amod obl punct root A DET witness NOUN saw VERB the DET car NOUN go VERB through ADP the DET red ADJ light NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 witness det 2 witness witness NOUN Number=Sing 3 saw nsubj 3 saw see VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 5 car det 5 car car NOUN Number=Sing 6 go nsubj 6 go go VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 3 saw ccomp 7 through through ADP _ 10 light case 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 10 light det 9 red red ADJ Degree=Pos 10 light amod 10 light light NOUN Number=Sing 6 go obl 11 . . PUNCT _ 3 saw punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 see past a witness vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V S_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus 2 go present the car the red light vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial_location»: agent=Theme through light=Initial_Location
Example 2 The detective spoke to three witnesses.
det nsubj case nummod obl punct root The DET detective NOUN spoke VERB to ADP three NUM witnesses NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 detective det 2 detective detective NOUN Number=Sing 3 spoke nsubj 3 spoke speak VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 to to ADP _ 6 witnesses case 5 three three NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 6 witnesses nummod 6 witnesses witness NOUN Number=Plur 3 spoke obl 7 . . PUNCT _ 3 spoke punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 speak speech: other past the detective to three witnesses vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to witness=Co-Agent
Example 3 She was called as a witness in court.
nsubj:pass aux:pass case det obl case nmod punct root She PRON was AUX called VERB as ADP a DET witness NOUN in ADP court NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 She she PRON Case=Nom Gender=Fem Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 3 called nsubj:pass 2 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 called aux:pass 3 called call VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass root root 4 as as ADP _ 6 witness case 5 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 6 witness det 6 witness witness NOUN Number=Sing 3 called obl 7 in in ADP _ 8 court case 8 court court NOUN Number=Sing 6 witness nmod 9 . . PUNCT _ 3 called punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 call past · passive She as a witness in court vn initiate_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient
Example 4 We witnessed an amazing sunset.
nsubj det amod obj punct root We PRON witnessed VERB an DET amazing ADJ sunset NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 We we PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=1 PronType=Prs 2 witnessed nsubj 2 witnessed witness VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=1 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 sunset det 4 amazing amazing ADJ Degree=Pos 5 sunset amod 5 sunset sunset NOUN Number=Sing 2 witnessed obj 6 . . PUNCT _ 2 witnessed punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 witness past We sunset vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent
Example 5 My aunt signed as a witness to the will.
nmod:poss nsubj case det obl case det conj punct root My PRON aunt NOUN signed VERB as ADP a DET witness NOUN to ADP the DET will AUX . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 My my PRON Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 2 aunt nmod:poss 2 aunt aunt NOUN Number=Sing 3 signed nsubj 3 signed sign VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass root root 4 as as ADP _ 6 witness case 5 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 6 witness det 6 witness witness NOUN Number=Sing 3 signed obl 7 to to ADP _ 9 will case 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 will det 9 will will AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 signed conj 10 . . PUNCT _ 3 signed punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 sign participle My aunt as a witness vn image_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent
Example 6 Did anyone witness the accident?
compound obj det obj punct root Did VERB anyone PRON witness NOUN the DET accident NOUN ? PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Did do VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 2 anyone anyone PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 3 witness compound 3 witness witness NOUN Number=Sing 1 Did obj 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 5 accident det 5 accident accident NOUN Number=Sing 1 Did obj 6 ? ? PUNCT _ 1 Did punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 do past anyone witness tree rules
Example 7 Five people saw it, so there were 5 witnesses.
nummod nsubj obj punct advmod expl conj nummod nsubj punct root Five NUM people NOUN saw VERB it PRON , PUNCT so ADV there PRON were VERB 5 NUM witnesses NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Five five NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 2 people nummod 2 people people NOUN Number=Plur 3 saw nsubj 3 saw see VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 3 saw obj 5 , , PUNCT _ 8 were punct 6 so so ADV _ 8 were advmod 7 there there PRON PronType=Dem 8 were expl 8 were be VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 saw conj 9 5 5 NUM NumForm=Digit NumType=Card 10 witnesses nummod 10 witnesses witness NOUN Number=Plur 8 were nsubj 11 . . PUNCT _ 3 saw punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 see past Five people it vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus 2 be past 5 witnesses there vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme
Example 8 It was a terrible sight for a little girl to witness.
nsubj cop det amod case det amod nmod mark acl punct root It PRON was AUX a DET terrible ADJ sight NOUN for ADP a DET little ADJ girl NOUN to PART witness NOUN . 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 5 sight nsubj 2 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 5 sight cop 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 sight det 4 terrible terrible ADJ Degree=Pos 5 sight amod 5 sight sight NOUN Number=Sing root root 6 for for ADP _ 9 girl case 7 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 9 girl det 8 little little ADJ Degree=Pos 9 girl amod 9 girl girl NOUN Number=Sing 5 sight nmod 10 to to PART _ 11 witness mark 11 witness witness NOUN Number=Sing 9 girl acl 12 . . PUNCT _ 5 sight punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a past It a terrible sight for a little girl tree rules
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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