---
title: Explain in what manner the soldier obtains the tinder-box, and state… — Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box… · tree and pragmatics
description: Explain in what manner the soldier obtains the tinder-box, and state whether he retains it. Exam question 2 of lesson 1002 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box, part 2: the soldier takes gold from the dogs' chests, spends it, and calls the princess up with the tinder-box» of the books course of M
---

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# Exam question 2 · Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box, part 2: the soldie…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Explain in what manner the soldier obtains the tinder-box, and state whether he retains it.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, soldier · **What happens:** explain, obtain, retain · **To what, where:** state, manner, tinder box, box

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1002 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box, part 2: the soldier takes gold from the dogs' chests, spends it, and calls the princess up with the tinder-box» of the books course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. 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/books/1002-pg27200-part213/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1002-pg27200-part213:e2:1
# text = Explain in what manner the soldier obtains the tinder-box, and state whether he retains it.
1	Explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	what	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	4	det	_	_
4	manner	manner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	obtains	obtain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	tinder	tinder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
15	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	retains	retain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | state |  | what manner |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **obtain** | present | the soldier | the tinder box |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset box=Theme |
| 3 | **retain** | present | soldier | box |  |  |  |  | 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.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is handed it by the witch, who then tries to take it back from him at the crossroads

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1002-pg27200-part213:e2:o1:1
# text = He is handed it by the witch, who then tries to take it back from him at the crossroads
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:pass	_	_
3	handed	hand	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
10	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	_	_
11	tries	try	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	back	back	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
16	from	from	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	_
18	at	at	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	crossroads	crossroad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hand** | present · passive | the witch | He |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent subject=Destination it=Theme |
| 2 | **try** | present | the witch |  |  |  | then |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **take back** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the witch *not said here* | it |  | the crossroads |  | from him *= he* | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent it=Theme from he=Source at crossroad=Asset |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is sold it by the king and loses it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1002-pg27200-part213:e2:o2:1
# text = He is sold it by the king and loses it
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:pass	_	_
3	sold	sell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	loses	lose	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | present · passive | the king | He |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent subject=Recipient it=Theme |
| 2 | **lose** | present | the king *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is given it by the king's own servant and sells it for gold in the town

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1002-pg27200-part213:e2:o3:1
# text = He is given it by the king's own servant and sells it for gold in the town
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	servant	servant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	sells	sell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · passive | the king's own servant | He |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent subject=Recipient it=Theme |
| 2 | **sell** | present | the king's own servant *not said here* | servant |  | the town |  | for gold | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent it=Theme for gold=Asset |

### Option 4 · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is given it by the witch and retains it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1002-pg27200-part213:e2:o4:1
# text = He is given it by the witch and retains it
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	retains	retain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · passive | the witch | He |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent subject=Recipient it=Theme |
| 2 | **retain** | present | the witch *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**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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- ← previous: [Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box…, exam 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1002-pg27200-part213/e1/)
- next →: [Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1002-pg27200-part213/e3/)
- ↑ back to [Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Tinder-Box, part 2: the soldier takes gold from the dogs' chests, spends it, and calls the princess up with the tinder-box](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1002-pg27200-part213/)