---
title: trying — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «trying» in the school dictionary: Trying means doing your best to do something, making an effort. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# trying

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Trying, it, you, She, He, I · **What happens:** try, mean, do, make, test, see · **To what, where:** best, something, effort, it, new food, 100 pages · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trying means doing your best to do something, making an effort.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:m1:1
# text = Trying means doing your best to do something, making an effort.
1	Trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	effort	effort	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 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | gerund |  | your best |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent good=Eventuality |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 5 | **make** | gerund |  | a effort |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset effort=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
Trying also means testing something to see if it works or if you like it: trying a new food.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:m2:1
# text = Trying also means testing something to see if it works or if you like it: trying a new food.
1	Trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	csubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	testing	test	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
8	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
17	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Trying |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **test** *not said to happen* | gerund | Trying *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 4 | **see** | to-infinitive | Trying *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 5 | **work** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **like** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | it |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |
| 7 | **try** | gerund | Trying *not said here* | a new food |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As an adjective, trying means annoying and hard to put up with: a trying day.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:m3:1
# text = As an adjective, trying means annoying and hard to put up with: a trying day.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	nsubj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	annoying	annoying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	amod	_	_
17	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | as a adjective; annoying *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as adjective=Attribute |
| 3 | **put up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is trying to save $60.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:x1:1
# text = She is trying to save $60.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	$	$	SYM	$	_	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	60	60	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present · progressive | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **save** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent $=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is trying to read 100 pages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:x2:1
# text = He is trying to read 100 pages.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present · progressive | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **read** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | 100 pages |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent page=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After trying 5 times, he scored.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:x3:1
# text = After trying 5 times, he scored.
1	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
3	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	scored	score	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  | time |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **score** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is trying to find the missing number.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:x4:1
# text = She is trying to find the missing number.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present · progressive | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **find** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | the missing number |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep trying; you will get it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:x5:1
# text = Keep trying; you will get it.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **get** | future | you | it |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I am trying on a new pair of shoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:x6:1
# text = I am trying on a new pair of shoes.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present · progressive | I |  |  | a new pair of shoes |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are trying out a new game at recess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:x7:1
# text = We are trying out a new game at recess.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	recess	recess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try out** | present · progressive | We | a new game |  | recess |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a trying day with lots of problems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:x8:1
# text = It was a trying day with lots of problems.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | past | It | a trying day |  |  |  | with lots of problems | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So they left him trying, and went on.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trying:x9:1
# text = So they left him trying, and went on.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|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	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	on	on	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past | they | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | gerund | him *= he* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **go on** | past | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn function-105.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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