---
title: did Theseus want to be king, or was he just stuck — Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9:… · tree and pragmatics
description: did Theseus want to be king, or was he just stuck Test 11 · ★ 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 dependency tree and pragmatics of the
---

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# Test 11 · ★ · Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9: Theseus comes home…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
did Theseus want to be king, or was he just stuck

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Theseus · **What happens:** want, be · **To what, where:** king

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 11 · ★ 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. 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/#t11).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:t11:1
# text = did Theseus want to be king, or was he just stuck
1	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	Theseus	Theseus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	just	just	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past · do-support | Theseus |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is a** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Theseus *not said here* | king |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | past | Theseus |  |  |  |  | stuck *property* | 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 -->
he got stuck with it, whether he would or no, since the people chose him over his mother and the council

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:t11:o1:1
# text = he got stuck with it, whether he would or no, since the people chose him over his mother and the council
1	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
16	chose	choose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
17	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	over	over	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | he |  |  |  |  | stuck *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **choose** | past | the people | him *= he* |  |  |  | over his mother and the council | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
he took it, though he never asked for it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:t11:o2:1
# text = he took it, though he never asked for it
1	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|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	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | he | it |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **ask** *speech: ask* | past | he |  |  |  |  | for it | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
he got stuck with it, whether he would or no, and he spent the rest of his days trying to give the crown back to the people

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:t11:o3:1
# text = he got stuck with it, whether he would or no, and he spent the rest of his days trying to give the crown back to the people
1	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	rest	rest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	_
21	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	xcomp	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	crown	crown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obj	_	_
26	back	back	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
27	to	to	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | he |  |  |  |  | stuck *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **spend** | past | he | the rest of his days |  |  |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rest=Asset |
| 3 | **try** | gerund | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **give back** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | the crown | the people |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent crown=Theme to people=Recipient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
he got stuck with it, whether he would or no

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:2050-pg976-part9:t11:o4:1
# text = he got stuck with it, whether he would or no
1	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	stuck	stuck	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	2	cc	_	_
11	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	2	discourse	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | he |  |  |  |  | stuck *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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:…, test 10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/2050-pg976-part9/t10/)
- next →: [Tanglewood Tales, The Pygmies, part 9:…, test 12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/2050-pg976-part9/t12/)
- ↑ 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/)