---
title: What reason does the narrator give for the grandmother's use of the… — Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Little Mer… · tree and pragmatics
description: What reason does the narrator give for the grandmother's use of the word "fishes" when speaking of birds to her granddaughters? Exam question 4 of lesson 876 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Little Mermaid, part 87: the sea-princesses dream of the world above the waves» of the books course of Mova's pri
---

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# Exam question 4 · Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Little Mermaid, part 87: the s…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What reason does the narrator give for the grandmother's use of the word "fishes" when speaking of birds to her granddaughters?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** reason, grandmother · **What happens:** give, speak, use · **To what, where:** word · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 876 «Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Little Mermaid, part 87: the sea-princesses dream of the world above the waves» 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/876-pg27200-part87/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:876-pg27200-part87:e4:1
# text = What reason does the narrator give for the grandmother's use of the word "fishes" when speaking of birds to her granddaughters?
1	What	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:outer	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	grandmother	grandmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	fishes	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	_
18	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
19	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obl	_	_
22	to	to	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	24	nmod:poss	_	_
24	granddaughters	granddaughter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · do-support | what reason |  |  |  |  | for the grandmother's use of the word | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent for use=Asset |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | what reason *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of birds; to narrator's granddaughters | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to granddaughter=Co-Agent |
| 3 | **use** |  | the grandmother | the word |  |  |  |  | nom use «act transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

<!-- .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 birds were odd, and the granddaughters had only ever seen fishes in the sea

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:876-pg27200-part87:e4:o1:1
# text = the birds were odd, and the granddaughters had only ever seen fishes in the sea
1	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	odd	odd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	granddaughters	granddaughter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
10	only	only	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	12	advmod	_	_
12	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	amod	_	_
13	fishes	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the birds |  |  |  |  | odd *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | past · perfect · passive |  | the granddaughters |  |  | ever |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
the granddaughter had never beheld a bird, so she would not otherwise have understood

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:876-pg27200-part87:e4:o2:1
# text = the granddaughter had never beheld a bird, so she would not otherwise have understood
1	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	granddaughter	granddaughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	beheld	behold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
10	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
11	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
13	otherwise	otherwise	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	aux	_	_
15	understood	understand	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **behold** | past · perfect · passive |  | the granddaughter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **understand** | would · perfect | bird |  |  |  |  | otherwise *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
because the granddaughter had never beheld a bird in the sea, and the word was all she knew of such things at home beneath the waves

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:876-pg27200-part87:e4:o3:1
# text = because the granddaughter had never beheld a bird in the sea, and the word was all she knew of such things at home beneath the waves
1	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	granddaughter	granddaughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	beheld	behold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
16	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
17	all	all	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
18	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	acl:relcl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obl	_	_
23	at	at	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
25	beneath	beneath	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **behold** | past · perfect · passive |  | the granddaughter |  | the sea |  | the word *obl* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | bird | the word *not said here* |  | home |  | of such things; beneath the waves; all, know *property* | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
the birds swam low beneath the waves, like the fish they resembled in every way

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:876-pg27200-part87:e4:o4:1
# text = the birds swam low beneath the waves, like the fish they resembled in every way
1	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	low	low	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	beneath	beneath	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	resembled	resemble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	16	det	_	_
16	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | past | the birds |  |  | the waves |  | low *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme beneath wave=Trajectory |
| 2 | **resemble** | past | birds *= bird* |  |  | every way |  | like the fish | tree rules |

<!-- 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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- ← previous: [Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Little Mer…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/876-pg27200-part87/e3/)
- next →: [Fairy Tales, The Little Mermaid, part…, test 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/877-pg27200-part88/t1/)
- ↑ back to [Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Little Mermaid, part 87: the sea-princesses dream of the world above the waves](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/876-pg27200-part87/)