---
title: Identify the precise nature of the second message inscribed upon the… — Indian Fairy Tales, The Son of Seven Q… · tree and pragmatics
description: Identify the precise nature of the second message inscribed upon the potsherd and state the individual responsible for its alteration. Exam question 2 of lesson 1838 «Indian Fairy Tales, The Son of Seven Queens, part 22: the lad wins the Jogi's cow and goes off to marry, but shoots pigeons on the wa
---

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# Exam question 2 · Indian Fairy Tales, The Son of Seven Queens, part 22: the…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identify the precise nature of the second message inscribed upon the potsherd and state the individual responsible for its alteration.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, state · **What happens:** identify, inscribe, alter · **To what, where:** precise nature, second message, potsherd

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 1838 «Indian Fairy Tales, The Son of Seven Queens, part 22: the lad wins the Jogi's cow and goes off to marry, but shoots pigeons on the way» 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/1838-pg7128-part22/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1838-pg7128-part22:e2:1
# text = Identify the precise nature of the second message inscribed upon the potsherd and state the individual responsible for its alteration.
1	Identify	identify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	precise	precise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	inscribed	inscribe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	potsherd	potsherd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	individual	individual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	responsible	responsible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	alteration	alteration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **identify** | imperative | you *not said here* | the precise nature of the second message |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent nature=Theme |
| 2 | **inscribe** | participle |  | the second message *not said here* |  | the potsherd and state |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent upon potsherd=Destination |
| 3 | **alter** |  | state |  |  |  |  |  | nom alteration «event transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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 message instructed that the lad be cared for and given all he desired, and it was altered by the Princess who swapped the potsherd with her own hand

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1838-pg7128-part22:e2:o1:1
# text = The message instructed that the lad be cared for and given all he desired, and it was altered by the Princess who swapped the potsherd with her own hand
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	instructed	instruct	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lad	lad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	cared	care	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
12	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	obj	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	desired	desire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	altered	alter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
20	by	by	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	Princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
23	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	24	nsubj	_	_
24	swapped	swap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	acl:relcl	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	potsherd	potsherd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
27	with	with	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
28	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	30	nmod:poss	_	_
29	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	30	amod	_	_
30	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **instruct** *speech: other* | past | the message |  |  |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **care** | infinitive · passive |  | the lad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** | participle |  | all |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent all=Theme |
| 4 | **desire** | past | message |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **alter** | past · passive | the Princess | lad |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 6 | **swap** | past | the Princess | the potsherd |  |  |  | with Princess's own hand | vn exchange-13.6.1 «NP V NP PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent potsherd=Theme with hand=Co-Agent |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The message asked for the lad to be sent away, altered by the old hag

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1838-pg7128-part22:e2:o2:1
# text = The message asked for the lad to be sent away, altered by the old hag
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lad	lad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
10	away	away	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	altered	alter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
13	by	by	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	hag	hag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the message |  |  |  |  | for the lad | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **send away** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP» |
| 3 | **alter** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by the old hag | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The message instructed that the lad be cared for and given all he desired, altered by the Princess

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1838-pg7128-part22:e2:o3:1
# text = The message instructed that the lad be cared for and given all he desired, altered by the Princess
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	instructed	instruct	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lad	lad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	cared	care	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
12	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	obj	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	desired	desire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	altered	alter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	Princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **instruct** *speech: other* | past | the message |  |  |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **care** | infinitive · passive |  | the lad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** | participle |  | all |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent all=Theme |
| 4 | **desire** | past | message |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **alter** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by the Princess | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The message instructed that the lad be killed and buried, altered by the white Queen

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1838-pg7128-part22:e2:o4:1
# text = The message instructed that the lad be killed and buried, altered by the white Queen
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	instructed	instruct	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lad	lad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	killed	kill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	buried	bury	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	altered	alter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	Queen	Queen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **instruct** *speech: other* | past | the message |  |  |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **kill** | infinitive · passive |  | the lad |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **bury** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **alter** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by the white Queen | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=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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