---
title: In what manner does the fisherman respond to the flounder's plea for… — Grimm's Household Tales, The Fisherman… · tree and pragmatics
description: In what manner does the fisherman respond to the flounder's plea for release, and what does the text state as his reason? Exam question 1 of lesson 1937 «Grimm's Household Tales, The Fisherman and His Wife, part 1: a greedy wife keeps asking the flounder for more» of the books course of Mova's prima
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1937-pg7277-part74/e1/)

<!-- 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/) / [Grimm's Household Tales, The Fisherman…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1937-pg7277-part74/) / e1

# Exam question 1 · Grimm's Household Tales, The Fisherman and His Wife, part…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In what manner does the fisherman respond to the flounder's plea for release, and what does the text state as his reason?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** fisherman · **What happens:** respond, do · **To what, where:** manner, text state

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 1937 «Grimm's Household Tales, The Fisherman and His Wife, part 1: a greedy wife keeps asking the flounder for more» 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/1937-pg7277-part74/#e1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1937-pg7277-part74:e1:1
# text = In what manner does the fisherman respond to the flounder's plea for release, and what does the text state as his reason?
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	what	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	3	det	_	_
3	manner	manner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
4	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fisherman	fisherman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	respond	respond	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	plea	plea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	release	release	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	18	nsubj	_	_
18	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	text	text	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
22	as	as	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	24	nmod:poss	_	_
24	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | present · do-support | the fisherman |  |  | what manner |  | to the flounder's plea for release | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to plea=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | present |  | the text state |  |  |  | as fisherman's reason | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent state=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
He lets it go after a long argument with his wife, who begs him to take the flounder home and keep it as a pet fish forever.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1937-pg7277-part74:e1:o1:1
# text = He lets it go after a long argument with his wife, who begs him to take the flounder home and keep it as a pet fish forever.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lets	let	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	begs	beg	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
15	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	home	home	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	conj	_	_
23	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obj	_	_
24	as	as	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
27	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
28	forever	forever	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | present | He | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | infinitive |  |  |  |  | after a long argument with his wife |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **beg** *speech: request* | present | his wife |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn beg-58.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent he=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **take** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | his wife *not said here* | the flounder |  |  |  | home *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flounder=Theme |
| 5 | **keep** | present | his wife *not said here* | flounder |  |  |  | as a pet fish; forever *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He eats it at once, deciding a fish that talks is no danger to him.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1937-pg7277-part74:e1:o2:1
# text = He eats it at once, deciding a fish that talks is no danger to him.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	deciding	decide	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	csubj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	talks	talk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	14	det	_	_
14	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | He | it |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 2 | **decide** | gerund |  | a fish |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent fish=Topic |
| 3 | **talk** | present | a fish |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** | present | deciding | no danger | fish |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He keeps it, thinking a flounder that talks would make a fine dinner.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1937-pg7277-part74:e1:o3:1
# text = He keeps it, thinking a flounder that talks would make a fine dinner.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	talks	talk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | He | it |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **talk** | present | a flounder |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **make** | would | a flounder | a fine dinner |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material dinner=Product |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He releases it, reasoning that a flounder able to speak deserves to swim away.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1937-pg7277-part74:e1:o4:1
# text = He releases it, reasoning that a flounder able to speak deserves to swim away.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	releases	release	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	reasoning	reason	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	flounder	flounder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
9	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl	_	_
12	deserves	deserve	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	away	away	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **release** | present | He | it |  |  |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Causer it=Source |
| 2 | **reason** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | a flounder *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **deserve** | present | a flounder |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **swim away** | to-infinitive | a flounder *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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: [Grimm's Household Tales, The Fisherman…, test 13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1937-pg7277-part74/t13/)
- next →: [Grimm's Household Tales, The Fisherman…, exam 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1937-pg7277-part74/e2/)
- ↑ back to [Grimm's Household Tales, The Fisherman and His Wife, part 1: a greedy wife keeps asking the flounder for more](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1937-pg7277-part74/)