---
title: Taffy says a thin egg would be «a frog that hasn't eaten anything fo… — Just So Stories, How the Alphabet Was… · tree and pragmatics
description: Taffy says a thin egg would be «a frog that hasn't eaten anything for years». Why is it a joke? Test 4 · ★★ of lesson 88 «Just So Stories, How the Alphabet Was Made, part 2: yo, so, sho, shi, and shu-ya, the sky-water» of the books course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragma
---

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# Test 4 · ★★ · Just So Stories, How the Alphabet Was Made, part 2: yo, so…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taffy says a thin egg would be «a frog that hasn't eaten anything for years». Why is it a joke?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Taffy, frog, egg · **What happens:** say, be, not eat · **To what, where:** thin egg, frog, anything, joke · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 4 · ★★ of lesson 88 «Just So Stories, How the Alphabet Was Made, part 2: yo, so, sho, shi, and shu-ya, the sky-water» 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/88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water/#t4).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Taffy says a thin egg would be «a frog that hasn't eaten anything for years».

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water:t4:1
# text = Taffy says a thin egg would be «a frog that hasn't eaten anything for years».
1	Taffy	Taffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
12	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Taffy | a thin egg |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent egg=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | would |  | a frog |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **eat** *in a quote* | present · perfect | a frog | anything |  |  | for years |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Why is it a joke?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water:t4:2
# text = Why is it a joke?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | egg | a joke |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The frog looks silly beside the egg

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water:t4:o1:1
# text = The frog looks silly beside the egg
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	beside	beside	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the frog |  |  |  |  | beside the egg; silly *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent beside egg=Theme |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A starving frog is a silly picture for a sound, and Taffy knows Daddy will laugh at her for suggesting it

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water:t4:o2:1
# text = A starving frog is a silly picture for a sound, and Taffy knows Daddy will laugh at her for suggesting it
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	starving	starving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	Taffy	Taffy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	knows	know	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
15	Daddy	Daddy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
16	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	ccomp	_	_
18	at	at	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obl	_	_
20	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
21	suggesting	suggest	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	advcl	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a starving frog | a silly picture |  |  |  | for a sound | tree rules |
| 2 | **know** | present | Taffy |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **laugh** | future | Daddy |  |  |  |  | at Taffy | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **suggest** *speech: suggest* | gerund | Daddy *not said here* | frog |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A starving frog is a silly picture for a sound

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water:t4:o3:1
# text = A starving frog is a silly picture for a sound
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	starving	starving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a starving frog | a silly picture |  |  |  | for a sound | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A starving frog is a silly picture for a sound, because the frog has nothing to do with the thin oo at all

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water:t4:o4:1
# text = A starving frog is a silly picture for a sound, because the frog has nothing to do with the thin oo at all
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	starving	starving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
16	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	15	obj	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	acl	_	_
19	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	oo	oo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
23	at	at	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	18	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a starving frog | a silly picture |  |  |  | for a sound | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | the frog | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | the frog *not said here* | nothing *not said here* |  | all |  | with the thin oo | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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: [Just So Stories, How the Alphabet Was…, test 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water/t3/)
- next →: [Just So Stories, How the Alphabet Was…, test 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water/t5/)
- ↑ back to [Just So Stories, How the Alphabet Was Made, part 2: yo, so, sho, shi, and shu-ya, the sky-water](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/88-justso-alphabet-2-shu-ya-sky-water/)