---
title: State the precise reason the demon chief offered for requiring a ple… — Japanese Fairy Tales, The Old Man with… · tree and pragmatics
description: State the precise reason the demon chief offered for requiring a pledge of the old man. Exam question 2 of lesson 1384 «Japanese Fairy Tales, The Old Man with the Wen, part 44: the old man dances for the demons and loses his wen, and his wicked neighbour sets out to copy him» of the books course of 
---

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# Exam question 2 · Japanese Fairy Tales, The Old Man with the Wen, part 44: t…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
State the precise reason the demon chief offered for requiring a pledge of the old man.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **What happens:** offer, require, pledge · **To what, where:** demon chief, pledge, old man

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1384 «Japanese Fairy Tales, The Old Man with the Wen, part 44: the old man dances for the demons and loses his wen, and his wicked neighbour sets out to copy him» 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/1384-pg4018-part44/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1384-pg4018-part44:e2:1
# text = State the precise reason the demon chief offered for requiring a pledge of the old man.
1	State	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	precise	precise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	demon	demon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
8	offered	offer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	requiring	require	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	pledge	pledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **offer** | participle |  | the demon chief *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **require** | gerund |  | a pledge of the old man |  |  |  |  | vn require-103-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme pledge=Precondition |
| 3 | **pledge** |  |  | the old man |  |  |  |  | nom pledge «possession transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Because the old man had lied about his name and home village.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1384-pg4018-part44:e2:o1:1
# text = Because the old man had lied about his name and home village.
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	lied	lie	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | past · perfect | the old man |  |  |  |  | about man's name and home village | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent about name=Location |
| 2 | **name** |  | man |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because the old man had promised to return, and a pledge would secure that promise.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1384-pg4018-part44:e2:o2:1
# text = Because the old man had promised to return, and a pledge would secure that promise.
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	promised	promise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	return	return	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	pledge	pledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	secure	secure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
15	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	16	det	_	_
16	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past · perfect | the old man |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **return** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the old man *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **secure** | would | a pledge | that promise |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition promise=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because the old man had promised to return to the tree and dance, and the chief wanted a pledge to secure that promise firmly.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1384-pg4018-part44:e2:o3:1
# text = Because the old man had promised to return to the tree and dance, and the chief wanted a pledge to secure that promise firmly.
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	promised	promise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	return	return	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	dance	dance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	pledge	pledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	secure	secure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	xcomp	_	_
23	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	24	det	_	_
24	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
25	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past · perfect | the old man |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **return** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the old man *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the tree and dance *result* | vn convert-26.6.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to tree=Result |
| 3 | **want** | past | the chief | a pledge |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **secure** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a pledge *not said here* | that promise |  |  |  | firmly *property* | vn ensure-99 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition promise=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because the old man had promised to return, so the chief wanted a pledge to guarantee that promise would be kept by him.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1384-pg4018-part44:e2:o4:1
# text = Because the old man had promised to return, so the chief wanted a pledge to guarantee that promise would be kept by him.
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	promised	promise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	return	return	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	pledge	pledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	guarantee	guarantee	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
18	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	19	det	_	_
19	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
20	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
21	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	aux:pass	_	_
22	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	ccomp	_	_
23	by	by	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past · perfect | the old man |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **return** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the old man *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **want** | past | the chief | a pledge |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **guarantee** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a pledge *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn ensure-99 «NP V that S»: agent=Precondition clause=Theme |
| 5 | **keep** | would · passive | chief | that promise |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=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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