---
title: Ascertain the most appropriate response of a parent to a child who w… — Tricky words and common exception words · tree and pragmatics
description: Ascertain the most appropriate response of a parent to a child who writes «sed» in place of «said». Exam question 2 of lesson 3 «Tricky words and common exception words» of the English course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's
---

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# Exam question 2 · Tricky words and common exception words

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ascertain the most appropriate response of a parent to a child who writes «sed» in place of «said».

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, child, place · **What happens:** ascertain, write, s, say · **To what, where:** appropriate response, place · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 2 of lesson 3 «Tricky words and common exception words» of the English 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/english/3-tricky-words-and-common-exception-words/#e2).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:3-tricky-words-and-common-exception-words:e2:1
# text = Ascertain the most appropriate response of a parent to a child who writes «sed» in place of «said».
1	Ascertain	ascertain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	4	advmod	_	_
4	appropriate	appropriate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	response	response	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	parent	parent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
12	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	writes	write	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	sed	s	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ascertain** | imperative | you *not said here* | the appropriate response of a parent |  |  |  | to a child | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent response=Topic |
| 2 | **write** | present | a child |  |  | place |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **s** *in a quote* | participle | a child *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | place *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
To accept the spelling permanently, since it faithfully reflects the sounds of the word as spoken

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:3-tricky-words-and-common-exception-words:e2:o1:1
# text = To accept the spelling permanently, since it faithfully reflects the sounds of the word as spoken
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	accept	accept	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	permanently	permanently	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	faithfully	faithfully	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	reflects	reflect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
16	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **accept** | to-infinitive |  | the spelling |  |  |  | permanently *property* | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spelling=Theme |
| 2 | **reflect** | present | spelling | the sounds of the word |  |  |  | faithfully *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **speak** *speech: other* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To erase the attempt immediately and in evident displeasure

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:3-tricky-words-and-common-exception-words:e2:o2:1
# text = To erase the attempt immediately and in evident displeasure
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	erase	erase	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	attempt	attempt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	immediately	immediately	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	evident	evident	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	displeasure	displeasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **erase** | to-infinitive |  | the attempt |  |  |  | immediately *property* | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent attempt=Source |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To commend the accurate hearing of the sounds and demonstrate the correct spelling

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:3-tricky-words-and-common-exception-words:e2:o3:1
# text = To commend the accurate hearing of the sounds and demonstrate the correct spelling
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	commend	commend	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	accurate	accurate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	hearing	hearing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	demonstrate	demonstrate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	correct	correct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **commend** | to-infinitive |  | the accurate hearing of the sounds |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hearing=Theme |
| 2 | **demonstrate** | present |  | the correct spelling |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot spelling=Topic |
| 3 | **hear** |  | the sounds |  |  |  |  |  | nom hearing «act intransitive»: of=agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To refer the child to a specialist without delay

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:3-tricky-words-and-common-exception-words:e2:o4:1
# text = To refer the child to a specialist without delay
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	refer	refer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	specialist	specialist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	without	without	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refer** | to-infinitive |  | the child | a specialist |  |  | without delay | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent child=Theme to specialist=Recipient |

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**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.

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