---
title: The ducks ask why «fellows» can't be left to do what they like witho… — The Wind in the Willows, chapter II, p… · tree and pragmatics
description: The ducks ask why «fellows» can't be left to do what they like without others watching and «making remarks and poetry». Is that fair? Test 4 · ★★ of lesson 29 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter II, part 1: The Open Road (the Ducks' Ditty, and a visit to Toad Hall)» of the books course of Mova's prima
---

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# Test 4 · ★★ · The Wind in the Willows, chapter II, part 1: The Open Road…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ducks ask why «fellows» can't be left to do what they like without others watching and «making remarks and poetry». Is that fair?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** ducks, fellows, others, that · **What happens:** ask, not leave, do, like, watch, make · **To what, where:** fellows, remarks · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 4 · ★★ of lesson 29 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter II, part 1: The Open Road (the Ducks' Ditty, and a visit to Toad Hall)» 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/29-willows-ch2-part1-ducks-ditty-and-toad-hall/#t4).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* The ducks ask why «fellows» can't be left to do what they like without others watching and «making remarks and poetry».

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:29-willows-ch2-part1-ducks-ditty-and-toad-hall:t4:1
# text = The ducks ask why «fellows» can't be left to do what they like without others watching and «making remarks and poetry».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ask	ask	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	fellows	fellow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
14	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	obj	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	_
17	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
18	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
19	watching	watch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	advcl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	conj	_	_
23	remarks	remark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	poetry	poetry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | the ducks |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **leave** | can · passive |  | fellows |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 4 | **like** | present | fellows *= fellow* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **watch** | gerund | others |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **make** *in a quote* | gerund | others *not said here* | remarks and poetry |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset remark=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:* Is that fair?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:29-willows-ch2-part1-ducks-ditty-and-toad-hall:t4:2
# text = Is that fair?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Partly: nobody likes being watched and written about, though the ducks are rude to say so

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:29-willows-ch2-part1-ducks-ditty-and-toad-hall:t4:o1:1
# text = Partly: nobody likes being watched and written about, though the ducks are rude to say so
1	Partly	partly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
3	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	4	nsubj	_	_
4	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	watched	watch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
9	about	about	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	csubj	_	_
18	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | nobody |  |  |  |  | partly *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **watch** *not said to happen* | gerund · passive | nobody *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location» |
| 3 | **write** | participle | nobody *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | the ducks |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, it isn't fair at all, since the Rat is rude to write poems about every creature he meets

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:29-willows-ch2-part1-ducks-ditty-and-toad-hall:t4:o2:1
# text = No, it isn't fair at all, since the Rat is rude to write poems about every creature he meets
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
17	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
18	about	about	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	20	det	_	_
20	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
21	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	meets	meet	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | it |  |  | all |  | fair *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the Rat |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **write** | to-infinitive | the Rat *not said here* | poems |  |  |  | about every creature | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent poem=Recipient about creature=Topic |
| 4 | **meet** | present | he | every creature *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent creature=Co-Agent |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, a bit: nobody likes being watched and written about

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:29-willows-ch2-part1-ducks-ditty-and-toad-hall:t4:o3:1
# text = Yes, a bit: nobody likes being watched and written about
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	7	nsubj	_	_
7	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	watched	watch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location» |
| 2 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not fair: the Rat should write more poems

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:29-willows-ch2-part1-ducks-ditty-and-toad-hall:t4:o4:1
# text = Not fair: the Rat should write more poems
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
8	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | should | the Rat | more poems |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poem=Theme |

<!-- 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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