---
title: subsist — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «subsist» in the school dictionary: To subsist is to stay alive, often with very little food or money: they subsisted on bread and water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# subsist

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** food, old custom, family, He, Birds, Subsistence farmers · **What happens:** subsist, be, exist, farm, grow, eat · **To what, where:** castaways, Many families, small fields, enough food

<!-- .vabout -->
«subsist» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [subsist in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/subsist.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To subsist is to stay alive, often with very little food or money: they subsisted on bread and water.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsist:m1:1
# text = To subsist is to stay alive, often with very little food or money: they subsisted on bread and water.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	subsist	subsist	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	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	alive	alive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	subsisted	subsist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
18	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subsist** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with little food or money; alive, stay *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **subsist** | past | food |  |  |  |  | on bread and water | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on bread=Patient |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To subsist is also to continue to exist: the old custom still subsists.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsist:m2:1
# text = To subsist is also to continue to exist: the old custom still subsists.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	subsist	subsist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	continue	continue	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	exist	exist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	still	still	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	subsists	subsist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subsist** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | continue *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **exist** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **subsist** | present | the old custom |  |  |  | still |  | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castaways subsisted on fish and coconuts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsist:x1:1
# text = The castaways subsisted on fish and coconuts.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castaways	castaway	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	subsisted	subsist	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	coconuts	coconut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subsist** | participle |  | the castaways *not said here* |  |  |  | on fish and coconuts | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on fish=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
During the long winter the family subsisted on potatoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsist:x2:1
# text = During the long winter the family subsisted on potatoes.
1	During	during	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	subsisted	subsist	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	potatoes	potato	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subsist** | participle | the family |  |  |  | winter | on potatoes | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on potato=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many families once subsisted by farming small fields.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsist:x3:1
# text = Many families once subsisted by farming small fields.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	4	advmod	_	_
4	subsisted	subsist	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	farming	farm	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	advcl	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fields	field	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subsist** | participle · passive |  | Many families |  |  |  | once *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **farm** | gerund |  | small fields |  |  |  |  | vn rear-26.2.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent field=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He subsisted on very little money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsist:x4:1
# text = He subsisted on very little money.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	subsisted	subsist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subsist** | past | He |  |  |  |  | on little money | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on money=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birds can subsist on seeds in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsist:x5:1
# text = Birds can subsist on seeds in winter.
1	Birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	subsist	subsist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	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 | **subsist** | can | Birds |  |  |  | winter | on seeds | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on seed=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subsistence farmers grow just enough food to eat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subsist:x6:1
# text = Subsistence farmers grow just enough food to eat.
1	Subsistence	subsistence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Subsistence farmers | enough food |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location food=Theme |
| 2 | **eat** | to-infinitive | Subsistence farmers *not said here* | enough food *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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