---
title: ★★★ Careful: the Stranger-man reads the spear «sticking in Daddy's b… — Just So Stories, How the First Letter… · tree and pragmatics
description: ★★★ Careful: the Stranger-man reads the spear «sticking in Daddy's back» as an attack. What does the story tell us really caused it? Test 15 · ★ of lesson 84 «Just So Stories, How the First Letter Was Written, part 1: a broken spear and a picture on birch-bark» of the books course of Mova's primary 
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear/t15/)

<!-- 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/) / [Just So Stories, How the First Letter…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear/) / t15

# Test 15 · ★ · Just So Stories, How the First Letter Was Written, part 1:…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
★★★ Careful: the Stranger-man reads the spear «sticking in Daddy's back» as an attack. What does the story tell us really caused it?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** Stranger man, spear, story · **What happens:** read, stick, tell, cause · **To what, where:** spear, back, us, story · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 15 · ★ of lesson 84 «Just So Stories, How the First Letter Was Written, part 1: a broken spear and a picture on birch-bark» 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/84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear/#t15).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ★★★ Careful: the Stranger-man reads the spear «sticking in Daddy's back» as an attack.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear:t15:1
# text = ★★★ Careful: the Stranger-man reads the spear «sticking in Daddy's back» as an attack.
1	★	★	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	★	★	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	1	dep	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	★	★	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	Stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	reads	read	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	sticking	stick	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	acl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	Daddy	Daddy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
20	as	as	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | present | the Stranger man | the spear |  |  |  | as a attack | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer spear=Stimulus as attack=Attribute |
| 2 | **stick** *in a quote* | gerund | the spear *not said here* |  |  | Daddy's back |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme in back=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:* What does the story tell us really caused it?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear:t15:2
# text = What does the story tell us really caused it?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	really	really	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · do-support | the story |  | us |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | past |  | story |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition it=Patient |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tooth slipped and the bark was too small

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear:t15:o1:1
# text = The tooth slipped and the bark was too small
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	slipped	slip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slip** | past | the tooth |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **is** | past | the bark |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Stranger-man was right: Taffy meant to attack Daddy with the sharp tooth from the necklace

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear:t15:o2:1
# text = The Stranger-man was right: Taffy meant to attack Daddy with the sharp tooth from the necklace
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	Taffy	Taffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	attack	attack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	Daddy	Daddy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	necklace	necklace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the Stranger man |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | past | Taffy |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **attack** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Taffy *not said here* | Daddy |  | the necklace |  | with the sharp tooth | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent daddy=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Stranger-man pushed the spear in too hard

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear:t15:o3:1
# text = The Stranger-man pushed the spear in too hard
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	pushed	push	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	too	too	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | past | the Stranger man | the spear |  | hard |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent spear=Theme in hard=Trajectory |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tooth slipped and the bark was too small, so Taffy was afraid and tried to hide it under the tree

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear:t15:o4:1
# text = The tooth slipped and the bark was too small, so Taffy was afraid and tried to hide it under the tree
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	slipped	slip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bark	bark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	Taffy	Taffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	hide	hide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	under	under	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slip** | past | the tooth |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **is** | past | the bark |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | past | Taffy |  |  |  |  | afraid *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **try** | past | the tooth *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **hide** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the tooth *not said here* | bark |  | the tree |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent it=Patient under tree=Location |

<!-- 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: [Just So Stories, How the First Letter…, test 14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear/t14/)
- next →: [Just So Stories, How the First Letter…, test 16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear/t16/)
- ↑ back to [Just So Stories, How the First Letter Was Written, part 1: a broken spear and a picture on birch-bark](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/84-justso-first-letter-1-a-broken-spear/)