---
title: «Murdering the time» — what is the joke? — Alice in Wonderland, chapter VII, part… · tree and pragmatics
description: «Murdering the time» — what is the joke? Test 2 · ★ of lesson 14 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter VII, part 2: A Mad Tea-Party (the treacle-well and the garden at last)» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's choi
---

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# Test 2 · ★ · Alice in Wonderland, chapter VII, part 2: A Mad Tea-Party…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Murdering the time» — what is the joke?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **What happens:** murder, be · **To what, where:** joke · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 2 · ★ of lesson 14 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter VII, part 2: A Mad Tea-Party (the treacle-well and the garden at last)» of the books course of Mova's primary school. 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/14-alice-a-mad-tea-party-2/#t2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:14-alice-a-mad-tea-party-2:t2:1
# text = «Murdering the time» — what is the joke?
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Murdering	murder	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **murder** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  | time |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **be** *speech: other* | present |  | the joke |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
It means Time is a person, so the Hatter killed a friend of the Queen's

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:14-alice-a-mad-tea-party-2:t2:o1:1
# text = It means Time is a person, so the Hatter killed a friend of the Queen's
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Hatter	Hatter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	killed	kill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Queen	Queen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Time | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **kill** | past | the Hatter | a friend |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friend=Theme |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Singing out of rhythm is called murdering the time, but also Time is a person who can be hurt and was never asked

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:14-alice-a-mad-tea-party-2:t2:o2:1
# text = Singing out of rhythm is called murdering the time, but also Time is a person who can be hurt and was never asked
1	Singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	csubj:pass	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	rhythm	rhythm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	murdering	murder	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
12	also	also	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
13	Time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
17	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
19	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	aux:pass	_	_
20	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl:relcl	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux:pass	_	_
23	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	24	advmod	_	_
24	asked	ask	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing out** *speech: express* | gerund |  | rhythm |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location rhythm=Theme |
| 2 | **call** *speech: assert* | present · passive | Singing |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: clause=Topic |
| 3 | **murder** | gerund | Singing *not said here* |  |  |  | time |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** | present | Time | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **hurt** | can · passive |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 6 | **not** **ask** *speech: ask* | past · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V» |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Singing out of rhythm is called murdering the time, and Time itself is a character who ran away from the Hatter

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:14-alice-a-mad-tea-party-2:t2:o3:1
# text = Singing out of rhythm is called murdering the time, and Time itself is a character who ran away from the Hatter
1	Singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	csubj:pass	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	rhythm	rhythm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	murdering	murder	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
12	Time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
13	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	12	nmod	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
17	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
19	away	away	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
20	from	from	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	Hatter	Hatter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing out** *speech: express* | gerund |  | rhythm |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location rhythm=Theme |
| 2 | **call** *speech: assert* | present · passive | Singing |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: clause=Topic |
| 3 | **murder** | gerund | Singing *not said here* |  |  |  | time |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** | present | Time  rhythm | a character |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **run away** | past | a character |  |  |  |  | from the Hatter; away *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from hatter=Trajectory |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Singing out of rhythm is called murdering it, but Time sounds like a person who could be hurt

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:14-alice-a-mad-tea-party-2:t2:o4:1
# text = Singing out of rhythm is called murdering it, but Time sounds like a person who could be hurt
1	Singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	csubj:pass	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	rhythm	rhythm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	murdering	murder	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	Time	Time	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
18	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing out** *speech: express* | gerund |  | rhythm |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location rhythm=Theme |
| 2 | **call** *speech: assert* | present · passive | Singing |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: clause=Topic |
| 3 | **murder** | gerund | Singing *not said here* | rhythm |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **sound** | present | Time |  |  |  |  | like a person | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **hurt** | could · passive |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

<!-- 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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