---
title: By what method did the prince succeed in preventing the white horse… — fairy tales, The Prince in the Old Man… · tree and pragmatics
description: By what method did the prince succeed in preventing the white horse from consuming its fodder? Exam question 3 of lesson 1764 «fairy tales, The Prince in the Old Man's House, part 15: the prince is set a hay task and tricks a horse and a cow» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the de
---

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# Exam question 3 · fairy tales, The Prince in the Old Man's House, part 15: t…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By what method did the prince succeed in preventing the white horse from consuming its fodder?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** method, prince · **What happens:** do, succeed, prevent, consume · **To what, where:** white horse, fodder

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 1764 «fairy tales, The Prince in the Old Man's House, part 15: the prince is set a hay task and tricks a horse and a cow» 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/1764-pg641-part15/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1764-pg641-part15:e3:1
# text = By what method did the prince succeed in preventing the white horse from consuming its fodder?
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
3	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	succeed	succeed	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	preventing	prevent	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	consuming	consume	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
15	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	fodder	fodder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | method |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **succeed** | present | the prince |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **prevent** | gerund | the prince *not said here* | the white horse |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer horse=Theme |
| 4 | **consume** | gerund | the prince *not said here* | method's fodder |  |  |  |  | vn consume-66 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fodder=Asset |

<!-- .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 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wove a plait of rushes and prepared a peg of wood

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1764-pg641-part15:e3:o1:1
# text = He wove a plait of rushes and prepared a peg of wood
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wove	weave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plait	plait	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	rushes	rush	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	prepared	prepare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	peg	peg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weave** | past | He | a plait of rushes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plait=Product |
| 2 | **prepare** | past | He *not said here* | a peg of wood |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent peg=Patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wove a plait of rushes and drove a thick peg of wood into the floor beside the manger

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1764-pg641-part15:e3:o2:1
# text = He wove a plait of rushes and drove a thick peg of wood into the floor beside the manger
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wove	weave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plait	plait	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	rushes	rush	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	drove	drive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	peg	peg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
14	into	into	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
17	beside	beside	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	manger	manger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weave** | past | He | a plait of rushes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plait=Product |
| 2 | **drive** | past | He *not said here* | a thick peg of wood |  | the floor |  | beside the manger | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Agent peg=Theme into floor=Destination beside manger=Initial\_Location |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wove a plait of rushes, soaked it in the trough, and prepared a peg of wood for the horse's jaws

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1764-pg641-part15:e3:o3:1
# text = He wove a plait of rushes, soaked it in the trough, and prepared a peg of wood for the horse's jaws
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wove	weave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plait	plait	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	rushes	rush	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	soaked	soak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	acl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	trough	trough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	prepared	prepare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	peg	peg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
20	for	for	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	's	's	PART	POS	_	22	case	_	_
24	jaws	jaw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weave** | past | He | a plait of rushes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plait=Product |
| 2 | **soak** | participle | a plait of rushes *not said here* | plait |  |  |  | in the trough | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent it=Destination in trough=Theme |
| 3 | **prepare** | past |  | a peg of wood |  |  |  | for the horse's jaws | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent peg=Product for jaw=Beneficiary |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wove a rope and carved a peg

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1764-pg641-part15:e3:o4:1
# text = He wove a rope and carved a peg
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wove	weave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	carved	carve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	peg	peg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weave** | past | He | a rope |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rope=Product |
| 2 | **carve** | past | He *not said here* | a peg |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent peg=Theme |

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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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- ← previous: [fairy tales, The Prince in the Old Man…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1764-pg641-part15/e2/)
- next →: [fairy tales, The Prince in the Old Man…, exam 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1764-pg641-part15/e4/)
- ↑ back to [fairy tales, The Prince in the Old Man's House, part 15: the prince is set a hay task and tricks a horse and a cow](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1764-pg641-part15/)