---
title: pursuer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pursuer» in the school dictionary: A pursuer is someone who is chasing or following another person or animal to try to catch them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pursuer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pursuer, fox, thief, rabbit, hero, pursuers · **What happens:** be, chase, follow, try, catch, run · **To what, where:** someone, person, hole, pursuers, cave, fast pursuer

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pursuer is someone who is chasing or following another person or animal to try to catch them.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursuer:m1:1
# text = A pursuer is someone who is chasing or following another person or animal to try to catch them.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pursuer	pursuer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	chasing	chase	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	following	follow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
10	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	11	det	_	_
11	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pursuer | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **chase** | present · progressive |  | another person or animal |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 3 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **try** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **catch** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | person |  |  |  |  | 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox ran into a hole to escape its pursuers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursuer:x1:1
# text = The fox ran into a hole to escape its pursuers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	pursuers	pursuer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | the fox |  |  |  |  | into a hole *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into hole=Result |
| 2 | **escape** | to-infinitive | the fox *not said here* | fox's pursuers |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme pursuer=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thief looked back at his pursuers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursuer:x2:1
# text = The thief looked back at his pursuers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	back	back	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	pursuers	pursuer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look back** | past | the thief |  |  |  |  | at thief's pursuers | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at pursuer=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rabbit was faster than its pursuer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursuer:x3:1
# text = The rabbit was faster than its pursuer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	pursuer	pursuer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the rabbit |  |  |  |  | than rabbit's pursuer; fast *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hero hid in a cave until his pursuers had gone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursuer:x4:1
# text = The hero hid in a cave until his pursuers had gone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	pursuers	pursuer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past | the hero |  |  | a cave |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in cave=Location |
| 2 | **go** | past · perfect | hero's pursuers |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cheetah is a fast pursuer but tires quickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursuer:x5:1
# text = The cheetah is a fast pursuer but tires quickly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cheetah	cheetah	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pursuer	pursuer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	tires	tire	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the cheetah | a fast pursuer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tire** | present | the cheetah *not said here* |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She shook off her pursuers by climbing over the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursuer:x6:1
# text = She shook off her pursuers by climbing over the wall.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shook	shake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	off	off	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	pursuers	pursuer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake off** | past | She | her pursuers |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent pursuer=Patient |
| 2 | **climb** | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  | the wall |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over wall=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pursuers returned to the Water King.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pursuer:x7:1
# text = The pursuers returned to the Water King.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pursuers	pursuer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	returned	return	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Water	Water	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **return** | past | the pursuers |  |  |  |  | to the Water King *result* | vn convert-26.6.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to king=Result |

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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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