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title: Did the cats really break the tree roots or was that just the priest… — Celtic Fairy Tales, Conall Yellowclaw,… · tree and pragmatics
description: Did the cats really break the tree roots or was that just the priest's dream, mate? Test 1 · ★ of lesson 1990 «Celtic Fairy Tales, Conall Yellowclaw, part 9: Conall tells the king of a tree-breaking cat fight, then of a giant's cave and a stolen ring, and ends stranded on an island» of the books cou
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# Test 1 · ★ · Celtic Fairy Tales, Conall Yellowclaw, part 9: Conall tell…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Did the cats really break the tree roots or was that just the priest's dream, mate?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** cats · **What happens:** do, break, be · **To what, where:** tree roots, dream

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This is test 1 · ★ of lesson 1990 «Celtic Fairy Tales, Conall Yellowclaw, part 9: Conall tells the king of a tree-breaking cat fight, then of a giant's cave and a stolen ring, and ends stranded on an island» 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/1990-pg7885-part9/#t1).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1990-pg7885-part9:t1:1
# text = Did the cats really break the tree roots or was that just the priest's dream, mate?
1	Did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	really	really	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	break	break	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
12	just	just	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	dream	dream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | present | the cats | the tree roots |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer root=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | past |  | the priest's dream |  |  |  | mate *vocative* | 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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They just sat there, aye, and the lads stayed home

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1990-pg7885-part9:t1:o1:1
# text = They just sat there, aye, and the lads stayed home
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	just	just	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	aye	aye	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lads	lad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
12	home	home	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | They |  |  | there |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **stay** | past | the lads |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nah, the cats were all asleep in the tree, mate, and the lads sat down

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1990-pg7885-part9:t1:o2:1
# text = Nah, the cats were all asleep in the tree, mate, and the lads sat down
1	Nah	nah	INTJ	UH	_	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	all	all	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	asleep	asleep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	lads	lad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
17	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
18	down	down	ADP	RP	_	17	compound:prt	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the cats |  |  | the tree and mate |  | all, asleep *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sit down** | past | the lads |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nah, it was a dream, but the lads chased them off anyway with sticks and spades

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1990-pg7885-part9:t1:o3:1
# text = Nah, it was a dream, but the lads chased them off anyway with sticks and spades
1	Nah	nah	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dream	dream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lads	lad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	chased	chase	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	off	off	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
14	anyway	anyway	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	spades	spade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | it | a dream |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **chase off** | past | the lads | them *= they* |  |  |  | with sticks and spades; anyway *property* | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They broke the roots, aye, and the lads whacked them with spades

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:1990-pg7885-part9:t1:o4:1
# text = They broke the roots, aye, and the lads whacked them with spades
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	aye	aye	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lads	lad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	whacked	whack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	spades	spade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | They | the roots |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer root=Patient |
| 2 | **whack** | past | the lads | roots *= root* |  |  |  | with spades | vn hit-18.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent they=Patient with spade=Instrument |

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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.

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- ← previous: [Celtic Fairy Tales, Conall Yellowclaw,…, exam 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1989-pg7885-part8/e4/)
- next →: [Celtic Fairy Tales, Conall Yellowclaw,…, test 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1990-pg7885-part9/t2/)
- ↑ back to [Celtic Fairy Tales, Conall Yellowclaw, part 9: Conall tells the king of a tree-breaking cat fight, then of a giant's cave and a stolen ring, and ends stranded on an island](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/1990-pg7885-part9/)