---
title: constant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «constant» in the school dictionary: Constant means happening all the time or again and again. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# constant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Constant, amount, you, car, constant crying, baby · **What happens:** mean, happen, stay, not change, be, drive · **To what, where:** same, number, maths, constant speed, water temperature, us

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Constant means happening all the time or again and again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:m1:1
# text = Constant means happening all the time or again and again.
1	Constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Constant |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** *not said to happen* | gerund | Constant *not said here* |  |  |  | time |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"constant noise".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:m1e:1
# text = "constant noise".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Constant means staying the same, not changing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:m2:1
# text = Constant means staying the same, not changing.
1	Constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	staying	stay	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Constant |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stay** *not said to happen* | gerund | Constant *not said here* | the same |  |  |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme same=Location |
| 3 | **not** **change** | gerund | Constant *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"drive at a constant speed".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:m2e:1
# text = "drive at a constant speed".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	drive	drive	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drive** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | a constant speed |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths and science, a constant is a number or amount that does not change, like the number of days in a week.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:m3:1
# text = In maths and science, a constant is a number or amount that does not change, like the number of days in a week.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	constant	constant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
14	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nmod	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a constant | a number or amount |  | maths and science |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **change** | present · do-support | amount | the number of days |  |  | week |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Constant means loyal and faithful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:m4:1
# text = Constant means loyal and faithful.
1	Constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	loyal	loyal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	faithful	faithful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Constant |  |  |  |  | loyal *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"a constant friend".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:m4e:1
# text = "a constant friend".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car travelled at a constant speed of 60 kilometres an hour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:x1:1
# text = The car travelled at a constant speed of 60 kilometres an hour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	travelled	travel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	60	60	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	kilometres	kilometre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | past | the car |  |  | a constant speed of 60 kilometres  a hour |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at speed=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep the water temperature constant during the experiment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:x2:1
# text = Keep the water temperature constant during the experiment.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	temperature	temperature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
6	during	during	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* | the water temperature |  |  |  | constant *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent temperature=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby's constant crying kept us awake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:x3:1
# text = The baby's constant crying kept us awake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	crying	crying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	awake	awake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the baby's constant crying | us |  |  |  | awake *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent we=Theme |
| 2 | **cry** |  | the baby |  |  |  |  |  | nom crying «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog was his constant companion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:x4:1
# text = The dog was his constant companion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	companion	companion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the dog | dog's constant companion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At a constant rate of 5 pages a day, 30 pages take 6 days.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:x5:1
# text = At a constant rate of 5 pages a day, 30 pages take 6 days.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	rate	rate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
11	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | 30 pages |  |  | a constant rate of 5 pages  a day | day |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent at rate=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a fair test, everything is constant except one thing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:x6:1
# text = In a fair test, everything is constant except one thing.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	except	except	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | everything |  |  | a fair test |  | except one thing; constant *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The constant rain spoiled the camping trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:x7:1
# text = The constant rain spoiled the camping trip.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	spoiled	spoil	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	camping	camping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spoil** | past | the constant rain | the camping trip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wife of the Viking lived in constant pain and sorrow about it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constant:x8:1
# text = The wife of the Viking lived in constant pain and sorrow about it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Viking	Viking	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	sorrow	sorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | the wife of the Viking |  |  | constant pain and sorrow about sorrow |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in pain=Location |

<!-- 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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