---
title: nagging — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nagging» in the school dictionary: Nagging is telling someone again and again to do something, in an annoying way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nagging/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [N](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/) / nagging

# nagging

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, nagging pain, nagging doubt, small worry, Mum, you · **What happens:** nag, tell, do, go, not go away, be · **To what, where:** someone, something, annoying way, small worry, me, room · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«nagging» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [nagging in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nagging.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nagging is telling someone again and again to do something, in an annoying way.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:m1:1
# text = Nagging is telling someone again and again to do something, in an annoying way.
1	Nagging	nag	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	again	again	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	again	again	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	annoying	annoying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nag** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · progressive |  | someone |  |  | again |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  | a annoying way |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
A nagging pain or feeling goes on and on and will not go away.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:m2:1
# text = A nagging pain or feeling goes on and on and will not go away.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nagging	nag	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	on	on	ADV	RB	_	7	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
14	away	away	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nag** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **go** | present | a nagging pain or feeling |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **go away** | future | a nagging pain or feeling *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nagging doubt or worry is a small worry that keeps coming back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:m3:1
# text = A nagging doubt or worry is a small worry that keeps coming back.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nagging	nag	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	coming	come	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	xcomp	_	_
13	back	back	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **nag** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a nagging doubt or worry | a small worry |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **keep** | present | a small worry |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **come back** | gerund | a small worry *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum keeps nagging me to tidy my room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:x1:1
# text = Mum keeps nagging me to tidy my room.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nagging	nag	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	room	room	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 | **keep** | present | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **nag** | gerund | Mum *not said here* | me |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |
| 3 | **tidy** | to-infinitive | Mum *not said here* | my room |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop nagging! I'll do it later.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Stop nagging!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:x2:1
# text = Stop nagging!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	nagging	nag	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **nag** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* I'll do it later.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:x2:2
# text = I'll do it later.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | future | I | it |  |  |  | late *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I had a nagging headache all day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:x3:1
# text = I had a nagging headache all day.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	nagging	nag	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	headache	headache	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	all	all	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 | **have** | past | I | a nagging headache |  |  | day |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent headache=Patient |
| 2 | **nag** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nagging cough should be checked by a doctor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:x4:1
# text = A nagging cough should be checked by a doctor.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	nagging	nag	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	cough	cough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	checked	check	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	doctor	doctor	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 | **nag** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **check** | should · passive | a doctor | a nagging cough |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I had a nagging feeling I'd forgotten something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:x5:1
# text = I had a nagging feeling I'd forgotten something.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	nagging	nag	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	'd	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	forgotten	forget	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | I | a nagging feeling |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feeling=Patient |
| 2 | **nag** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **forget** | past · perfect | I | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His nagging made everyone cross.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nagging:x6:1
# text = His nagging made everyone cross.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	nagging	nagging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	obj	_	_
5	cross	cross	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 | **make** | past | His nagging | everyone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cross** | infinitive | everyone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [nag](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nag/)
- next →: [nahuatl](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nahuatl/)
- ↑ back to [N in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/)