---
title: insist — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «insist» in the school dictionary: To say firmly that something must happen, and not accept «no». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# insist

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, others, Mum, we, He, She · **What happens:** say, happen, not accept, be, not believe, insist · **To what, where:** you, hands, ghost, warm up, biscuit, little sister · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«insist» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [insist in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/insist.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say firmly that something must happen, and not accept «no».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:m1:1
# text = To say firmly that something must happen, and not accept «no».
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	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	accept	accept	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	11	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	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 | **happen** | must | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **accept** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=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 say firmly that something is true even when others do not believe you.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:m2:1
# text = To say firmly that something is true even when others do not believe you.
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	_	_
8	even	even	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	13	mark	_	_
10	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
11	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	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 | **not** **believe** | present · do-support | others | you |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum insists that we wash our hands before dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:x1:1
# text = Mum insists that we wash our hands before dinner.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	insists	insist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	wash	wash	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **insist** *speech: other* | present | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **wash** | present | we | our hands |  |  | before dinner |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He insisted on paying for the ice creams.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:x2:1
# text = He insisted on paying for the ice creams.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	insisted	insist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	paying	pay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	creams	cream	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **insist** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **pay** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the ice creams | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent for cream=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She insisted that she had seen a ghost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:x3:1
# text = She insisted that she had seen a ghost.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	insisted	insist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **insist** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **see** | past · perfect | she | a ghost |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ghost=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach insists on a warm-up before every game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:x4:1
# text = The coach insists on a warm-up before every game.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	insists	insist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	before	before	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **insist** *speech: other* | present | the coach |  |  | a warm up | before every game |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Have another biscuit — I insist!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:x5:1
# text = «Have another biscuit — I insist!»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	insist	insist	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | another biscuit |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biscuit=Patient |
| 2 | **insist** *speech: other* *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister insisted on carrying her own bag.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:x6:1
# text = My little sister insisted on carrying her own bag.
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	0	root	_	_
4	insisted	insist	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	carrying	carry	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **insist** *speech: other* | participle |  | My little sister *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **carry** | gerund |  | her own bag |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bag=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher insisted that we check our answers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:x7:1
# text = The teacher insisted that we check our answers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	insisted	insist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	check	check	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	answers	answer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **insist** *speech: other* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **check** | present | we | our answers |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |
| 3 | **answer** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“You will surely come,” she insisted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:insist:x8:1
# text = “You will surely come,” she insisted.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	surely	surely	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	insisted	insist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** *in a quote* | future | You |  |  |  |  | surely *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **insist** *speech: other* | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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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