---
title: contend — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «contend» in the school dictionary: Contend with: to have to deal with a problem or difficulty: «Farmers have to contend with drought». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# contend

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Farmers, Five teams, something, She, plan · **What happens:** contend, have, deal, compete, win, say · **To what, where:** something, strong contender · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Contend with: to have to deal with a problem or difficulty: «Farmers have to contend with drought».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:m1:1
# text = Contend with: to have to deal with a problem or difficulty: «Farmers have to contend with drought».
1	Contend	contend	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	parataxis	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	deal	deal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
16	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	contend	contend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
19	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	drought	drought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contend** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **have** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **deal** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with a problem or difficulty | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with problem=Theme |
| 4 | **have** *in a quote* | present | Farmers |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **contend** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | Farmers *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with drought | vn battle-36.4 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with drought=Co-Agent |

<!-- .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 compete with others to win something: «Five teams are contending for the cup».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:m2:1
# text = To compete with others to win something: «Five teams are contending for the cup».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	compete	compete	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	Five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	teams	team	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	contending	contend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	appos	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **compete** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with others | vn battle-36.4 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with other=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **win** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **contend** *in a quote* | present · progressive | Five teams |  |  |  |  | for the cup | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say firmly that something is true, especially in an argument: «She contends that the plan will fail».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:m3:1
# text = To say firmly that something is true, especially in an argument: «She contends that the plan will fail».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	contends	contend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
17	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
20	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	fail	fail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | firmly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **contend** *in a quote* | present | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **fail** *in a quote* | future | the plan |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Explorers in Antarctica had to contend with freezing winds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:x1:1
# text = Explorers in Antarctica had to contend with freezing winds.
1	Explorers	explorer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Antarctica	Antarctica	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	contend	contend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	freezing	freezing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	winds	wind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Explorers in Antarctica |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **contend** | to-infinitive | Explorers in Antarctica *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with freezing winds | vn battle-36.4 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with wind=Co-Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Three schools are contending for the trophy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:x2:1
# text = Three schools are contending for the trophy.
1	Three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	schools	school	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	contending	contend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	trophy	trophy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contend** | present · progressive | Three schools |  |  |  |  | for the trophy | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist contends that the bones belong to a new species.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:x3:1
# text = The scientist contends that the bones belong to a new species.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	contends	contend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	belong	belong	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	species	species	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contend** | present | the scientist |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **belong** | present | the bones |  |  |  |  | to a new species | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team is a strong contender for the championship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:x4:1
# text = Our team is a strong contender for the championship.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	contender	contender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	championship	championship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Our team | a strong contender |  |  |  | for the championship | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teachers contend with noisy classrooms every day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:x5:1
# text = Teachers contend with noisy classrooms every day.
1	Teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	contend	contend	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	noisy	noisy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	classrooms	classroom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contend** | present | Teachers |  |  |  | day | with noisy classrooms | vn battle-36.4 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with classroom=Co-Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people contend that school should start later.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:x6:1
# text = Some people contend that school should start later.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	contend	contend	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contend** | present | some people |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **start** | should | school |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Various public performers contended for the prize.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contend:x7:1
# text = Various public performers contended for the prize.
1	Various	various	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	public	public	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	performers	performer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	contended	contend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contend** | past | Various public performers |  |  |  |  | for the prize | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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