---
title: The King says «don't be nervous, or I'll have you executed». Why doe… — Alice in Wonderland, chapter XI, part… · tree and pragmatics
description: The King says «don't be nervous, or I'll have you executed». Why does this not help? Test 9 · ★★ of lesson 21 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter XI, part 1: Who Stole the Tarts? (the court and the first witness)» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the
---

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# Test 9 · ★★ · Alice in Wonderland, chapter XI, part 1: Who Stole the Tar…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The King says «don't be nervous, or I'll have you executed». Why does this not help?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 3 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** King, you, this · **What happens:** say, not be, have, execute, not help · **To what, where:** you · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 9 · ★★ of lesson 21 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter XI, part 1: Who Stole the Tarts? (the court and the first witness)» 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/21-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-1/#t9).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* The King says «don't be nervous, or I'll have you executed».

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:21-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-1:t9:1
# text = The King says «don't be nervous, or I'll have you executed».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	executed	execute	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the King |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | infinitive · do-support |  |  |  |  |  | nervous *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **have** *in a quote* | future | the King *= king* | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **execute** *in a quote* | participle | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Why does this not help?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:21-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-1:t9:2
# text = Why does this not help?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **help** | present · do-support | this |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A threat makes anyone more nervous, not less, so the King should try a kinder word to the Hatter

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:21-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-1:t9:o1:1
# text = A threat makes anyone more nervous, not less, so the King should try a kinder word to the Hatter
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	kinder	kind	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	18	amod	_	_
18	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	Hatter	Hatter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a threat | anyone |  |  |  | nervous *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset anyone=Product |
| 2 | **try** | should | the King | a kinder word |  |  |  | to the Hatter | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Eventuality |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Hatter already knows the King is cross

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:21-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-1:t9:o2:1
# text = The Hatter already knows the King is cross
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Hatter	Hatter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	already	already	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	cross	cross	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | the Hatter |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | the King |  |  |  |  | cross *property* | tree rules |

### Option 3 · ← Mova's choice {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A threat makes anyone more nervous, not less, and the Hatter then bites his teacup in fright

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:21-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-1:t9:o3:1
# text = A threat makes anyone more nervous, not less, and the Hatter then bites his teacup in fright
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Hatter	Hatter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	15	advmod	_	_
15	bites	bite	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
16	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	teacup	teacup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	fright	fright	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a threat | anyone |  |  |  | less, nervous *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset anyone=Product |
| 2 | **bite** | present | the Hatter | Hatter's teacup |  | fright | then |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent teacup=Patient in fright=Location |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A threat makes anyone more nervous, not less

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:21-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-1:t9:o4:1
# text = A threat makes anyone more nervous, not less
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a threat | anyone |  |  |  | less, nervous *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset anyone=Product |

<!-- 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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- ↑ back to [Alice in Wonderland, chapter XI, part 1: Who Stole the Tarts? (the court and the first witness)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/21-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-1/)