---
title: continuous — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «continuous» in the school dictionary: Going on without stopping or breaking: continuous rain. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# continuous

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Going, measurements, I, It, you, She · **What happens:** go on, stop, break, be, form, take · **To what, where:** continuous rain, verb, value, range, shape, one continuous line · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«continuous» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [continuous in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/continuous.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Going on without stopping or breaking: continuous rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:m1:1
# text = Going on without stopping or breaking: continuous rain.
1	Going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	stopping	stop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go on** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn function-105.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **stop** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **break** | gerund | Going | continuous rain |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
Without gaps or spaces: a continuous line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:m2:1
# text = Without gaps or spaces: a continuous line.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	gaps	gap	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	spaces	space	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The continuous (progressive) form of a verb, with be + -ing.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:m3:1
# text = The continuous (progressive) form of a verb, with be + -ing.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	progressive	progressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	cop	_	_
13	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	15	cc	_	_
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	ing	ing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with ing | tree rules |
| 2 | **form** |  |  | a verb |  |  |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: of=patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I am reading".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:m3e:1
# text = "I am reading".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** *in a quote* | present · progressive | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Continuous data: measurements that can take any value in a range, like height or time, not just whole numbers.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:m4:1
# text = Continuous data: measurements that can take any value in a range, like height or time, not just whole numbers.
1	Continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	measurements	measurement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	value	value	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	range	range	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	height	height	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
20	just	just	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
21	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | can | measurements | any value |  | a range |  | like height or time and whole numbers | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent value=Value in range=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was continuous rain all day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:x1:1
# text = It was continuous rain all day.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | continuous rain |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Draw the shape in one continuous line without lifting your pencil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:x2:1
# text = Draw the shape in one continuous line without lifting your pencil.
1	Draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
6	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	lifting	lift	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | imperative | you *not said here* | the shape |  | one continuous line |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent shape=Theme in line=Destination |
| 2 | **lift** | gerund | you *not said here* | your pencil |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"She is singing" is in the present continuous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:x3:1
# text = "She is singing" is in the present continuous.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	present	present	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	continuous	continuous	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* *in a quote* | present · progressive | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location |
| 2 | **is** | present | singing |  |  | the present continuous |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Height is continuous data, but the number of children is discrete data.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:x4:1
# text = Height is continuous data, but the number of children is discrete data.
1	Height	height	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	discrete	discrete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Height | continuous data but discrete data |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the number of children | discrete data |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The factory runs on a continuous 24-hour cycle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:x5:1
# text = The factory runs on a continuous 24-hour cycle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
6	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
7	24	24	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cycle	cycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | present | the factory |  |  | a continuous hour cycle |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on cycle=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A continuous beep means the battery is low.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:x6:1
# text = A continuous beep means the battery is low.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	beep	beep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	battery	battery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a continuous beep |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | the battery |  |  |  |  | low *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An Imperial Edict was sent forth to all the Buddhist temples commanding the priests to offer up continuous prayers to Heaven to stop the noise of the flood.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:continuous:x7:1
# text = An Imperial Edict was sent forth to all the Buddhist temples commanding the priests to offer up continuous prayers to Heaven to stop the noise of the flood.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Imperial	imperial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Edict	edict	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	11	det:predet	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Buddhist	buddhist	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	temples	temple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
12	commanding	command	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	priests	priest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	offer	offer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
17	up	up	ADP	RP	_	16	compound:prt	_	_
18	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	prayers	prayer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
20	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	Heaven	Heaven	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	advcl	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past · passive |  | a Imperial Edict |  | all Buddhist temples |  | forth *property* | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme to temple=Destination |
| 2 | **command** | gerund | all Buddhist temples *not said here* | the priests |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2-1 «NP V NP.predicate»: agent=Agent priest=Eventuality |
| 3 | **offer up** | to-infinitive | all Buddhist temples *not said here* | continuous prayers | Heaven |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent prayer=Theme to heaven=Goal |
| 4 | **stop** | to-infinitive | all Buddhist temples *not said here* | the noise of the flood |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality noise=Eventuality |
| 5 | **noise** |  | the flood |  |  |  |  |  | nom noise «event intransitive»: of=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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