---
title: abstain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «abstain» in the school dictionary: To abstain is to choose not to do something you might enjoy, like eating sweets or drinking alcohol. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# abstain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Grandad, they, She, 18, He · **What happens:** abstain, be, not do, enjoy, eat, drink · **To what, where:** something, sweets, alcohol, vote, sugar, Three pupils · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To abstain is to choose not to do something you might enjoy, like eating sweets or drinking alcohol.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstain:m1:1
# text = To abstain is to choose not to do something you might enjoy, like eating sweets or drinking alcohol.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	abstain	abstain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
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	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	enjoy	enjoy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
16	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	drinking	drink	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	conj	_	_
19	alcohol	alcohol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abstain** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | choose *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **enjoy** | might | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **eat** | gerund | you *not said here* | sweets |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Patient |
| 6 | **drink** | gerund | you *not said here* | alcohol |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alcohol=Patient |

<!-- .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 abstain in a vote is to choose not to vote for or against.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstain:m2:1
# text = To abstain in a vote is to choose not to vote for or against.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	abstain	abstain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	csubj	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	vote	vote	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	against	against	ADP	IN	_	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abstain** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a vote |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **choose** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | vote *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad abstains from sugar in his tea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstain:x1:1
# text = Grandad abstains from sugar in his tea.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	abstains	abstain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abstain** | present | Grandad |  |  | sugar |  | in Grandad's tea | vn refrain-69 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent from sugar=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Three pupils abstained in the class vote.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstain:x2:1
# text = Three pupils abstained in the class vote.
1	Three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	abstained	abstain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abstain** | participle |  | Three pupils *not said here* |  | the class vote |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
During the fast, they abstain from food until sunset.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstain:x3:1
# text = During the fast, they abstain from food until sunset.
1	During	during	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	abstain	abstain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	until	until	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sunset	sunset	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abstain** | present | they |  |  | food | sunset |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent from food=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She abstained from chocolate for a whole month.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstain:x4:1
# text = She abstained from chocolate for a whole month.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	abstained	abstain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	month	month	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abstain** | past | She |  |  | chocolate | month |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent from chocolate=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of 30 voters, 18 said yes, 9 said no, and 3 abstained.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstain:x5:1
# text = Of 30 voters, 18 said yes, 9 said no, and 3 abstained.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	voters	voter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	18	18	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nsubj	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	10	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	obl	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
11	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	abstained	abstain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | 18 |  |  |  |  | of 30 voters | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  | 9 |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent no=Topic |
| 3 | **abstain** | participle · passive |  | 3 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He abstained from arguing and stayed calm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstain:x6:1
# text = He abstained from arguing and stayed calm.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	abstained	abstain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	arguing	argue	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abstain** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **stay** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | calm *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstain:x7:1
# text = She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged him.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	abstained	abstain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	beating	beat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	encouraged	encourage	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **abstain** | participle · passive |  | She |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **beat** | gerund |  | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location he=Theme |
| 3 | **encourage** | past |  | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |

<!-- 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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