---
title: A Canadian kid writes "I want pancakes, maple syrup, eh." ("Eh" is a… — Commas: lists, clauses and clarity · tree and pragmatics
description: A Canadian kid writes "I want pancakes, maple syrup, eh." ("Eh" is a friendly tag on the end.) Is the comma before "eh" fine? Test 6 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 o
---

<!-- 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/t6/)

<!-- 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/) / t6

# Test 6 · Commas: lists, clauses and clarity

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Canadian kid writes "I want pancakes, maple syrup, eh." ("Eh" is a friendly tag on the end.) Is the comma before "eh" fine?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Canadian kid, I, Eh, comma · **What happens:** write, want, be · **To what, where:** pancakes, friendly tag, end · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 6 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/#t6).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A Canadian kid writes "I want pancakes, maple syrup, eh."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t6:1
# text = A Canadian kid writes "I want pancakes, maple syrup, eh."
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Canadian	Canadian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	kid	kid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	writes	write	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	pancakes	pancake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	maple	maple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	syrup	syrup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	eh	eh	INTJ	UH	_	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present | a Canadian kid |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **want** *in a quote* | present | I | pancakes and maple syrup |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot pancake=Theme |

<!-- .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:* ("Eh" is a friendly tag on the end.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t6:2
# text = ("Eh" is a friendly tag on the end.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Eh	Eh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tag	tag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Eh | a friendly tag |  |  | on the end |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Is the comma before "eh" fine?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t6:3
# text = Is the comma before "eh" fine?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	comma	comma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	eh	eh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the comma before eh |  |  |  |  | fine *property* | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, "eh" needs a full stop before it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t6:o1:1
# text = No, "eh" needs a full stop before it
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	eh	eh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	stop	stop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	before	before	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | eh | a full stop |  |  | before stop |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot stop=Theme |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, it separates the tag at the end

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t6:o2:1
# text = Yes, it separates the tag at the end
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	separates	separate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tag	tag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **separate** | present | it | the tag |  |  | at the end |  | vn separate-23.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tag=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, "eh" is never written down

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t6:o3:1
# text = No, "eh" is never written down
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	8	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	eh	eh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	down	down	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **write down** | present · passive |  | eh |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, because "eh" is part of the list

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity:t6:o4:1
# text = Yes, because "eh" is part of the list
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	8	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
3	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	eh	eh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | eh | part |  |  |  | of the list | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Commas: lists, clauses and clarity, test 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity/t5/)
- next →: [Commas: lists, clauses and clarity, test 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity/t7/)
- ↑ back to [Commas: lists, clauses and clarity](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/33-commas-lists-clauses-and-clarity/)