---
title: «the apostrophe means belonging, so it's tail must be right innit».… — Homophones and near-homophones · tree and pragmatics
description: «the apostrophe means belonging, so it's tail must be right innit». Put her right. Test 2 of lesson 11 «Homophones and near-homophones» 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 wrong.
---

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# Test 2 · Homophones and near-homophones

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«the apostrophe means belonging, so it's tail must be right innit». Put her right.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** apostrophe, tail, you · **What happens:** mean, belong, be, put · **To what, where:** tail, right innit, her

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 2 of lesson 11 «Homophones and near-homophones» 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/11-homophones-and-near-homophones/#t2).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «the apostrophe means belonging, so it's tail must be right innit».

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:t2:1
# text = «the apostrophe means belonging, so it's tail must be right innit».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	apostrophe	apostrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
11	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
13	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	innit	innit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** *in a quote* | present | the apostrophe |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **belong** *not said to happen, in a quote* | gerund | the apostrophe *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | apostrophe | tail |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | must | tail | right innit |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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:11-homophones-and-near-homophones: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 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She's right, the apostrophe always shows belonging

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:t2:o1:1
# text = She's right, the apostrophe always shows belonging
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	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	apostrophe	apostrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	8	advmod	_	_
8	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	belonging	belonging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | present | the apostrophe | belonging |  |  |  | always *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent belonging=Recipient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Its'» with the apostrophe at the end is right

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:t2:o2:1
# text = «Its'» with the apostrophe at the end is right
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	apostrophe	apostrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Its apostrophe at the end |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Both «its» and «it's» are fine for belonging, as long as the reader understands

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:t2:o3:1
# text = Both «its» and «it's» are fine for belonging, as long as the reader understands
1	Both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	nsubj	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	as	as	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	13	advmod	_	_
17	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	reader	reader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
20	understands	understand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | fine *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **belong** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **understand** | present | the reader |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

### Option 4 · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Its» for belonging; «it's» only means «it is» or «it has»

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:t2:o4:1
# text = «Its» for belonging; «it's» only means «it is» or «it has»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	only	only	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **belong** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | Its *= it* |  |  |  |  | mean *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** *in a quote* | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **have** *in a quote* | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: 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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