---
title: «Me and little Billy here, we was trying to find our way to school.»… — The Wind in the Willows, chapter IV, p… · tree and pragmatics
description: «Me and little Billy here, we was trying to find our way to school.» How would a school book say it? Test 5 · ★★★ of lesson 38 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter IV, part 2: Mr. Badger (bad news of Toad, a winter promise, and two lost hedgehogs)» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the
---

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# Test 5 · ★★★ · The Wind in the Willows, chapter IV, part 2: Mr. Badger (b…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Me and little Billy here, we was trying to find our way to school.» How would a school book say it?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** we, school book · **What happens:** try, find, say · **To what, where:** way · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 5 · ★★★ of lesson 38 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter IV, part 2: Mr. Badger (bad news of Toad, a winter promise, and two lost hedgehogs)» 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/38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs/#t5).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «Me and little Billy here, we was trying to find our way to school.»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs:t5:1
# text = «Me and little Billy here, we was trying to find our way to school.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	parataxis	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** *in a quote* | past · progressive | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **find** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive | we *not said here* | our way |  |  |  | to school | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

<!-- .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:* How would a school book say it?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs:t5:2
# text = How would a school book say it?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	say	say	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	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | would | a school book | way |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Billy and I were trying very hard to find our way back to school through the deep snow

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs:t5:o1:1
# text = Billy and I were trying very hard to find our way back to school through the deep snow
1	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	conj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
10	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	back	back	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
15	through	through	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past · progressive | Billy |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **find** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Billy *not said here* | our way |  | the deep snow |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Billy and I had been trying all morning to find our way to school in the snow and cold

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs:t5:o2:1
# text = Billy and I had been trying all morning to find our way to school in the snow and cold
1	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	conj	_	_
4	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	aux	_	_
6	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past · perfect · progressive | Billy |  |  |  | morning |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **find** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Billy *not said here* | our way |  | the snow |  | to school | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Billy and I were trying to find our way to school

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs:t5:o3:1
# text = Billy and I were trying to find our way to school
1	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	conj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past · progressive | Billy |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **find** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Billy *not said here* | our way |  |  |  | to school | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Billy and me were looking for the school road

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs:t5:o4:1
# text = Billy and me were looking for the school road
1	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	conj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past · progressive | Billy |  |  |  |  | for the school road | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for road=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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- ← previous: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter IV, p…, test 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs/t4/)
- next →: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter IV, p…, test 6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs/t6/)
- ↑ back to [The Wind in the Willows, chapter IV, part 2: Mr. Badger (bad news of Toad, a winter promise, and two lost hedgehogs)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/38-willows-ch4-part2-toad-news-and-hedgehogs/)