---
title: What is the principal matter of contention that the four clerics bri… — Deirdre, Becfola's Wooing, part 21: Be… · tree and pragmatics
description: What is the principal matter of contention that the four clerics bring before the king? Exam question 3 of lesson 1053 «Deirdre, Becfola's Wooing, part 21: Becfola sneaks home and the king turns her scolding into a joke» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and prag
---

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# Exam question 3 · Deirdre, Becfola's Wooing, part 21: Becfola sneaks home an…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What is the principal matter of contention that the four clerics bring before the king?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** principal matter, four clerics, contention · **What happens:** be, bring, matter

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 1053 «Deirdre, Becfola's Wooing, part 21: Becfola sneaks home and the king turns her scolding into a joke» 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/1053-pg2892-part21/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1053-pg2892-part21:e3:1
# text = What is the principal matter of contention that the four clerics bring before the king?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	contention	contention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	clerics	cleric	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	bring	bring	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
13	before	before	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the principal matter of contention |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **bring** | present | the four clerics |  |  |  | before the king |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent before king=Destination |
| 3 | **matter** |  | contention |  |  |  |  |  | nom matter «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Whether the treasure taken from the seven slain men, being found on a Sunday, may lawfully be given to the Brothers of Devenish at all.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1053-pg2892-part21:e3:o1:1
# text = Whether the treasure taken from the seven slain men, being found on a Sunday, may lawfully be given to the Brothers of Devenish at all.
1	Whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	advcl	_	_
4	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	slain	slain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
17	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
18	lawfully	lawfully	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
19	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	aux:pass	_	_
20	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
21	to	to	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	Brothers	Brother	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	20	iobj	_	_
24	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	Devenish	Devenish	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	_
26	at	at	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | participle |  | the treasure *not said here* |  |  |  | from the seven slain men | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent from man=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **find** | gerund · passive |  | the seven slain men *not said here* |  |  | sunday |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF» |
| 3 | **give** | may · passive |  |  | the Brothers of Devenish | all |  | lawfully *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: brother=Theme at all=Asset |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The disposition of the treasure taken from the seven slain men.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1053-pg2892-part21:e3:o2:1
# text = The disposition of the treasure taken from the seven slain men.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	disposition	disposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
10	slain	slain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | participle · passive |  | the disposition of the treasure |  |  |  | from the seven slain men | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: subject=Theme from man=Initial\_Location |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whether the seven dead men had any heirs to claim the gold.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1053-pg2892-part21:e3:o3:1
# text = Whether the seven dead men had any heirs to claim the gold.
1	Whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	heirs	heir	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	claim	claim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the seven dead men | any heirs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent heir=Patient |
| 2 | **claim** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | the seven dead men *not said here* | the gold |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent gold=Topic |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The disposition of the treasure taken from the seven slain men, and the matter of the reliquary for the late grandmother.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1053-pg2892-part21:e3:o4:1
# text = The disposition of the treasure taken from the seven slain men, and the matter of the reliquary for the late grandmother.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	disposition	disposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
10	slain	slain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	reliquary	reliquary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
19	for	for	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	grandmother	grandmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | participle |  | the treasure *not said here* |  |  |  | from the seven slain men | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent from man=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **matter** |  | the reliquary for the late grandmother |  |  |  |  |  | nom matter «cognition intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- 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: [Deirdre, Becfola's Wooing, part 21: Be…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1053-pg2892-part21/e2/)
- next →: [Deirdre, Becfola's Wooing, part 21: Be…, exam 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1053-pg2892-part21/e4/)
- ↑ back to [Deirdre, Becfola's Wooing, part 21: Becfola sneaks home and the king turns her scolding into a joke](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1053-pg2892-part21/)