---
title: By what means did the warlike party of seven reduce its number befor… — Old Indian Legends, The Warlike Seven,… · tree and pragmatics
description: By what means did the warlike party of seven reduce its number before reaching the great wood? Exam question 2 of lesson 1275 «Old Indian Legends, The Warlike Seven, part 1: Manstin finds his eyes again, then seven friends set out to make war and the first warriors drop away» of the books course of 
---

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# Exam question 2 · Old Indian Legends, The Warlike Seven, part 1: Manstin fin…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By what means did the warlike party of seven reduce its number before reaching the great wood?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** seven · **What happens:** mean, do, reduce, reach · **To what, where:** warlike party, number, great wood · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1275 «Old Indian Legends, The Warlike Seven, part 1: Manstin finds his eyes again, then seven friends set out to make war and the first warriors drop away» 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/1275-pg338-part12/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1275-pg338-part12:e2:1
# text = By what means did the warlike party of seven reduce its number before reaching the great wood?
1	By	by	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	warlike	warlike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nsubj	_	_
10	reduce	reduce	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	reaching	reach	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | past |  | the warlike party |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent party=Eventuality |
| 3 | **reduce** | present | seven | party's number |  |  |  |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer number=Patient |
| 4 | **reach** | gerund | seven *not said here* | the great wood |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent wood=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 -->
By the wind and the river, and also by the thorn apple, the mire, and the Dragon Fly's loud nose, all of which reduced the party.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1275-pg338-part12:e2:o1:1
# text = By the wind and the river, and also by the thorn apple, the mire, and the Dragon Fly's loud nose, all of which reduced the party.
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obl	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
9	also	also	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	apple	apple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	mire	mire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	Dragon	Dragon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	Fly	Fly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	's	's	PART	POS	_	21	case	_	_
23	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
26	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	29	nsubj	_	_
27	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
28	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	26	nmod	_	_
29	reduced	reduce	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	29	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reduce** | past | all | the party |  |  |  | by the wind and the river and the thorn apple and the mire and the Dragon Fly's loud nose | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer party=Patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By the storm, which scattered the Ashes, and the flood that swept the Grasshopper.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1275-pg338-part12:e2:o2:1
# text = By the storm, which scattered the Ashes, and the flood that swept the Grasshopper.
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	scattered	scatter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Ashes	Ash	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	swept	sweep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Grasshopper	Grasshopper	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scatter** | past |  | the Ashes |  |  |  | by the storm; the flood *obl* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent ash=Theme by storm=Destination |
| 2 | **sweep** | past | the flood | the Grasshopper |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location grasshopper=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By the wind, which carried off the Ashes, and the river, which claimed the Fire.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1275-pg338-part12:e2:o3:1
# text = By the wind, which carried off the Ashes, and the river, which claimed the Fire.
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Ashes	Ash	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	claimed	claim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	Fire	Fire	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry off** | past |  | the Ashes |  |  |  | by the wind; the river *obl* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ash=Theme |
| 2 | **claim** *speech: other* | past | the river | the Fire |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent fire=Topic |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By the wind, which carried off the Ashes, and the river, which claimed the Fire, and the mire, which took the Grasshopper's legs.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1275-pg338-part12:e2:o4:1
# text = By the wind, which carried off the Ashes, and the river, which claimed the Fire, and the mire, which took the Grasshopper's legs.
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Ashes	Ash	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	claimed	claim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	Fire	Fire	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	mire	mire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
24	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	25	nsubj	_	_
25	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	acl:relcl	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	Grasshopper	Grasshopper	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	29	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	's	's	PART	POS	_	27	case	_	_
29	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry off** | past |  | the Ashes |  |  |  | by the wind; the river *obl* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ash=Theme |
| 2 | **claim** *speech: other* | past | the river | the Fire |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent fire=Topic |
| 3 | **take** | past | the mire | the Grasshopper's legs |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Theme |

<!-- 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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- ↑ back to [Old Indian Legends, The Warlike Seven, part 1: Manstin finds his eyes again, then seven friends set out to make war and the first warriors drop away](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1275-pg338-part12/)