---
title: ★★★ Why is it funny that the Mole sat on the mustard pot? — The Wind in the Willows, chapter I, pa… · tree and pragmatics
description: ★★★ Why is it funny that the Mole sat on the mustard pot? Test 16 · ★★ of lesson 27 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter I, part 3: The River Bank (the Otter, a glimpse of Badger, and Toad in his new boat)» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the que
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad/t16/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [questions](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/) / [Books](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/) / [The Wind in the Willows, chapter I, pa…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad/) / t16

# Test 16 · ★★ · The Wind in the Willows, chapter I, part 3: The River Bank…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
★★★ Why is it funny that the Mole sat on the mustard pot?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** ★ ★ ★, Mole · **What happens:** be, sit · **To what, where:** mustard pot

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 16 · ★★ of lesson 27 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter I, part 3: The River Bank (the Otter, a glimpse of Badger, and Toad in his new boat)» 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/27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad/#t16).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad:t16:1
# text = ★★★ Why is it funny that the Mole sat on the mustard pot?
1	★	★	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	★	★	X	FW	_	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	★	★	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Mole	mole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	mustard	mustard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	pot	pot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | ★ ★ ★ |  |  |  |  | funny *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sit** | past | the Mole |  |  | the mustard pot |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on pot=Location |

<!-- .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 was hunting everywhere for the Otter, who had hidden under the cloth and the basket to play a trick

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad:t16:o1:1
# text = He was hunting everywhere for the Otter, who had hidden under the cloth and the basket to play a trick
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hunting	hunt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	3	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Otter	Otter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	parataxis	_	_
12	under	under	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	basket	basket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | past · progressive | He |  |  |  |  | for the Otter; everywhere *property* | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for otter=Theme |
| 2 | **hide** | past · perfect · passive |  | the Otter |  | the cloth and the basket |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Patient under cloth=Location |
| 3 | **play** | to-infinitive |  | a trick |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=Theme |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was sitting on the cloth, and the mustard pot was spilt on the Rat's coat

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad:t16:o2:1
# text = He was sitting on the cloth, and the mustard pot was spilt on the Rat's coat
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	mustard	mustard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	pot	pot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	spilt	spilt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past · progressive | He |  |  | the cloth |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on cloth=Location |
| 2 | **spilt** | past · passive |  | the mustard pot |  | the Rat's coat |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was searching for the cheese, which was hidden in the mud under the boat

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad:t16:o3:1
# text = He was searching for the cheese, which was hidden in the mud under the boat
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	searching	search	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cheese	cheese	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	under	under	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **search** | past · progressive | He |  |  |  |  | for the cheese | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for cheese=Theme |
| 2 | **hide** | past · passive |  | the cheese |  | the mud |  | under the boat | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Patient in mud=Location |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was hunting everywhere for packed things, and one was under him the whole time

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad:t16:o4:1
# text = He was hunting everywhere for packed things, and one was under him the whole time
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hunting	hunt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	everywhere	everywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	3	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	packed	packed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	under	under	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	parataxis	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hunt** | past · progressive | He |  |  |  | time | for packed things; everywhere *property* | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for thing=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | one |  |  |  |  | under him *= he* | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter I, pa…, test 15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad/t15/)
- next →: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter I, pa…, test 17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad/t17/)
- ↑ back to [The Wind in the Willows, chapter I, part 3: The River Bank (the Otter, a glimpse of Badger, and Toad in his new boat)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/27-willows-ch1-part3-otter-badger-and-toad/)