---
title: ★★★ Freddie uses look, say, cover, write, check and writes «becuase»… — How to learn spellings that stick · tree and pragmatics
description: ★★★ Freddie uses look, say, cover, write, check and writes «becuase» from memory. At which step should he catch it, and how? Test 12 of lesson 15 «How to learn spellings that stick» of the English course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each op
---

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# Test 12 · How to learn spellings that stick

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
★★★ Freddie uses look, say, cover, write, check and writes «becuase» from memory. At which step should he catch it, and how?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** ★ Freddie, Freddie · **What happens:** use, look, say, cover, write, check · **To what, where:** becuase, memory, step · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 12 of lesson 15 «How to learn spellings that stick» 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/15-how-to-learn-spellings-that-stick/#t12).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ★★★ Freddie uses look, say, cover, write, check and writes «becuase» from memory.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:15-how-to-learn-spellings-that-stick:t12:1
# text = ★★★ Freddie uses look, say, cover, write, check and writes «becuase» from memory.
1	★	★	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	★	★	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	1	dep	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	★	★	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	1	dep	_	_
4	Freddie	Freddie	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	cover	cover	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	writes	write	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	becuase	becuase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	_
20	from	from	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | ★ Freddie |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **look** | infinitive | ★ Freddie *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive | ★ Freddie *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **cover** | infinitive | ★ Freddie *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **write** | infinitive | ★ Freddie *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **check** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 7 | **write** | present |  | becuase |  | memory |  |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP PP.material»: agent=Agent becuase=Result from memory=Material |

<!-- .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:* At which step should he catch it, and how?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:15-how-to-learn-spellings-that-stick:t12:2
# text = At which step should he catch it, and how?
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	3	det	_	_
3	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	catch	catch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | should | Freddie | step |  |  |  | at which step | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent it=Theme at step=Asset |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Say: saying it aloud fixes the letters by itself

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:15-how-to-learn-spellings-that-stick:t12:o1:1
# text = Say: saying it aloud fixes the letters by itself
1	Say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	csubj	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	fixes	fix	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 3 | **fix** | present | saying | the letters |  |  |  | by itself *= it*; aloud *property* | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent letter=Patient |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Look: he looks at his own wrong word again until it looks right to him

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:15-how-to-learn-spellings-that-stick:t12:o2:1
# text = Look: he looks at his own wrong word again until it looks right to him
1	Look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
7	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
11	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
14	right	right	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **look** | present | he |  |  |  |  | at his own wrong word | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at word=Theme |
| 3 | **look** | present | word |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to he=Theme |
| 4 | **word** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cover: the hidden word shows him the slip

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:15-how-to-learn-spellings-that-stick:t12:o3:1
# text = Cover: the hidden word shows him the slip
1	Cover	cover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	slip	slip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Cover | the slip | word |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient slip=Topic |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Check: compare it letter by letter with the real word

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:15-how-to-learn-spellings-that-stick:t12:o4:1
# text = Check: compare it letter by letter with the real word
1	Check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	compare	compare	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **compare** | infinitive | you *not said here* | it |  |  |  | by letter with the real word | 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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