---
title: Danny, fixin' to (about to) laugh: «Toad finally learnt his lesson i… — The Wind in the Willows, chapter X, pa… · tree and pragmatics
description: Danny, fixin' to (about to) laugh: «Toad finally learnt his lesson in that river, right?» What is the best answer? Test 8 · ★★★ of lesson 64 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter X, part 4: The Further Adventures of Toad (the horse-pond, the chase and a face in the bank)» of the books course of Mova's p
---

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# Test 8 · ★★★ · The Wind in the Willows, chapter X, part 4: The Further Ad…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Danny, fixin' to (about to) laugh: «Toad finally learnt his lesson in that river, right?» What is the best answer?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Toad, best answer · **What happens:** laugh, learn, be · **To what, where:** lesson, river

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★★★ of lesson 64 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter X, part 4: The Further Adventures of Toad (the horse-pond, the chase and a face in the bank)» 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/64-willows-ch10-part4-into-the-horse-pond/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Danny, fixin' to (about to) laugh: «Toad finally learnt his lesson in that river, right?»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:64-willows-ch10-part4-into-the-horse-pond:t8:1
# text = Danny, fixin' to (about to) laugh: «Toad finally learnt his lesson in that river, right?»
1	Danny	Danny	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	fixin	fixin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	about	about	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
10	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	learnt	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
16	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	lesson	lesson	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	20	det	_	_
20	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
22	right	right	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **learn** *in a quote* | past | Toad | Toad's lesson |  | that river |  | finally *property* | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lesson=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:* What is the best answer?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:64-willows-ch10-part4-into-the-horse-pond:t8:2
# text = What is the best answer?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the best answer |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He says he will reform and never drive again

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:64-willows-ch10-part4-into-the-horse-pond:t8:o1:1
# text = He says he will reform and never drive again
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	reform	reform	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	drive	drive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
9	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **reform** | future | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **drive** | infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He swears solemnly that he will never touch a motor-car again, but he has said such things before and nothing has changed

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:64-willows-ch10-part4-into-the-horse-pond:t8:o2:1
# text = He swears solemnly that he will never touch a motor-car again, but he has said such things before and nothing has changed
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swears	swear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	solemnly	solemnly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	touch	touch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	motor	motor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
13	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
17	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
19	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	_
21	before	before	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
23	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	25	nsubj:pass	_	_
24	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux	_	_
25	changed	change	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swear** | present | He |  |  |  |  | solemnly *property* | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **touch** | future | he | a motor car |  |  | again |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme car=Co-Theme |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · perfect | he | such things |  |  |  | before *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |
| 4 | **change** | present · perfect · passive |  | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He promises «if ever I steal a motor-car again!» — but he has promised before

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:64-willows-ch10-part4-into-the-horse-pond:t8:o3:1
# text = He promises «if ever I steal a motor-car again!» — but he has promised before
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	promises	promise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	7	advmod	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	steal	steal	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	motor	motor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
12	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
15	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
16	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	promised	promise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	parataxis	_	_
20	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	19	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **steal** *in a quote* | present | I | a motor car |  |  | ever; again |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location car=Theme |
| 3 | **promise** *speech: promise* | present · perfect | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, he promises never to drive again, and he means it this time, because the river taught him his lesson for good

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:64-willows-ch10-part4-into-the-horse-pond:t8:o4:1
# text = Yes, he promises never to drive again, and he means it this time, because the river taught him his lesson for good
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	promises	promise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	drive	drive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	15	det	_	_
15	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
20	taught	teach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
21	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	23	nmod:poss	_	_
23	lesson	lesson	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
24	for	for	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | present | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **drive** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **mean** | present | he | it |  |  | time |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 4 | **teach** *speech: other* | past | the river | river's lesson | him *= he* |  |  | for good | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient lesson=Topic |

<!-- 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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- ↑ back to [The Wind in the Willows, chapter X, part 4: The Further Adventures of Toad (the horse-pond, the chase and a face in the bank)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/64-willows-ch10-part4-into-the-horse-pond/)