---
title: What is the principal function of the crows' conversation within the… — Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Faithful John… · tree and pragmatics
description: What is the principal function of the crows' conversation within the narrative of this part? Exam question 2 of lesson 115 «Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Faithful John, part 18: the King sees a portrait, falls in love, and sails off with its princess» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with th
---

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# Exam question 2 · Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Faithful John, part 18: the King…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What is the principal function of the crows' conversation within the narrative of this part?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** principal function, crows · **What happens:** be, converse

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 115 «Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Faithful John, part 18: the King sees a portrait, falls in love, and sails off with its princess» 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/115-pg11027-part18/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:115-pg11027-part18:e2:1
# text = What is the principal function of the crows' conversation within the narrative of this part?
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	function	function	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crows	crow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	'	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
11	within	within	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	16	det	_	_
16	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the principal function of the crows's conversation within the narrative of this part |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **converse** |  | the crows |  |  |  |  | within the narrative of this part | nom conversation «communication intransitive»: poss=agent within=obl |

<!-- .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 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It foreshadows the perils the King must overcome in order to secure his bride.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:115-pg11027-part18:e2:o1:1
# text = It foreshadows the perils the King must overcome in order to secure his bride.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	foreshadows	foreshadow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	perils	peril	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	overcome	overcome	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	in	in	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	12	mark	_	_
10	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	fixed	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	secure	secure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	bride	bride	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **foreshadow** | present | It | the perils |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **overcome** | must | the King | the perils *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot peril=Theme |
| 3 | **secure** | to-infinitive | the King *not said here* | King's bride |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition bride=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It shows the princess's regret for leaving her father's kingdom behind forever.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:115-pg11027-part18:e2:o2:1
# text = It shows the princess's regret for leaving her father's kingdom behind forever.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	regret	regret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	kingdom	kingdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
13	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	forever	forever	ADV	RB	_	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | It | the princess's regret |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent regret=Recipient |
| 2 | **leave** | gerund | the princess's regret *not said here* | princess's father's kingdom |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent kingdom=Theme behind forever=Location |
| 3 | **regret** |  | the princess |  |  |  |  |  | nom regret «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It reveals to the reader that John has secretly betrayed the King to the merchant who has kidnapped the princess and plans to sail away with her.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:115-pg11027-part18:e2:o3:1
# text = It reveals to the reader that John has secretly betrayed the King to the merchant who has kidnapped the princess and plans to sail away with her.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reveals	reveal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	reader	reader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	betrayed	betray	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	merchant	merchant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
16	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
17	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	kidnapped	kidnap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	15	acl:relcl	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	plans	plan	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	sail	sail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	xcomp	_	_
25	away	away	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
26	with	with	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reveal** | present | It |  | the reader |  |  |  | vn confess-37.10 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to reader=Recipient |
| 2 | **betray** | present · perfect · passive |  | the reader |  |  |  | to the merchant; secretly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **kidnap** | present · perfect | the merchant | the princess |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent princess=Theme |
| 4 | **plan** | present | the merchant *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **sail away** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the merchant *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with John; away *property* | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It reveals the merchant's plan to steal the golden cups from the palace hall.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:115-pg11027-part18:e2:o4:1
# text = It reveals the merchant's plan to steal the golden cups from the palace hall.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reveals	reveal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	merchant	merchant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	steal	steal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	golden	golden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	cups	cup	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reveal** | present | It | the merchant's plan |  |  |  |  | vn confess-37.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Topic |
| 2 | **steal** | to-infinitive |  | the golden cups |  | the palace hall |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent cup=Theme from hall=Source |
| 3 | **plan** |  | the merchant |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

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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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- next →: [Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Faithful John…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/115-pg11027-part18/e3/)
- ↑ back to [Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Faithful John, part 18: the King sees a portrait, falls in love, and sails off with its princess](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/115-pg11027-part18/)