---
title: Ahmed says: "Elephants stretched their noses a bit each day and pass… — Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling), 5:… · tree and pragmatics
description: Ahmed says: "Elephants stretched their noses a bit each day and passed it on to their babies, innit." Put him right. Test 6 · ★★ of lesson 80 «Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling), 5: The Elephant's Child, part 2 (the tug-of-war and the trunk)» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dep
---

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# Test 6 · ★★ · Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling), 5: The Elephant's Child…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ahmed says: "Elephants stretched their noses a bit each day and passed it on to their babies, innit." Put him right.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 2 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** Ahmed, Elephants, you · **What happens:** say, stretch, pass on, put · **To what, where:** noses, bit, babies, Ahmed · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 6 · ★★ of lesson 80 «Just So Stories (Rudyard Kipling), 5: The Elephant's Child, part 2 (the tug-of-war and the trunk)» 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/80-justso-elephants-child-2/#t6).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Ahmed says: "Elephants stretched their noses a bit each day and passed it on to their babies, innit."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:80-justso-elephants-child-2:t6:1
# text = Ahmed says: "Elephants stretched their noses a bit each day and passed it on to their babies, innit."
1	Ahmed	Ahmed	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	noses	nose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	det	_	_
12	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	passed	pass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	innit	innit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Ahmed |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stretch** *in a quote* | past | Elephants | Elephants's noses |  |  | day | a bit *obl:unmarked* | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent nose=Patient |
| 3 | **pass on** *in a quote* | past | Elephants *not said here* | bit |  | Elephants's babies and innit |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme to baby=Destination |

<!-- .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:* Put him right.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:80-justso-elephants-child-2:t6:2
# text = Put him right.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	right	right	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* |  | Ahmed |  |  | right *property* | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent he=Goal |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trunks grew over millions of years as each generation was born, which was a slow process of natural change the Snake would never have understood

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:80-justso-elephants-child-2:t6:o1:1
# text = Trunks grew over millions of years as each generation was born, which was a slow process of natural change the Snake would never have understood
1	Trunks	trunk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	generation	generation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	parataxis	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	Snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nsubj:pass	_	_
23	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	26	aux	_	_
24	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	26	advmod	_	_
25	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	26	aux	_	_
26	understood	understand	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | Trunks |  |  | millions of years |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over million=Location |
| 2 | **bear** | past · passive |  | each generation |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | past |  | a slow process |  |  |  | of natural change | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **understand** | would · perfect · passive | natural change *not said here* | the Snake |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Stimulus |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trunks grew over millions of years as each generation was born

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:80-justso-elephants-child-2:t6:o2:1
# text = Trunks grew over millions of years as each generation was born
1	Trunks	trunk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	generation	generation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | Trunks |  |  | millions of years |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over million=Location |
| 2 | **bear** | past · passive |  | each generation |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trunks grew over millions of years as each generation of elephants was born with a slightly longer nose

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:80-justso-elephants-child-2:t6:o3:1
# text = Trunks grew over millions of years as each generation of elephants was born with a slightly longer nose
1	Trunks	trunk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	generation	generation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
16	slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	longer	long	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	18	amod	_	_
18	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | Trunks |  |  | millions of years |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over million=Location |
| 2 | **bear** | past · passive |  | each generation of elephants |  |  |  | with a longer nose | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Parents stretched their noses in one lifetime

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:80-justso-elephants-child-2:t6:o4:1
# text = Parents stretched their noses in one lifetime
1	Parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	noses	nose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	lifetime	lifetime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stretch** | past | Parents | Parents's noses |  |  |  | in one lifetime | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent nose=Patient in lifetime=Topic |

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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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