---
title: ★★★ "We invited the clowns, Anna and Bea." With the Oxford comma "th… — Commas: lists, clauses and clarity · tree and pragmatics
description: ★★★ "We invited the clowns, Anna and Bea." With the Oxford comma "the clowns, Anna, and Bea" what changes? Test 11 of lesson 33 «Commas: lists, clauses and clarity» of the English course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's choi
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity/t11/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [questions](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/) / [English](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/) / [Commas: lists, clauses and clarity](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity/) / t11

# Test 11 · Commas: lists, clauses and clarity

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
★★★ "We invited the clowns, Anna and Bea." With the Oxford comma "the clowns, Anna, and Bea" what changes?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 1 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** We, Oxford comma · **What happens:** invite, change · **To what, where:** ★ ★ ★

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 11 of lesson 33 «Commas: lists, clauses and clarity» 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/33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity/#t11).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ★★★ "We invited the clowns, Anna and Bea."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t11:1
# text = ★★★ "We invited the clowns, Anna and Bea."
1	★	★	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	★	★	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	★	★	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:desc	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	invited	invite	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	clowns	clown	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	Anna	Anna	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	Bea	Bea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **invite** *in a quote* | past | We | ★ ★ ★ |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clown=Recipient |

<!-- .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:* With the Oxford comma "the clowns, Anna, and Bea" what changes?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t11:2
# text = With the Oxford comma "the clowns, Anna, and Bea" what changes?
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	Oxford	Oxford	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	comma	comma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	clowns	clown	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	Anna	Anna	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	Bea	Bea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	_
14	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	15	nsubj	_	_
15	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | present | the Oxford comma |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It shows the clowns, Anna and Bea are separate guests

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t11:o1:1
# text = It shows the clowns, Anna and Bea are separate guests
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clowns	clown	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	Anna	Anna	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	Bea	Bea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	separate	separate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the clowns | separate guests |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It means Anna and Bea did the inviting

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t11:o2:1
# text = It means Anna and Bea did the inviting
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Anna	Anna	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	Bea	Bea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	inviting	inviting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | past | Anna and Bea | the inviting |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent inviting=Eventuality |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It shows Anna and Bea are the clowns

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t11:o3:1
# text = It shows Anna and Bea are the clowns
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Anna	Anna	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	Bea	Bea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	clowns	clown	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Anna and Bea | the clowns |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing changes at all in meaning

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t11:o4:1
# text = Nothing changes at all in meaning
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
2	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | present | Nothing |  |  | all |  | in meaning | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Commas: lists, clauses and clarity, test 10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity/t10/)
- next →: [Commas: lists, clauses and clarity, exam 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity/e1/)
- ↑ back to [Commas: lists, clauses and clarity](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity/)