---
title: A cousin from Newcastle says "Howay, man, we was robbed!" about a fo… — Standard English and dialect: "we was"… · tree and pragmatics
description: A cousin from Newcastle says "Howay, man, we was robbed!" about a football match. ("Howay" means come on.) Is this wrong to say at the match? Test 5 · ★ of lesson 38 «Standard English and dialect: "we was" in talk, "we were" in writing» of the English course of Mova's primary school, with the depend
---

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# Test 5 · ★ · Standard English and dialect: "we was" in talk, "we were"…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cousin from Newcastle says "Howay, man, we was robbed!" about a football match. ("Howay" means come on.) Is this wrong to say at the match?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** cousin, Howay, this · **What happens:** say, rob, mean, come on, be · **To what, where:** Howay, match · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 5 · ★ of lesson 38 «Standard English and dialect: "we was" in talk, "we were" in writing» 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/38-standard-english-and-dialect-we-was-and-we-were/#t5).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A cousin from Newcastle says "Howay, man, we was robbed!" about a football match.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:38-standard-english-and-dialect-we-was-and-we-were:t5:1
# text = A cousin from Newcastle says "Howay, man, we was robbed!" about a football match.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Newcastle	Newcastle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Howay	Howay	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	robbed	rob	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
16	about	about	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: express* | present | a cousin from Newcastle |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **rob** *in a quote* | past · passive |  | Howay |  |  |  | about a football match | vn cheat-10.6.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Source |

<!-- .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:* ("Howay" means come on.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:38-standard-english-and-dialect-we-was-and-we-were:t5:2
# text = ("Howay" means come on.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Howay	Howay	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
7	on	on	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Howay |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **come on** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Is this wrong to say at the match?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:38-standard-english-and-dialect-we-was-and-we-were:t5:3
# text = Is this wrong to say at the match?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the match |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, "howay" is not a real word

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:38-standard-english-and-dialect-we-was-and-we-were:t5:o1:1
# text = Yes, "howay" is not a real word
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	10	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	howay	howay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | howay | a real word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, but only because it's about football

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:38-standard-english-and-dialect-we-was-and-we-were:t5:o2:1
# text = No, but only because it's about football
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	9	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
3	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | about football | tree rules |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, it's natural dialect for talking with mates

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:38-standard-english-and-dialect-we-was-and-we-were:t5:o3:1
# text = No, it's natural dialect for talking with mates
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	natural	natural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	dialect	dialect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	mates	mate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | it | natural dialect |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | gerund | natural dialect *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with mates | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with mate=Co-Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, it's always wrong to say "we was", even at a match

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:38-standard-english-and-dialect-we-was-and-we-were:t5:o4:1
# text = Yes, it's always wrong to say "we was", even at a match
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	6	advmod	_	_
6	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	even	even	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | always, wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **be** *in a quote* | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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- ↑ back to [Standard English and dialect: "we was" in talk, "we were" in writing](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/english/38-standard-english-and-dialect-we-was-and-we-were/)