---
title: chronic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «chronic» in the school dictionary: A chronic illness or problem lasts a long time or keeps coming back. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# chronic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** chronic illness, chronic habit, person, film, Grandad, Asthma · **What happens:** last, keep, come back, be, have, not stop · **To what, where:** one, chronic back pain, chronic illness, chronic shortage, chronic worrier, chronic nail biter

<!-- .vabout -->
«chronic» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [chronic in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/chronic.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A chronic illness or problem lasts a long time or keeps coming back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:m1:1
# text = A chronic illness or problem lasts a long time or keeps coming back.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	lasts	last	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	coming	come	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	xcomp	_	_
13	back	back	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | present | a chronic illness or problem |  |  |  | time |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | present | a chronic illness or problem *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **come back** | gerund | a chronic illness or problem *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 chronic habit is one a person has had for a long time and cannot stop: «a chronic liar».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:m2:1
# text = A chronic habit is one a person has had for a long time and cannot stop: «a chronic liar».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	habit	habit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	had	have	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	parataxis	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	liar	liar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a chronic habit | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present · perfect | a person |  |  |  | time |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **stop** | can | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very bad: «The film was chronic».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:m3:1
# text = Very bad: «The film was chronic».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | past | the film |  |  |  |  | chronic *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad has chronic back pain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:x1:1
# text = Grandad has chronic back pain.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Grandad | chronic back pain |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pain=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Asthma is a chronic illness, but medicine helps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:x2:1
# text = Asthma is a chronic illness, but medicine helps.
1	Asthma	asthma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Asthma | a chronic illness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | medicine | a chronic illness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent illness=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town has a chronic shortage of doctors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:x3:1
# text = The town has a chronic shortage of doctors.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	shortage	shortage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the town | a chronic shortage of doctors |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shortage=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is a chronic worrier and frets about everything.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:x4:1
# text = He is a chronic worrier and frets about everything.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	worrier	worrier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	frets	fret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | a chronic worrier and frets about everything |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister is a chronic nail-biter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:x5:1
# text = My little sister is a chronic nail-biter.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
7	nail	nail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	biter	biter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My little sister | a chronic nail biter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That match was chronic; we lost ten nil! (UK, informal)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* That match was chronic; we lost ten nil!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:x6:1
# text = That match was chronic; we lost ten nil!
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
8	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	nil	nil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | that match |  |  |  |  | chronic *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | past | we | ten nil |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nil=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (UK, informal)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:x6:2
# text = (UK, informal)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chronic tiredness can be a sign that you need to see a doctor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chronic:x7:1
# text = Chronic tiredness can be a sign that you need to see a doctor.
1	Chronic	chronic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	tiredness	tiredness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | Chronic tiredness | a sign |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | you | a sign *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **see** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a sign *not said here* | a doctor |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer doctor=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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