---
title: Your sister whispers at the top of the stairs: "They're shouting, it… — Grown-ups who argue and make up · tree and pragmatics
description: Your sister whispers at the top of the stairs: "They're shouting, it's 'cos I broke the vase, isn't it?" What is true? Test 1 · ★ of lesson 14 «Grown-ups who argue and make up» of the adult life course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each opti
---

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# Test 1 · ★ · Grown-ups who argue and make up

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your sister whispers at the top of the stairs: "They're shouting, it's 'cos I broke the vase, isn't it?" What is true?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** sister, stairs, top · **What happens:** whisper, shout, break, not be, be · **To what, where:** top, vase · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 1 · ★ of lesson 14 «Grown-ups who argue and make up» of the adult life course of Mova's primary school. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: [the test at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/adult-life/14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up/#t1).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Your sister whispers at the top of the stairs: "They're shouting, it's 'cos I broke the vase, isn't it?"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up:t1:1
# text = Your sister whispers at the top of the stairs: "They're shouting, it's 'cos I broke the vase, isn't it?"
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	whispers	whisper	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	27	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	cop	_	_
18	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	cos	cos	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
20	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	27	advcl	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
25	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	27	advmod	_	_
27	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whisper** *speech: ask* | present | Your sister |  |  | the top of the stairs |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at top=Location |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* *in a quote* | present · progressive | stairs *= stair* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **break** *in a quote* | past | Your sister *= sister* | the vase |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer vase=Patient |
| 4 | **not** **is a** *in a quote* | present | top | top |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* What is true?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up:t1:2
# text = What is true?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, broken vases are what most rows are about

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up:t1:o1:1
# text = Yes, broken vases are what most rows are about
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	vases	vas	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
7	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
8	rows	row	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
10	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | broken vases |  |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, grown-ups' arguments are not caused by a broken vase

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up:t1:o2:1
# text = No, grown-ups' arguments are not caused by a broken vase
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	10	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	ups	up	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	'	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	arguments	argument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	caused	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	amod	_	_
14	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **cause** | present · passive |  | grown ups's arguments |  |  |  | by a broken vase | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **argue** |  | grown ups |  |  |  |  |  | nom argument «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, so she should go down and say sorry right now before it gets worse

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up:t1:o3:1
# text = Yes, so she should go down and say sorry right now before it gets worse
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	down	down	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
10	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
11	right	right	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	9	advmod	_	_
13	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
16	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	15	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go down** | should | she |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **say** *speech: apologize* | infinitive | she *not said here* |  |  |  | now | sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **get** | present | it |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, they are shouting because they are deaf

```conllu
# sent_id = question:adult-life:14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up:t1:o4:1
# text = No, they are shouting because they are deaf
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	deaf	deaf	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | present · progressive | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | they |  |  |  |  | deaf *property* | tree rules |

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**Text:** the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (`world/data/school/`), as the course runner gave them to the student. **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 text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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