---
title: State the consequence of Theseus's failure to change the sails of hi… — Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9:… · tree and pragmatics
description: State the consequence of Theseus's failure to change the sails of his vessel. Exam question 4 of lesson 2050 «Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9: Theseus comes home to grief, and the Giant Antaeus is introduced as friend of the Pygmies» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the depen
---

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# Exam question 4 · Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9: Theseus comes home…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
State the consequence of Theseus's failure to change the sails of his vessel.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, Theseus · **What happens:** state, change, fail · **To what, where:** consequence, sails

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 2050 «Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9: Theseus comes home to grief, and the Giant Antaeus is introduced as friend of the Pygmies» 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/2050-pg976-part9/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e4:1
# text = State the consequence of Theseus's failure to change the sails of his vessel.
1	State	state	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	consequence	consequence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	Theseus	Theseus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	failure	failure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sails	sail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	vessel	vessel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **state** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* | the consequence of Theseus's failure |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent consequence=Topic |
| 2 | **change** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the sails of Theseus's vessel |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sail=Patient |
| 3 | **fail** |  | Theseus |  |  |  |  |  | nom failure «act intransitive»: 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 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ship was delayed, so his father sailed out to search for him.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e4:o1:1
# text = The ship was delayed, so his father sailed out to search for him.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	delayed	delayed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	sailed	sail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
10	out	out	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	search	search	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the ship |  |  |  |  | delayed *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sail out** | past | his father |  |  |  |  | out *property* | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **search** | to-infinitive | his father *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for father | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for he=Theme |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His father, observing the black sails, believed him dead and cast himself from a cliff.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e4:o2:1
# text = His father, observing the black sails, believed him dead and cast himself from a cliff.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	observing	observe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	appos	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	sails	sail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	believed	believe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	cast	cast	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
14	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	13	obj	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **observe** | gerund |  | the black sails |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent sail=Topic |
| 2 | **believe** | past | His father | him *= he* |  |  |  | dead *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer he=Stimulus |
| 3 | **cast** | present | His father *not said here* | father |  | a cliff |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent himself=Product from cliff=Material |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sails stayed black, so the Minotaur devoured him and his father went mad with grief.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e4:o3:1
# text = The sails stayed black, so the Minotaur devoured him and his father went mad with grief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sails	sail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Minotaur	Minotaur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	devoured	devour	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
15	mad	mad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	grief	grief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | past | the sails |  |  |  |  | black *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **devour** | past | the Minotaur | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn devour-39.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |
| 3 | **go** | past | Minotaur's father |  |  |  |  | mad *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His father, seeing the black sails, thought him killed and then threw his crown into the sea.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:e4:o4:1
# text = His father, seeing the black sails, thought him killed and then threw his crown into the sea.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	seeing	see	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	sails	sail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
9	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	killed	kill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	14	advmod	_	_
14	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	crown	crown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	into	into	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | gerund | His father *not said here* | the black sails |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer sail=Stimulus |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | past | His father |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **kill** | past | father |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **throw** | past | father *not said here* | father's crown |  |  | then | into the sea *result* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Causer crown=Theme into sea=Result |
| 5 | **crown** |  | father |  |  |  |  |  | nom crown «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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 Pygmies, part 9:…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/2050-pg976-part9/e3/)
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- ↑ back to [Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9: Theseus comes home to grief, and the Giant Antaeus is introduced as friend of the Pygmies](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/2050-pg976-part9/)