---
title: Looking back: in chapter VI, the Rat said «Talking to Toad'll never… — The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, p… · tree and pragmatics
description: Looking back: in chapter VI, the Rat said «Talking to Toad'll never cure him. He'll say anything.» How does this part prove him right? Test 13 · ★★ of lesson 65 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, part 1: «Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears» (home at the Rat's, a telling-off, and bad news)» of th
---

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# Test 13 · ★★ · The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, part 1: «Like Summer…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Looking back: in chapter VI, the Rat said «Talking to Toad'll never cure him. He'll say anything.» How does this part prove him right?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 1 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Rat, Talking, part · **What happens:** look back, say, talk, not cure, prove · **To what, where:** Toad, Rat, anything · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 13 · ★★ of lesson 65 «The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, part 1: «Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears» (home at the Rat's, a telling-off, and bad news)» 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/65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them/#t13).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Looking back: in chapter VI, the Rat said «Talking to Toad'll never cure him.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them:t13:1
# text = Looking back: in chapter VI, the Rat said «Talking to Toad'll never cure him.
1	Looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
2	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	chapter	chapter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	VI	VI	NUM	CD	NumForm=Roman|NumType=Card	5	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	csubj	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	cure	cure	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
18	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look back** | gerund | the Rat *not said here* |  |  |  |  | in chapter | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in chapter=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the Rat |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **talk** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  | Toad |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to toad=Co-Agent |
| 4 | **not** **cure** *in a quote* | future | Talking | Rat |  |  |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer he=Source |

<!-- .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:* He'll say anything.»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them:t13:2
# text = He'll say anything.»
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* How does this part prove him right?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them:t13:3
# text = How does this part prove him right?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	prove	prove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	right	right	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prove** | present · do-support | this part | Rat |  |  |  | right *property* | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad says «Quite right, Ratty!» while still thinking «it was fun»

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them:t13:o1:1
# text = Toad says «Quite right, Ratty!» while still thinking «it was fun»
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	Ratty	Ratty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	still	still	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	fun	fun	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Toad | right |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent right=Topic |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund | Toad *not said here* |  |  |  | still |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | past | it |  |  |  |  | fun *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad says yes to the Rat but later steals a motor-car anyway

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them:t13:o2:1
# text = Toad says yes to the Rat but later steals a motor-car anyway
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	_
9	steals	steal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
11	motor	motor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
14	anyway	anyway	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Toad |  | the Rat |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V PP.recipient S-Quote»: agent=Agent to rat=Recipient |
| 2 | **steal** | present | Toad *not said here* | a motor car |  |  |  | anyway, late *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location car=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad promises to change but really plans to go motor-boating again

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them:t13:o3:1
# text = Toad promises to change but really plans to go motor-boating again
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	promises	promise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	really	really	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	plans	plan	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	motor	motor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	boating	boat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
13	again	again	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | present | Toad |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Toad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **plan** | present | Toad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **go** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Toad *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **boat** | gerund | Toad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn vehicle-51.4.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad says «Quite right, Ratty!» and then goes off at once to buy a new motor-car with his money

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them:t13:o4:1
# text = Toad says «Quite right, Ratty!» and then goes off at once to buy a new motor-car with his money
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	Ratty	Ratty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	12	advmod	_	_
12	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	off	off	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	_
14	at	at	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	12	obl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
19	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
20	motor	motor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
23	with	with	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Toad | right |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent right=Topic |
| 2 | **go off** | present | Toad *not said here* |  |  |  | then |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme at once=Location |
| 3 | **buy** | to-infinitive | Toad *not said here* | a new motor car |  |  |  | with Toad's money | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent car=Theme |

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**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.

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- ← previous: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, p…, test 12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them/t12/)
- next →: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, p…, test 14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them/t14/)
- ↑ back to [The Wind in the Willows, chapter XI, part 1: «Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears» (home at the Rat's, a telling-off, and bad news)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/65-willows-ch11-part1-why-steal-them/)