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pertain

Intermediate (B1)

IPA: /pərˈteɪn/

KK: /pɚˈteɪn/

intransitive verb
Definition

To be related to something or to have a connection with it.


Example

The rules that pertain to this game are very specific.


Tense Forms

Past: pertained

Past Participle: pertained


Conversation
Sloth A
What kind of information do you think will pertain to our project?
Sloth B
I believe most of it will be about recent trends and data analysis.
Sloth A
Yeah, I agree that those details are really important and pertain directly to our goals.
Sloth B
Exactly! We need to focus on what truly matters to make this successful.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
relate
refer
belong
Antonyms
disconnect
exclude
dissociate
Root Explanation

Pertain → It is formed from "per-" (meaning through) and "tenere" (meaning to hold). The word describes something that holds through or is relevant to a particular subject or matter.

Memory Tip

Think of something that 'holds through' ('tenere') a topic or subject — that's why pertain means to be relevant or related.

Visually Confused Words
appertain
certain
supertrain
precurtain
pretrain
petaline
pearmain
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