---
title: Did the tree believe Humpty Dumpty's story was true? — Fairy Tales, The Fir-Tree, part 18: th… · tree and pragmatics
description: Did the tree believe Humpty Dumpty's story was true? Test 8 · ★ of lesson 1629 «Fairy Tales, The Fir-Tree, part 18: the tree is dressed for Christmas, hears a story, and is then shut away in a dark loft» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the que
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1629-pg5615-part18/t8/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [questions](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/) / [Books](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/) / [Fairy Tales, The Fir-Tree, part 18: th…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1629-pg5615-part18/) / t8

# Test 8 · ★ · Fairy Tales, The Fir-Tree, part 18: the tree is dressed fo…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Did the tree believe Humpty Dumpty's story was true?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** tree, story · **What happens:** believe, be · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★ of lesson 1629 «Fairy Tales, The Fir-Tree, part 18: the tree is dressed for Christmas, hears a story, and is then shut away in a dark loft» 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/1629-pg5615-part18/#t8).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1629-pg5615-part18:t8:1
# text = Did the tree believe Humpty Dumpty's story was true?
1	Did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	Humpty	Humpty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	_
6	Dumpty	Dumpty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | past · do-support | the tree |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | past | Humpty's story |  |  |  |  | true *property* | 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 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Nah, it thought it was a lie, innit."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1629-pg5615-part18:t8:o1:1
# text = "Nah, it thought it was a lie, innit."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Nah	nah	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lie	lie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	innit	innit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | past | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | it | a lie and innit |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Yeah, it thought it must be, 'cause the man was nice."

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1629-pg5615-part18:t8:o2:1
# text = "Yeah, it thought it must be, 'cause the man was nice."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Yeah	yeah	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	be	be	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	cause	cause	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | past | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **be** *in a quote* | must | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | past | the man |  |  |  |  | nice *property* | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Yeah, it reckoned so, 'cause he was kind."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1629-pg5615-part18:t8:o3:1
# text = "Yeah, it reckoned so, 'cause he was kind."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Yeah	yeah	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	reckoned	reckon	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	cause	cause	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reckon** *in a quote* | past | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | past | he |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Yeah, it thought it must be true, 'cause the man was nice and the kids all clapped, mate."

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1629-pg5615-part18:t8:o4:1
# text = "Yeah, it thought it must be true, 'cause the man was nice and the kids all clapped, mate."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Yeah	yeah	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	cause	cause	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nsubj	_	_
20	all	all	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	clapped	clap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | past | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | must | it |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | past | the man |  |  |  |  | nice *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **clap** *in a quote* | past | the kids |  |  |  |  | mate *vocative*; all *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Fairy Tales, The Fir-Tree, part 18: th…, test 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1629-pg5615-part18/t7/)
- next →: [Fairy Tales, The Fir-Tree, part 18: th…, test 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1629-pg5615-part18/t9/)
- ↑ back to [Fairy Tales, The Fir-Tree, part 18: the tree is dressed for Christmas, hears a story, and is then shut away in a dark loft](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1629-pg5615-part18/)