---
title: stubbornness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stubbornness» in the school dictionary: Stubbornness is refusing to change your mind or do what others want, even when there are good reasons. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stubbornness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Stubbornness, others, your, good thing, things, she · **What happens:** refuse, not change, do, want, be, mind · **To what, where:** mind, good reasons, good thing, determination, him, coat · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«stubbornness» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [stubbornness in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stubbornness.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stubbornness is refusing to change your mind or do what others want, even when there are good reasons.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:m1:1
# text = Stubbornness is refusing to change your mind or do what others want, even when there are good reasons.
1	Stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	refusing	refuse	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	12	obj	_	_
11	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	even	even	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
15	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	17	mark	_	_
16	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	17	expl	_	_
17	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | present · progressive | Stubbornness |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **change** | to-infinitive | Stubbornness *not said here* | your mind |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive | Stubbornness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **want** | present | others |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |
| 5 | **is a** | present |  | good reasons |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stubbornness can also be a good thing, meaning determination: not giving up when things are hard.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:m2:1
# text = Stubbornness can also be a good thing, meaning determination: not giving up when things are hard.
1	Stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
10	determination	determination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
14	up	up	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
15	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	18	advmod	_	_
16	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
17	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | Stubbornness | a good thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | gerund | a good thing *not said here* | determination |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent determination=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **give up** | gerund | Stubbornness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | things |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stubbornness of a thing means it is hard to move, remove or fix: the stubbornness of a stain.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:m3:1
# text = Stubbornness of a thing means it is hard to move, remove or fix: the stubbornness of a stain.
1	Stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	expl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	remove	remove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	stain	stain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Stubbornness of a thing |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **move** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **remove** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **fix** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His stubbornness stopped him from saying sorry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:x1:1
# text = His stubbornness stopped him from saying sorry.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | His stubbornness | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality he=Eventuality |
| 2 | **say** *speech: apologize* | gerund | His stubbornness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Out of stubbornness, she would not wear a coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:x2:1
# text = Out of stubbornness, she would not wear a coat.
1	Out	out	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	wear	wear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **wear** | would | she | a coat |  | stubbornness |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent coat=Theme out stubbornness=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her stubbornness helped her finish the marathon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:x3:1
# text = Her stubbornness helped her finish the marathon.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	finish	finish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	marathon	marathon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Her stubbornness | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent she=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **finish** | infinitive | her *= she* *not said here* | the marathon |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality marathon=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toddler's stubbornness made bedtime hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:x4:1
# text = The toddler's stubbornness made bedtime hard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	bedtime	bedtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the toddler's stubbornness | bedtime |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset bedtime=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mules are famous for their stubbornness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:x5:1
# text = Mules are famous for their stubbornness.
1	Mules	mule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Mules |  |  |  |  | for Mules's stubbornness; famous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sheer stubbornness kept the team going in the rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:x6:1
# text = Sheer stubbornness kept the team going in the rain.
1	Sheer	sheer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	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	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | Sheer stubbornness | the team |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | gerund | the team *not said here* |  |  | the rain |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in rain=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stubbornness of the stain meant we had to scrub it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:x7:1
# text = The stubbornness of the stain meant we had to scrub it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stain	stain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	scrub	scrub	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | the stubbornness of the stain |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **scrub** | to-infinitive | we *not said here* | stubbornness |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through stubbornness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stubbornness:x8:1
# text = It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through stubbornness.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	yield	yield	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	misfortune	misfortune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	through	through	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **yield** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **come** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | stubbornness |  | to misfortune | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Theme to misfortune=Initial\_Location through stubbornness=Destination |

<!-- 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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