---
title: In what manner does the narrative describe Fionn's proficiency in sw… — Fionn mac Cumhaill, The Boyhood of Fio… · tree and pragmatics
description: In what manner does the narrative describe Fionn's proficiency in swimming in comparison with that of a fish? Exam question 3 of lesson 1038 «Fionn mac Cumhaill, The Boyhood of Fionn, part 6: Fionn trains hard, learns to swim, and is left sneezing in a tree» of the books course of Mova's primary sch
---

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# Exam question 3 · Fionn mac Cumhaill, The Boyhood of Fionn, part 6: Fionn tr…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In what manner does the narrative describe Fionn's proficiency in swimming in comparison with that of a fish?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** manner, you · **What happens:** do, describe · **To what, where:** narrative, proficiency, swimming

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 1038 «Fionn mac Cumhaill, The Boyhood of Fionn, part 6: Fionn trains hard, learns to swim, and is left sneezing in a tree» 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/1038-pg2892-part6/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1038-pg2892-part6:e3:1
# text = In what manner does the narrative describe Fionn's proficiency in swimming in comparison with that of a fish?
1	In	in	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	what	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	3	det	_	_
3	manner	manner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	Fionn	Fionn	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	proficiency	proficiency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	comparison	comparison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	14	nmod	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | what manner | the narrative |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narrative=Eventuality |
| 2 | **describe** | imperative | you *not said here* | Fionn's proficiency |  | swimming |  | in comparison with that | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent proficiency=Theme |

<!-- .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 faster, because fish glide with slow waves

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1038-pg2892-part6:e3:o1:1
# text = He is faster, because fish glide with slow waves
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	cop	_	_
3	faster	fast	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	glide	glide	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **glide** | present | fish |  |  |  |  | with slow waves | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is far less adept, since fish move in sudden spurts and he must learn their quick darts from the otter

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1038-pg2892-part6:e3:o2:1
# text = He is far less adept, since fish move in sudden spurts and he must learn their quick darts from the otter
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	_
4	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	_
5	adept	adept	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	spurts	spurt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
17	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
18	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	darts	dart	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
20	from	from	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	otter	otter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | adept |  |  |  | far, less *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | present | fish | adept *not said here* |  | sudden spurts |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent adept=Theme |
| 3 | **learn** | must | he | fish's quick darts |  |  |  | from the otter | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent dart=Topic from otter=Source |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is less adept, since fish move in sudden spurts

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1038-pg2892-part6:e3:o3:1
# text = He is less adept, since fish move in sudden spurts
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	adept	adept	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	spurts	spurt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | adept |  |  |  | less *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | present | fish | adept *not said here* |  | sudden spurts |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent adept=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is less adept than a fish, which he learns only after many days of trying in the cold lake water

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1038-pg2892-part6:e3:o4:1
# text = He is less adept than a fish, which he learns only after many days of trying in the cold lake water
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	adept	adept	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	learns	learn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
12	only	only	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	after	after	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
16	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	trying	try	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	acl	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
20	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
21	lake	lake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | adept |  |  |  | than a fish; less *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **learn** | present | adept |  |  |  | day |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **try** | gerund | many days *not said here* |  |  | the cold lake water |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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- next →: [Fionn mac Cumhaill, The Boyhood of Fio…, exam 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1038-pg2892-part6/e4/)
- ↑ back to [Fionn mac Cumhaill, The Boyhood of Fionn, part 6: Fionn trains hard, learns to swim, and is left sneezing in a tree](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1038-pg2892-part6/)