---
title: Which of the following correctly identifies the agent by whom the pr… — Russian Fairy Tales, The Dragon Empero… · tree and pragmatics
description: Which of the following correctly identifies the agent by whom the prince is assisted in recovering the mare? Exam question 4 of lesson 1760 «Russian Fairy Tales, The Dragon Emperor, part 11: the prince frees a fish, a fox and a wolf, then serves the old woman» of the books course of Mova's primary s
---

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# Exam question 4 · Russian Fairy Tales, The Dragon Emperor, part 11: the prin…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which of the following correctly identifies the agent by whom the prince is assisted in recovering the mare?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **What happens:** follow, identify, assist, recover · **To what, where:** agent, prince, mare

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 1760 «Russian Fairy Tales, The Dragon Emperor, part 11: the prince frees a fish, a fox and a wolf, then serves the old woman» 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/1760-pg641-part11/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1760-pg641-part11:e4:1
# text = Which of the following correctly identifies the agent by whom the prince is assisted in recovering the mare?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
5	correctly	correctly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	identifies	identify	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	agent	agent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	whom	whom	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	obl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	assisted	assist	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	recovering	recover	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	mare	mare	NOUN	NN	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 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | correctly *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **identify** | present |  | the agent |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent agent=Theme |
| 3 | **assist** | present · passive |  | the prince |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **recover** | gerund |  | the mare |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mare=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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The empress, who slipped a silver ring to the prince through the bars of her palace window

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1760-pg641-part11:e4:o1:1
# text = The empress, who slipped a silver ring to the prince through the bars of her palace window
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	empress	empress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	slipped	slip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	silver	silver	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ring	ring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
12	through	through	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
17	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slip** | past | the empress | a silver ring | the prince | the bars of empress's palace window |  |  | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent ring=Theme to prince=Destination |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The voice from the cask, which followed the prince across the mountains and whispered directions to him in the dark until dawn broke

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1760-pg641-part11:e4:o2:1
# text = The voice from the cask, which followed the prince across the mountains and whispered directions to him in the dark until dawn broke
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cask	cask	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	across	across	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	whispered	whisper	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
16	directions	direction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
22	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
23	dawn	dawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
24	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | past | the voice from the cask | the prince |  | the mountains |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent prince=Theme across mountain=Trajectory |
| 2 | **whisper** *speech: assert* | past | the voice from the cask *not said here* | directions | voice | the dark |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent direction=Topic to he=Recipient |
| 3 | **break** | past | dawn |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little fish, summoned by the twisting of the scale that the prince had preserved from the river

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1760-pg641-part11:e4:o3:1
# text = The little fish, summoned by the twisting of the scale that the prince had preserved from the river
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	summoned	summon	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	twisting	twisting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	scale	scale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	preserved	preserve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **summon** | participle |  | the little fish *not said here* |  |  |  | by the twisting of the scale | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **preserve** | past · perfect · passive | the little fish *not said here* | the prince |  |  |  | from the river | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Beneficiary from river=Theme |
| 3 | **twist** |  |  | the scale |  |  |  |  | nom twisting «act transitive»: of=patient |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little fish, summoned by the twisting of a scale that the prince had kept safe in his pocket since the day he found the talking cask in the forest

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1760-pg641-part11:e4:o4:1
# text = The little fish, summoned by the twisting of a scale that the prince had kept safe in his pocket since the day he found the talking cask in the forest
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	summoned	summon	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	twisting	twisting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	scale	scale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	advcl	_	_
17	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	xcomp	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
21	since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obl:unmarked	_	_
24	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
27	talking	talking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	compound	_	_
28	cask	cask	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obj	_	_
29	in	in	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **summon** | participle |  | the little fish *not said here* |  |  |  | by the twisting of a scale | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **keep** | past · perfect · passive |  | the prince |  | fish's pocket |  | safe *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Theme in pocket=Location |
| 3 | **find** | past | fish | the talking cask |  | the forest | day |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cask=Topic |
| 4 | **twist** |  |  | a scale |  |  |  |  | nom twisting «act transitive»: of=patient |

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**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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