---
title: Big sis: «phonics is so mid, real readers don't use it, they just kn… — Sounds and letters: how phonics starts · tree and pragmatics
description: Big sis: «phonics is so mid, real readers don't use it, they just know the words». Put her right. Test 2 of lesson 1 «Sounds and letters: how phonics starts» of the English course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's choice was 
---

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# Test 2 · Sounds and letters: how phonics starts

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Big sis: «phonics is so mid, real readers don't use it, they just know the words». Put her right.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** Big sis, real readers, readers, you · **What happens:** be, not use, know, put · **To what, where:** phonics, words, her

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 2 of lesson 1 «Sounds and letters: how phonics starts» of the English 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/english/1-sounds-and-letters-how-phonics-starts/#t2).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Big sis: «phonics is so mid, real readers don't use it, they just know the words».

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:1-sounds-and-letters-how-phonics-starts:t2:1
# text = Big sis: «phonics is so mid, real readers don't use it, they just know the words».
1	Big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	sis	sis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	phonics	phonics	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	mid	mid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	readers	reader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
12	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	parataxis	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	just	just	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	parataxis	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | Big sis and phonics |  |  |  |  | mid *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **use** *in a quote* | present · do-support | real readers | phonics |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 3 | **know** *in a quote* | present | readers *= reader* | the words |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer word=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 her right.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:1-sounds-and-letters-how-phonics-starts:t2:2
# text = Put her right.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|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* |  | her *= she* |  |  | right *property* | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent she=Goal |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's right, grown-up readers have never used phonics in their lives

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:1-sounds-and-letters-how-phonics-starts:t2:o1:1
# text = She's right, grown-up readers have never used phonics in their lives
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
8	readers	reader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	parataxis	_	_
12	phonics	phonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	lives	life	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow up** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **use** | present · perfect · passive |  | grown readers |  | readers's lives |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Real readers only use phonics when they read out loud to a class, never in their heads

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:1-sounds-and-letters-how-phonics-starts:t2:o2:1
# text = Real readers only use phonics when they read out loud to a class, never in their heads
1	Real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	readers	reader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	phonics	phonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	out	out	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	loud	loud	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Real readers | phonics |  | readers's heads |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent phonic=Patient |
| 2 | **read out** | past | readers *= reader* |  | a class |  |  | loud, out *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient how S»: agent=Agent to class=Recipient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's right, phonics only works for words with three letters

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:1-sounds-and-letters-how-phonics-starts:t2:o3:1
# text = She's right, phonics only works for words with three letters
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	phonics	phonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | present | right phonics |  |  |  |  | for words with three letters | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for word=Beneficiary |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Real readers use phonics fast and silently, and slow down to it on new words

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:1-sounds-and-letters-how-phonics-starts:t2:o4:1
# text = Real readers use phonics fast and silently, and slow down to it on new words
1	Real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	readers	reader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	phonics	phonic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	silently	silently	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	slow	slow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
11	down	down	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Real readers | phonics |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent phonic=Patient |
| 2 | **slow down** | infinitive | Real readers *not said here* |  | it | new words |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- 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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