pertains

Pertains is the third-person singular present tense of the verb pertain. It means to have reference to; to be relevant or applicable to a particular matter. In English, pertain is typically followed by the preposition to, forming phrases such as pertain to something or pertain to a topic. For example: "The regulation pertains to payroll taxes" or "This section pertains to data retention." The verb is intransitive and requires a complement introduced by to or a related clause rather than a direct object.

Etymology and related forms: Pertains comes from Latin pertinere, meaning to reach toward or to be of consequence, through Old French and into English. Related forms include pertinent (adjective: relevant or applicable), pertinence or pertinency (noun: relevance), and pertaining (present participle/participle). The noun pertinence is common in formal writing, while pertinently is an adverb rarely used outside certain registers.

Usage notes: Pertains is most common in formal or administrative writing, though it appears in general prose as well. The standard construction is subject pertain s to something; the phrase pertain s to can also introduce a clause: "which pertain s to the issue." The past tense is pertained (to), and the present participle is pertaining, as in "this law is pertaining to..." In contrast, pertinent is an adjective meaning relevant, and pertain with the preposition to should be used rather than forms like pertained to in present-tense contexts. Typical examples include clauses, policies, or topics that pertain to a given subject.