---
title: Account for the failure of the prince to overtake the white doe on t… — Fairy Tales, The White Doe, part 39: t… · tree and pragmatics
description: Account for the failure of the prince to overtake the white doe on the morning described in the passage. Exam question 4 of lesson 1173 «Fairy Tales, The White Doe, part 39: the prince runs off, and the doe becomes a girl each night» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency 
---

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# Exam question 4 · Fairy Tales, The White Doe, part 39: the prince runs off,…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Account for the failure of the prince to overtake the white doe on the morning described in the passage.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** prince · **What happens:** overtake, describe, fail · **To what, where:** white doe, morning, passage

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 1173 «Fairy Tales, The White Doe, part 39: the prince runs off, and the doe becomes a girl each night» 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/1173-pg3027-part39/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1173-pg3027-part39:e4:1
# text = Account for the failure of the prince to overtake the white doe on the morning described in the passage.
1	Account	account	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	failure	failure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	overtake	overtake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	doe	doe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
16	described	describe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	acl	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	passage	passage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overtake** | to-infinitive |  | the white doe |  |  | morning |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **describe** | participle |  | the morning *not said here* |  | the passage |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fail** |  | the prince |  |  |  |  |  | nom failure «act 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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was too weak to chase her far through the forest, having been ill with fever, and the doe had deliberately gone in the opposite direction

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1173-pg3027-part39:e4:o1:1
# text = He was too weak to chase her far through the forest, having been ill with fever, and the doe had deliberately gone in the opposite direction
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	chase	chase	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	_
9	through	through	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	aux	_	_
14	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	15	cop	_	_
15	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	fever	fever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	doe	doe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
22	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	_
23	deliberately	deliberately	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
24	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
25	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
27	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
28	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | weak *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **chase** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | her *= she* |  | the forest |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent she=Theme through forest=Trajectory |
| 3 | **is** | gerund · perfect | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with fever; ill *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **go** | past · perfect | the doe |  |  | the opposite direction |  | deliberately *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in direction=Location |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doe was faster and the prince gave up the chase at dawn

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1173-pg3027-part39:e4:o2:1
# text = The doe was faster and the prince gave up the chase at dawn
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doe	doe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	2	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
8	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	chase	chase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	dawn	dawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **give up** | past | the doe and the prince | the chase |  |  | dawn |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chase=Source |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was too weak to follow her far, and the doe had deliberately taken the opposite direction to avoid being caught by him at all

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1173-pg3027-part39:e4:o3:1
# text = He was too weak to follow her far, and the doe had deliberately taken the opposite direction to avoid being caught by him at all
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	doe	doe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	deliberately	deliberately	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	advcl	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	acl	_	_
21	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	22	aux:pass	_	_
22	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
23	by	by	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obl	_	_
25	at	at	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	22	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | weak *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **follow** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | her *= she* |  |  |  | far *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |
| 3 | **take** | past · perfect · passive |  | the doe |  |  |  | deliberately *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: subject=Theme direction=Destination |
| 4 | **avoid** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **catch** | gerund · passive | him *= he* |  |  | all |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent at all=Asset |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was too weak to follow her far, and the doe had deliberately taken the opposite direction

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1173-pg3027-part39:e4:o4:1
# text = He was too weak to follow her far, and the doe had deliberately taken the opposite direction
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	doe	doe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	deliberately	deliberately	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | weak *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **follow** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | her *= she* |  |  |  | far *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |
| 3 | **take** | past · perfect · passive |  | the doe |  |  |  | deliberately *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: subject=Theme direction=Destination |

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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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