---
title: pursue — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pursue» in the school dictionary: To pursue means to chase or follow someone or something to catch them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pursue

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** police, cat, She, you, your, He · **What happens:** pursue, mean, chase, follow, catch, try · **To what, where:** someone, them, goal, job, matter, way · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«pursue» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [pursue in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pursue.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pursue means to chase or follow someone or something to catch them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:m1:1
# text = To pursue means to chase or follow someone or something to catch them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pursue	pursue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	chase	chase	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **chase** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **follow** | infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 5 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

<!-- .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 pursue a goal, hobby or job means to try to do it or achieve it over a long time.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:m2:1
# text = To pursue a goal, hobby or job means to try to do it or achieve it over a long time.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pursue	pursue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	hobby	hobby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	achieve	achieve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	over	over	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | to-infinitive |  | a goal and hobby or job |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goal=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **try** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | job |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 5 | **achieve** | infinitive |  | job |  |  | time |  | vn complete-55.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pursue a matter means to keep asking about it or dealing with it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:m3:1
# text = To pursue a matter means to keep asking about it or dealing with it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pursue	pursue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	dealing	deal	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	conj	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | to-infinitive |  | a matter |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent matter=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about matter | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V PP.topic whether S»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |
| 5 | **deal** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | with matter | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with it=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To pursue your way means to carry on along a path or journey.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:m4:1
# text = To pursue your way means to carry on along a path or journey.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	pursue	pursue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	along	along	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	journey	journey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | to-infinitive |  | your way |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **carry on** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | along a path or journey | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police pursued the robbers through the streets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:x1:1
# text = The police pursued the robbers through the streets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pursued	pursue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	robbers	robber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	streets	street	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | past | the police | the robbers |  | the streets |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent robber=Theme through street=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat pursued the mouse under the bed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:x2:1
# text = The cat pursued the mouse under the bed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pursued	pursue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | past | the cat | the mouse |  | the bed |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent mouse=Theme under bed=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wants to pursue a career as a doctor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:x3:1
# text = She wants to pursue a career as a doctor.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	pursue	pursue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	career	career	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **pursue** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | a career |  |  |  | as a doctor | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent career=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never stop pursuing your dreams.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:x4:1
# text = Never stop pursuing your dreams.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pursuing	pursue	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	dreams	dream	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **pursue** | gerund | you *not said here* | your dreams |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dream=Theme |
| 3 | **dream** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom dream «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He decided not to pursue the matter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:x5:1
# text = He decided not to pursue the matter.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decided	decide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	pursue	pursue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **pursue** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the matter |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent matter=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dogs pursued the deer into the woods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:x6:1
# text = The dogs pursued the deer into the woods.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pursued	pursue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	deer	deer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	woods	wood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | past | the dogs | the deer |  | the woods |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent deer=Theme into wood=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And so she pursued her way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursue:x7:1
# text = And so she pursued her way.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
2	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	pursued	pursue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pursue** | past | she | her way |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=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 -->

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