---
title: «If you didn't sign it, that only makes the matter worse.» Why is th… — Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part… · tree and pragmatics
description: «If you didn't sign it, that only makes the matter worse.» Why is this unfair to the Knave? Test 12 · ★★★ of lesson 23 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part 1: Alice's Evidence (Rule Forty-two and the unsigned letter)» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and prag
---

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# Test 12 · ★★★ · Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part 1: Alice's Evidence…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«If you didn't sign it, that only makes the matter worse.» Why is this unfair to the Knave?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, this · **What happens:** not sign, make, be · **To what, where:** it, matter

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 12 · ★★★ of lesson 23 «Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part 1: Alice's Evidence (Rule Forty-two and the unsigned letter)» 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/23-alice-alices-evidence-1/#t12).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «If you didn't sign it, that only makes the matter worse.»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:23-alice-alices-evidence-1:t12:1
# text = «If you didn't sign it, that only makes the matter worse.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	sign	sign	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	only	only	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **sign** *in a quote* | past · do-support | you | it |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Destination |
| 2 | **make** *in a quote* | present | you *not said here* | the matter |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset matter=Product |

<!-- .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 is this unfair to the Knave?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:23-alice-alices-evidence-1:t12:2
# text = Why is this unfair to the Knave?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	_
4	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Knave	Knave	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this |  |  |  |  | to the Knave; unfair *property* | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is punished for signing and for not signing

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:23-alice-alices-evidence-1:t12:o1:1
# text = He is punished for signing and for not signing
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	punished	punish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	signing	signing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	signing	sign	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **punish** | present · passive |  | He |  |  |  | for signing | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Patient for signing=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **sign** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whatever he does — sign or not sign — the King calls it proof of guilt

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:23-alice-alices-evidence-1:t12:o2:1
# text = Whatever he does — sign or not sign — the King calls it proof of guilt
1	Whatever	whatever	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	obj	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	sign	sign	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	sign	sign	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
9	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	calls	call	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	proof	proof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	xcomp	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	guilt	guilt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | he | Whatever |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sign** | infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **sign** | infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **call** | present | the King | it |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient |
| 5 | **proof** |  |  | guilt |  |  |  |  | nom proof «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whatever he does, sign or not sign, the King calls it proof of guilt, and the jury simply nods along

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:23-alice-alices-evidence-1:t12:o3:1
# text = Whatever he does, sign or not sign, the King calls it proof of guilt, and the jury simply nods along
1	Whatever	whatever	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	obj	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	sign	sign	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	sign	sign	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	calls	call	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	proof	proof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	xcomp	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	guilt	guilt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	jury	jury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
21	simply	simply	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	nods	nod	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
23	along	along	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sign** | present · do-support | he | Whatever |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent whatever=Destination |
| 2 | **not** **sign** | infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **call** | present | the King | it |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient |
| 4 | **nod** | present | the jury |  |  |  |  | along, simply *property* | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **proof** |  |  | guilt |  |  |  |  | nom proof «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whatever he does — sign or not sign — the King calls it proof of guilt, so no answer can ever clear him

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:23-alice-alices-evidence-1:t12:o4:1
# text = Whatever he does — sign or not sign — the King calls it proof of guilt, so no answer can ever clear him
1	Whatever	whatever	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	obj	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
5	sign	sign	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	sign	sign	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	calls	call	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	proof	proof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	xcomp	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	guilt	guilt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
18	so	so	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
19	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	20	det	_	_
20	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
21	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
22	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	23	advmod	_	_
23	clear	clear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
24	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | he | Whatever |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whatever=Eventuality |
| 2 | **sign** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **sign** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **call** | present | the King | it |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient |
| 5 | **clear** | can | no answer | King |  |  | ever |  | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent he=Source |
| 6 | **proof** |  |  | guilt |  |  |  |  | nom proof «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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- ← previous: [Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part…, test 11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/23-alice-alices-evidence-1/t11/)
- next →: [Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part…, test 13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/23-alice-alices-evidence-1/t13/)
- ↑ back to [Alice in Wonderland, chapter XII, part 1: Alice's Evidence (Rule Forty-two and the unsigned letter)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/23-alice-alices-evidence-1/)