---
title: persevere — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «persevere» in the school dictionary: To keep trying to do something even when it is difficult or you fail at first, and not give up. 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/P/persevere/)

<!-- 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/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / persevere

# persevere

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, reading, your, She, her, explorers · **What happens:** keep, try, do, be, fail, not give up · **To what, where:** something, swimming test, snow, bike, many failed experiments, first boat

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To keep trying to do something even when it is difficult or you fail at first, and not give up.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persevere:m1:1
# text = To keep trying to do something even when it is difficult or you fail at first, and not give up.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
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	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
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	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	fail	fail	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
21	up	up	ADP	RP	_	20	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 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 |  |  |  |  |  | difficult *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **fail** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V PP.eventuality S\_ING»: agent=Agent at first=Eventuality |
| 6 | **not** **give up** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you persevere with your reading, it will get easier.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persevere:x1:1
# text = If you persevere with your reading, it will get easier.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	persevere	persevere	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
11	easier	easy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persevere** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | with your reading | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **get** | future | reading |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **read** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom reading «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She failed her swimming test twice but persevered.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persevere:x2:1
# text = She failed her swimming test twice but persevered.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	failed	fail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	2	advmod	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	persevered	persevere	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fail** | past | She | her swimming test |  |  |  | twice *property* | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent test=Eventuality |
| 2 | **persevere** | past | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **test** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom test «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The explorers persevered through snow and ice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persevere:x3:1
# text = The explorers persevered through snow and ice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	explorers	explorer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	persevered	persevere	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persevere** | past | the explorers |  |  | snow and ice |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through snow=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Persevere with the puzzle; you're nearly there.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persevere:x4:1
# text = Persevere with the puzzle; you're nearly there.
1	Persevere	Persevere	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | nearly, there *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He persevered and finally learned to ride a bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persevere:x5:1
# text = He persevered and finally learned to ride a bike.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	persevered	persevere	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	ride	ride	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persevere** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **learn** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | finally *property* | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **ride** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | a bike |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists persevere through many failed experiments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persevere:x6:1
# text = Scientists persevere through many failed experiments.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	persevere	persevere	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	failed	fail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	experiments	experiment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persevere** | present | Scientists |  |  | many failed experiments |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through experiment=Location |
| 2 | **fail** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He set to work and persevered till he invented the first boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persevere:x7:1
# text = He set to work and persevered till he invented the first boat.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	set	set	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	persevered	persevere	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	till	till	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	invented	invent	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **persevere** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **invent** | past | he | the first boat |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boat=Result |

<!-- 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: [perseverance](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perseverance/)
- next →: [persian](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/persian/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)