---
title: ★★★ The field-mice say «Of course, we're early, we know that». Why d… — The Wind in the Willows, chapter IX, p… · tree and pragmatics
description: ★★★ The field-mice say «Of course, we're early, we know that». Why do they still start? Test 16 · ★ of lesson 56 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter IX, part 1: Wayfarers All (change in the air)» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and 
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air/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 IX, p…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air/) / t16

# Test 16 · ★ · The Wind in the Willows, chapter IX, part 1: Wayfarers All…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
★★★ The field-mice say «Of course, we're early, we know that». Why do they still start?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** field mice, we, mice · **What happens:** say, be, know, start · **To what, where:** ★, that · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 16 · ★ of lesson 56 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter IX, part 1: Wayfarers All (change in the air)» 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/56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air/#t16).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ★★★ The field-mice say «Of course, we're early, we know that».

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air:t16:1
# text = ★★★ The field-mice say «Of course, we're early, we know that».
1	★	★	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	★	★	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	1	dep	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	★	★	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	mice	mouse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	Of	of	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADV	15	advmod	_	_
11	course	course	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
13	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
17	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the field mice | ★ |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | we |  |  |  |  | early *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **know** *in a quote* | present | we | that |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer that=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 do they still start?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air:t16:2
# text = Why do they still start?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present · do-support | mice *= mouse* |  |  |  | still |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Waiting would mean the machines arrive first and the best flats are taken by the sparrows and finches

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air:t16:o1:1
# text = Waiting would mean the machines arrive first and the best flats are taken by the sparrows and finches
1	Waiting	wait	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	arrive	arrive	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	11	amod	_	_
11	flats	flat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	sparrows	sparrow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	finches	finch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | would |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **arrive** | present | the machines |  |  |  |  | first *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **take** | present · passive | the sparrows and finches | the best flats |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because the Rat told them they must go now

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air:t16:o2:1
# text = Because the Rat told them they must go now
1	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
9	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the Rat |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent they=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **go** | must | they |  |  |  | now |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Waiting risks the machines and losing the best flats

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air:t16:o3:1
# text = Waiting risks the machines and losing the best flats
1	Waiting	wait	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	nsubj	_	_
2	risks	risk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	flats	flat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **risk** | present |  | the machines |  |  |  |  | vn risk-94-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent machine=Pivot |
| 3 | **lose** | gerund |  | the best flats |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flat=Eventuality |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They know the machines can't cut the wheat before the autumn, so they could wait, but they choose not to

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air:t16:o4:1
# text = They know the machines can't cut the wheat before the autumn, so they could wait, but they choose not to
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	cut	cut	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wheat	wheat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	before	before	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	autumn	autumn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	choose	choose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
22	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	21	advmod	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	fixed	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | They |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **cut** | can | the machines | the wheat |  |  | autumn |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset wheat=Product |
| 3 | **wait** | could | machines *= machine* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **choose** | present | machines *= machine* |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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 IX, p…, test 15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air/t15/)
- next →: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter IX, p…, exam 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air/e1/)
- ↑ back to [The Wind in the Willows, chapter IX, part 1: Wayfarers All (change in the air)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/56-willows-ch9-part1-change-in-the-air/)