---
title: persist — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «persist» in the school dictionary: To persist is to keep doing something even when it is hard or other people want you to stop. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# persist

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hard people, you, something, it, cough, your · **What happens:** persist, be, do, want, stop, continue · **To what, where:** something, you, doctor, puzzle, questions, no. · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To persist is to keep doing something even when it is hard or other people want you to stop.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:m1:1
# text = To persist is to keep doing something even when it is hard or other people want you to stop.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	persist	persist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	even	even	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	expl	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
16	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persist** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | keep *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **want** | present | hard people | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **stop** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=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 -->
If something bad persists, it continues for longer than expected.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:m2:1
# text = If something bad persists, it continues for longer than expected.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
3	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
4	persists	persist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	continues	continue	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
10	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	expected	expect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persist** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **continue** | present | it |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **expect** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If your cough persists, go to the doctor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:x1:1
# text = If your cough persists, go to the doctor.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	cough	cough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	persists	persist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|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 | **persist** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | your cough |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **go** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the doctor |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to doctor=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **cough** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom cough «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She persisted with the puzzle until she solved it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:x2:1
# text = She persisted with the puzzle until she solved it.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	persisted	persist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	solved	solve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persist** | past | She |  |  |  |  | with the puzzle | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **solve** | past | she | puzzle |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rain persisted all afternoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:x3:1
# text = The rain persisted all afternoon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	persisted	persist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persist** | past | the rain |  |  |  | afternoon |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He persisted in asking questions, even after we said no.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:x4:1
# text = He persisted in asking questions, even after we said no.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	persisted	persist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	even	even	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	no.	no.	NOUN	NN	Abbr=Yes|Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persist** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | He *not said here* | questions |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent question=Recipient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | we | no. |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent no.=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep practising — if you persist, you will get better.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:x5:1
# text = Keep practising — if you persist, you will get better.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	practising	practise	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	persist	persist	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
11	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **practise** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **persist** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **get** | future | you |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The smell persisted for days after the bin was emptied.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:x6:1
# text = The smell persisted for days after the bin was emptied.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	smell	smell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	persisted	persist	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bin	bin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	emptied	empty	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persist** | participle |  | the smell *not said here* |  |  | after the bin; day |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **empty** | past · passive |  | the smell |  |  |  |  | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP.source»: subject=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The myth that goldfish have a three-second memory persists.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:x7:1
# text = The myth that goldfish have a three-second memory persists.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	myth	myth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	goldfish	goldfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	10	amod	_	_
10	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
11	persists	persist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | goldfish | a second memory |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent memory=Patient |
| 2 | **persist** | present | the myth |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Why do you persist in this folly?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:persist:x8:1
# text = Why do you persist in this folly?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	persist	persist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	folly	folly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persist** | present · do-support | you |  |  | this folly |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in folly=Location |

<!-- 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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