---
title: retain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «retain» in the school dictionary: To retain is to keep something and not lose it or give it away. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# retain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sponge, flask, She, shop, many marbles, soil · **What happens:** retain, be, not lose, give away, read, help · **To what, where:** it, water, heat, facts, 8, rest

<!-- .vabout -->
«retain» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [retain in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/retain.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To retain is to keep something and not lose it or give it away.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:m1:1
# text = To retain is to keep something and not lose it or give it away.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	retain	retain	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	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	away	away	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retain** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | keep *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **lose** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 4 | **give away** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | away *property* | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent it=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 retain is to hold something in: a sponge retains water, a flask retains heat.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:m2:1
# text = To retain is to hold something in: a sponge retains water, a flask retains heat.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	retain	retain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
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	hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sponge	sponge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	retains	retain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
12	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	flask	flask	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	retains	retain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
17	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retain** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hold *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **retain** | present | a sponge | water |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **retain** | present | a flask | heat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To retain facts is to remember them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:m3:1
# text = To retain facts is to remember them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	retain	retain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	remember	remember	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retain** | to-infinitive |  | facts |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | remember *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave away 8 of her 20 stickers and retained the rest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:x1:1
# text = She gave away 8 of her 20 stickers and retained the rest.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	stickers	sticker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	retained	retain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	rest	rest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give away** | past | She | 8 of her 20 stickers |  |  |  | away *property* | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **retain** | past | She *not said here* | the rest |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shop retains 10% of the price.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:x2:1
# text = The shop retains 10% of the price.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	retains	retain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	%	%	SYM	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retain** | present | the shop |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many marbles did he retain?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:x3:1
# text = How many marbles did he retain?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	marbles	marble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	retain	retain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retain** | past · do-support | many marbles |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soil retains 2 liters of water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:x4:1
# text = The soil retains 2 liters of water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	retains	retain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	liters	liter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	water	water	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 | **retain** | present | the soil | 2 liters of water |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clay soil retains more water than sandy soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:x5:1
# text = Clay soil retains more water than sandy soil.
1	Clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	retains	retain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	sandy	sandy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	soil	soil	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 | **retain** | present | Clay soil | more water |  |  |  | than sandy soil | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flask retains heat for hours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:x6:1
# text = A flask retains heat for hours.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flask	flask	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	retains	retain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retain** | present | a flask | heat |  |  | hour |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reading notes again helps you retain facts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:x7:1
# text = Reading notes again helps you retain facts.
1	Reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	notes	note	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	again	again	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	retain	retain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | gerund |  | notes |  |  | again |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Topic |
| 2 | **help** | present | Reading | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **retain** | infinitive | you *not said here* | facts |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team retained the trophy for another year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:x8:1
# text = The team retained the trophy for another year.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	retained	retain	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	trophy	trophy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	year	year	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 | **retain** | past | the team | the trophy |  |  | year |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But above all he retained the passion for good form.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retain:x9:1
# text = But above all he retained the passion for good form.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
2	above	above	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	obl	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	retained	retain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	passion	passion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retain** | past | he | the passion |  | all |  | for good form | tree rules |

<!-- 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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