---
title: Explain the nature of the aid offered to Covan by the Dog of Maol-mo… — Celtic Fairy Tales, Gorla of the Flock… · tree and pragmatics
description: Explain the nature of the aid offered to Covan by the Dog of Maol-mor on the night of darkness. Exam question 4 of lesson 1184 «Celtic Fairy Tales, Gorla of the Flocks, part 50: Covan feeds the raven, herds the cows through fire and flood, and is sheltered by two friends» of the books course of Mova
---

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# Exam question 4 · Celtic Fairy Tales, Gorla of the Flocks, part 50: Covan fe…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Explain the nature of the aid offered to Covan by the Dog of Maol-mor on the night of darkness.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, nature · **What happens:** explain, offer · **To what, where:** Covan · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 1184 «Celtic Fairy Tales, Gorla of the Flocks, part 50: Covan feeds the raven, herds the cows through fire and flood, and is sheltered by two friends» 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/1184-pg3027-part50/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1184-pg3027-part50:e4:1
# text = Explain the nature of the aid offered to Covan by the Dog of Maol-mor on the night of darkness.
1	Explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	aid	aid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
7	offered	offer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Covan	Covan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	Maol	Maol	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	mor	mor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
17	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	darkness	darkness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	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* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **offer** | past | the nature |  | Covan |  | night | of the aid; by the Dog of Maol mor | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent to covan=Goal |

<!-- .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 offered shelter, a meal of lamb, rest by the fire, and dry clothes, and he promised future help to Covan whenever danger came.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1184-pg3027-part50:e4:o1:1
# text = He offered shelter, a meal of lamb, rest by the fire, and dry clothes, and he promised future help to Covan whenever danger came.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	offered	offer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	shelter	shelter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lamb	lamb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	rest	rest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
22	future	future	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	_
24	to	to	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	Covan	Covan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
26	whenever	whenever	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	28	advmod	_	_
27	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nsubj	_	_
28	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **offer** | past | He | shelter |  |  |  | a meal of lamb and rest by the fire *obl*; dry clothes *obl* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent shelter=Theme |
| 2 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | lamb | future help | Covan |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent help=Theme to covan=Goal |
| 3 | **come** | past | danger |  |  |  |  | whenever *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He offered shelter, a meal of lamb, and rest, and he promised future help, and he also guided Covan safely back to his herd in the morning.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1184-pg3027-part50:e4:o2:1
# text = He offered shelter, a meal of lamb, and rest, and he promised future help, and he also guided Covan safely back to his herd in the morning.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	offered	offer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	shelter	shelter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lamb	lamb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	rest	rest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
16	future	future	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
21	also	also	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	guided	guide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
23	Covan	Covan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
24	safely	safely	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
25	back	back	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
26	to	to	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	28	nmod:poss	_	_
28	herd	herd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obl	_	_
29	in	in	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **offer** | past | He | shelter |  |  |  | rest *obl* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent shelter=Theme |
| 2 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | lamb | future help |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent help=Theme |
| 3 | **guide** | past | lamb | Covan |  |  | morning |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent covan=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He offered shelter, a meal of lamb, and rest, and he promised future help.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1184-pg3027-part50:e4:o3:1
# text = He offered shelter, a meal of lamb, and rest, and he promised future help.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	offered	offer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	shelter	shelter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lamb	lamb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	rest	rest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
16	future	future	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **offer** | past | He | shelter |  |  |  | rest *obl* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent shelter=Theme |
| 2 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | lamb | future help |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent help=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He provided a roof, lamb to eat, and rest, and swore later help.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1184-pg3027-part50:e4:o4:1
# text = He provided a roof, lamb to eat, and rest, and swore later help.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	provided	provide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	lamb	lamb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	rest	rest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	swore	swear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
15	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	16	advmod	_	_
16	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **provide** | past | He | a roof and lamb |  |  |  | rest *obl* | vn ensure-99 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition roof=Theme |
| 2 | **eat** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **swear** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **help** | present |  |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=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: [Celtic Fairy Tales, Gorla of the Flock…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1184-pg3027-part50/e3/)
- next →: [Celtic Tales, Covan son of Gorla: Cova…, test 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1185-pg3027-part51/t1/)
- ↑ back to [Celtic Fairy Tales, Gorla of the Flocks, part 50: Covan feeds the raven, herds the cows through fire and flood, and is sheltered by two friends](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1184-pg3027-part50/)