---
title: Explain the method by which the fox obtains the finest coat from the… — Fairy Book, How the Beggar Boy Turned… · tree and pragmatics
description: Explain the method by which the fox obtains the finest coat from the tailor, and the subsequent use made of the horse-dealer. Exam question 4 of lesson 701 «Fairy Book, How the Beggar Boy Turned into Count Piro, part 1: the fox sells pears and coats to the king for a lazy boy» of the books course of
---

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# Exam question 4 · Fairy Book, How the Beggar Boy Turned into Count Piro, par…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Explain the method by which the fox obtains the finest coat from the tailor, and the subsequent use made of the horse-dealer.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, fox · **What happens:** explain, obtain, make · **To what, where:** method, finest coat, subsequent use

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 701 «Fairy Book, How the Beggar Boy Turned into Count Piro, part 1: the fox sells pears and coats to the king for a lazy boy» of the books course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. 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/701-pg2435-part41/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:701-pg2435-part41:e4:1
# text = Explain the method by which the fox obtains the finest coat from the tailor, and the subsequent use made of the horse-dealer.
1	Explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	obl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	obtains	obtain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	finest	fine	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	11	amod	_	_
11	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	tailor	tailor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	subsequent	subsequent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	ccomp	_	_
20	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	acl	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
23	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	dealer	dealer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | the method |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent method=Topic |
| 2 | **obtain** | present | the fox | the finest coat |  |  |  | by the method; from the tailor | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent coat=Theme from tailor=Source |
| 3 | **make** | participle |  | the subsequent use *not said here* |  |  |  | of the horse dealer | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

<!-- .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.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox says the king wants it at once and runs off with it; he convinces the dealer to send his best mare

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:701-pg2435-part41:e4:o1:1
# text = The fox says the king wants it at once and runs off with it; he convinces the dealer to send his best mare
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	6	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	off	off	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	convinces	convince	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	dealer	dealer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	send	send	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	advcl	_	_
22	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	24	nmod:poss	_	_
23	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	24	amod	_	_
24	mare	mare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the fox |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **want** | present | the king | fox |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |
| 3 | **run off** | present | the king *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with fox | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent with it=Material |
| 4 | **convince** | present | king | the dealer |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus dealer=Experiencer |
| 5 | **send** | to-infinitive | king *not said here* | king's best mare |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mare=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He persuades the dealer to send a horse

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:701-pg2435-part41:e4:o2:1
# text = He persuades the dealer to send a horse
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	persuades	persuade	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	dealer	dealer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	send	send	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **persuade** | present | He | the dealer |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dealer=Patient |
| 2 | **send** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | a horse |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent horse=Theme |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox claims the Count requires it urgently and carries it away; he persuades the dealer to send his finest horse

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:701-pg2435-part41:e4:o3:1
# text = The fox claims the Count requires it urgently and carries it away; he persuades the dealer to send his finest horse
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	claims	claim	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Count	count	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	requires	require	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	urgently	urgently	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	away	away	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	persuades	persuade	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	dealer	dealer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	send	send	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
20	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
21	finest	fine	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	22	amod	_	_
22	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **claim** *speech: other* | present | the fox |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **require** | present | the Count | fox |  |  |  | urgently *property* | vn require-103-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=Precondition |
| 3 | **carry away** | present | the fox *not said here* | fox |  |  |  | away *property* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 4 | **persuade** | present | Count | the dealer |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dealer=Patient |
| 5 | **send** | to-infinitive | Count *not said here* | Count's finest horse |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent horse=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox carries the coat away

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:701-pg2435-part41:e4:o4:1
# text = The fox carries the coat away
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	away	away	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry away** | present | the fox | the coat |  |  |  | away *property* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coat=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.

<!-- /div -->

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