---
title: perseverance — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «perseverance» in the school dictionary: Keeping on trying to do something even when it is hard, or when you fail at first. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# perseverance

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Christians, She, class, Perseverance, It · **What happens:** keep, try, do, be, fail, speak · **To what, where:** something, faith, bike, perseverance, star, Robert · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keeping on trying to do something even when it is hard, or when you fail at first.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perseverance:m1:1
# text = Keeping on trying to do something even when it is hard, or when you fail at first.
1	Keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
3	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	even	even	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	expl	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	16	mark	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	fail	fail	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
17	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **fail** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V PP.eventuality S\_ING»: agent=Agent at first=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians speak of perseverance in faith: keeping faith through hard times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perseverance:m2:1
# text = Christians speak of perseverance in faith: keeping faith through hard times.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	speak	speak	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	perseverance	perseverance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	faith	faith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
9	faith	faith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	through	through	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | Christians |  |  | faith |  | of perseverance | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **keep** | gerund | Christians *not said here* | faith |  |  | time |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent faith=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She learned to ride her bike through perseverance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perseverance:x1:1
# text = She learned to ride her bike through perseverance.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	ride	ride	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	perseverance	perseverance	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 | **learn** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **ride** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | her bike |  | perseverance |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent bike=Theme through perseverance=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class has a star for perseverance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perseverance:x2:1
# text = Our class has a star for perseverance.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	perseverance	perseverance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our class | a star |  |  |  | for perseverance | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent star=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Perseverance pays off: keep practising!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perseverance:x3:1
# text = Perseverance pays off: keep practising!
1	Perseverance	perseverance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pays	pay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	off	off	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
5	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	practising	practise	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay off** | present | Perseverance |  |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **keep** | infinitive | Perseverance *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **practise** | gerund | Perseverance *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spider's perseverance inspired Robert the Bruce.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perseverance:x4:1
# text = The spider's perseverance inspired Robert the Bruce.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	perseverance	perseverance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	inspired	inspire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	Robert	Robert	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Bruce	Bruce	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **inspire** | past | the spider's perseverance | Robert |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus robert=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It took great perseverance to finish the marathon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perseverance:x5:1
# text = It took great perseverance to finish the marathon.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	perseverance	perseverance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	finish	finish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	marathon	marathon	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 | **take** | past | It | great perseverance |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent perseverance=Theme |
| 2 | **finish** | to-infinitive |  | the marathon |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality marathon=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Learning the piano needs patience and perseverance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perseverance:x6:1
# text = Learning the piano needs patience and perseverance.
1	Learning	learn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	piano	piano	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	patience	patience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	perseverance	perseverance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | gerund |  | the piano |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piano=Topic |
| 2 | **need** | present | Learning | patience and perseverance |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot patience=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Your brothers can be released," said she, "if you have only courage and perseverance.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perseverance:x7:1
# text = "Your brothers can be released," said she, "if you have only courage and perseverance.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	brothers	brother	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	released	release	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
16	only	only	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	courage	courage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	perseverance	perseverance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **release** *in a quote* | can · passive |  | Your brothers |  |  |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Source |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **have** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | you | courage and perseverance |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent courage=Patient |

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**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.

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