---
title: sustain — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sustain» in the school dictionary: To sustain something is to keep it going for a long time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sustain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** food, support, Plants, sunlight, good breakfast, runner · **What happens:** sustain, be, go, need, live, break · **To what, where:** something, someone, them, support, injury, weight · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sustain something is to keep it going for a long time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:m1:1
# text = To sustain something is to keep it going for a long time.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sustain	sustain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	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	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sustain** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | keep *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | gerund |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=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 sustain someone is to give them the food, strength or support they need to live.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:m2:1
# text = To sustain someone is to give them the food, strength or support they need to live.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sustain	sustain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	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	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
14	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sustain** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  | them *= they* |  |  | give *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **need** | present | food | support *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **live** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | support *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sustain an injury or damage is to suffer it (formal).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:m3:1
# text = To sustain an injury or damage is to suffer it (formal).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sustain	sustain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	injury	injury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	suffer	suffer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sustain** | to-infinitive |  | a injury or damage |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent injury=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | suffer *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sustain a weight is to hold it up without breaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:m4:1
# text = To sustain a weight is to hold it up without breaking.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sustain	sustain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
10	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sustain** | to-infinitive |  | a weight |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent weight=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hold *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **break** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plants need sunlight to sustain life.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:x1:1
# text = Plants need sunlight to sustain life.
1	Plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sustain	sustain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | Plants | sunlight |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sustain** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | sunlight *not said here* | life |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent life=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good breakfast will sustain you until lunch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:x2:1
# text = A good breakfast will sustain you until lunch.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	breakfast	breakfast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	sustain	sustain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	until	until	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sustain** | future | a good breakfast | you |  |  | until lunch |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The runner could not sustain her speed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:x3:1
# text = The runner could not sustain her speed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	runner	runner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	sustain	sustain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **sustain** | could | the runner | runner's speed |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent speed=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Two people sustained minor injuries in the crash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:x4:1
# text = Two people sustained minor injuries in the crash.
1	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sustained	sustain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	minor	minor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	injuries	injury	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crash	crash	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 | **sustain** | past | Two people | minor injuries |  | the crash |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent injury=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bridge can sustain heavy lorries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:x5:1
# text = The bridge can sustain heavy lorries.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	sustain	sustain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	lorries	lorry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sustain** | can | the bridge | heavy lorries |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent lorry=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe God sustains the world.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:x6:1
# text = Christians believe God sustains the world.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sustains	sustain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **sustain** | present | God | the world |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent world=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class sustained their attention for the whole film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:x7:1
# text = The class sustained their attention for the whole film.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sustained	sustain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sustain** | past | the class | their attention |  |  |  | for the whole film | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent attention=Theme |
| 2 | **attend** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom attention «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Perhaps without anything to sustain life I may drag on my existence for a day or two.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustain:x8:1
# text = Perhaps without anything to sustain life I may drag on my existence for a day or two.
1	Perhaps	perhaps	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	without	without	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sustain	sustain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	drag	drag	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl:relcl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	existence	existence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sustain** | to-infinitive |  | life |  |  |  |  | vn sustain-55.6 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent life=Theme |
| 2 | **drag** | may | I |  |  | my existence | day |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on existence=Location |
| 3 | **exist** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom existence «state intransitive»: poss=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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