---
title: hesitate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hesitate» in the school dictionary: To stop or pause before doing or saying something because you are unsure, nervous or worried. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hesitate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, She, He, I, kind children · **What happens:** stop, pause, do, say, be, not hesitate · **To what, where:** something, it, cold water, help, cat, edge · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stop or pause before doing or saying something because you are unsure, nervous or worried.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:m1:1
# text = To stop or pause before doing or saying something because you are unsure, nervous or worried.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	pause	pause	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	unsure	unsure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **pause** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **do** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 5 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | unsure *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **be** |  | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **be** |  | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Don't hesitate to means feel free to do it at once.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:m2:1
# text = Don't hesitate to means feel free to do it at once.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	hesitate	hesitate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
7	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **hesitate** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **feel** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | free *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't hesitate to ask.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:m2e:1
# text = Don't hesitate to ask.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	hesitate	hesitate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **hesitate** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She hesitated before jumping into the cold water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:x1:1
# text = She hesitated before jumping into the cold water.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hesitated	hesitate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	jumping	jump	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hesitate** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **jump** | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into the cold water *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into water=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't hesitate to ask if you need help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:x2:1
# text = Don't hesitate to ask if you need help.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	hesitate	hesitate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **hesitate** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **need** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | help |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot help=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He answered without hesitating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:x3:1
# text = He answered without hesitating.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	hesitating	hesitate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hesitate** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I hesitated because I wasn't sure of the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:x4:1
# text = I hesitated because I wasn't sure of the answer.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hesitated	hesitate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hesitate** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | of the answer; sure *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat hesitated at the edge of the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:x5:1
# text = The cat hesitated at the edge of the wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	hesitated	hesitate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hesitate** | participle |  | the cat *not said here* |  | the edge of the wall |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent at edge=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you see a fire, don't hesitate, call 999.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:x6:1
# text = If you see a fire, don't hesitate, call 999.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	hesitate	hesitate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	call	call	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
12	999	999	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | a fire |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer fire=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **hesitate** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **call** | infinitive | you *not said here* | 999 |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent 999=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kind children did not hesitate for an instant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hesitate:x7:1
# text = The kind children did not hesitate for an instant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	hesitate	hesitate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	instant	instant	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 | **not** **hesitate** | past · do-support | the kind children |  |  |  |  | for a instant | vn linger-53.1 «NP V PP.location»: 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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