---
title: Describe the manner in which Theseus attempts to move the rock durin… — Tanglewood Tales, The Minotaur, part 1… · tree and pragmatics
description: Describe the manner in which Theseus attempts to move the rock during his early efforts. Exam question 2 of lesson 2043 «Tanglewood Tales, The Minotaur, part 1: Theseus tries to lift a heavy rock that his mother says hides the way to Athens» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dep
---

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# Exam question 2 · Tanglewood Tales, The Minotaur, part 1: Theseus tries to l…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Describe the manner in which Theseus attempts to move the rock during his early efforts.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 2 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** you, Theseus · **What happens:** describe, attempt, move · **To what, where:** manner, rock

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 2043 «Tanglewood Tales, The Minotaur, part 1: Theseus tries to lift a heavy rock that his mother says hides the way to Athens» 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/2043-pg976-part2/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2043-pg976-part2:e2:1
# text = Describe the manner in which Theseus attempts to move the rock during his early efforts.
1	Describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	manner	manner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	obl	_	_
6	Theseus	Theseus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	attempts	attempt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	during	during	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
14	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	efforts	effort	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | imperative | you *not said here* | the manner |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent manner=Theme |
| 2 | **attempt** | present | Theseus |  |  | the manner |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **move** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Theseus *not said here* | the rock |  |  | during Theseus's early efforts |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent rock=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 -->
He summons a team of oxen from the palace stables and ties ropes around its rough protuberances to drag it

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2043-pg976-part2:e2:o1:1
# text = He summons a team of oxen from the palace stables and ties ropes around its rough protuberances to drag it
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	summons	summon	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	oxen	ox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	stables	stable	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	ties	tie	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	ropes	rope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
14	around	around	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
16	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	protuberances	protuberance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	drag	drag	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **summon** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stable** | present | a team of oxen from the palace |  |  |  |  |  | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **tie** | present | He *not said here* | ropes |  | team's rough protuberances |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rope=Patient |
| 4 | **drag** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | team |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He grasps its rough protuberances and tugs and toils amain

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2043-pg976-part2:e2:o2:1
# text = He grasps its rough protuberances and tugs and toils amain
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grasps	grasp	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	protuberances	protuberance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	tugs	tug	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	toils	toil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
10	amain	amain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grasp** | present | He | its rough protuberances and tugs and toils |  |  |  | amain *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer protuberance=Stimulus |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He clutches its rough bumps and heaves and strains with might

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2043-pg976-part2:e2:o3:1
# text = He clutches its rough bumps and heaves and strains with might
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	clutches	clutch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	bumps	bump	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	heaves	heave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	strains	strain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clutch** | present | He | its rough bumps and heaves and strains |  |  |  |  | vn hold-15.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bump=Theme |
| 2 | **bump** |  | its *= it* |  |  |  |  |  | nom bump «state transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He grasps its rough protuberances, tugs and toils amain, then calls his grandfather to help him lift it

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2043-pg976-part2:e2:o4:1
# text = He grasps its rough protuberances, tugs and toils amain, then calls his grandfather to help him lift it
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grasps	grasp	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	protuberances	protuberance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	tugs	tug	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	toils	toil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
10	amain	amain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	13	advmod	_	_
13	calls	call	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	grandfather	grandfather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
18	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grasp** | present | He | its rough protuberances and tugs and toils |  |  |  | amain *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer protuberance=Stimulus |
| 2 | **call** | present | He *not said here* | his grandfather |  |  | then |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent he=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 4 | **lift** | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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 -->

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- ← previous: [Tanglewood Tales, The Minotaur, part 1…, exam 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/2043-pg976-part2/e1/)
- next →: [Tanglewood Tales, The Minotaur, part 1…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/2043-pg976-part2/e3/)
- ↑ back to [Tanglewood Tales, The Minotaur, part 1: Theseus tries to lift a heavy rock that his mother says hides the way to Athens](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/2043-pg976-part2/)