---
title: A grandad in Glasgow, dry: "Yer letter to the council says 'ye numpt… — Writing to inform, instruct and persuade · tree and pragmatics
description: A grandad in Glasgow, dry: "Yer letter to the council says 'ye numpties'. That'll work a treat." ("Numpties" means silly people.) What is he really saying? Test 5 · ★★ of lesson 44 «Writing to inform, instruct and persuade» of the English course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and
---

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# Test 5 · ★★ · Writing to inform, instruct and persuade

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A grandad in Glasgow, dry: "Yer letter to the council says 'ye numpties'. That'll work a treat." ("Numpties" means silly people.) What is he really saying?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Yer, grandad, ye, That, Numpties · **What happens:** letter, say, numpty, work, mean · **To what, where:** treat, silly people · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 5 · ★★ of lesson 44 «Writing to inform, instruct and persuade» 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/44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade/#t5).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A grandad in Glasgow, dry: "Yer letter to the council says 'ye numpties'.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade:t5:1
# text = A grandad in Glasgow, dry: "Yer letter to the council says 'ye numpties'.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	grandad	grandad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Glasgow	Glasgow	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	Yer	yer	PRON	PRP	Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	ye	ye	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Style=Arch	17	nsubj	_	_
17	numpties	numpty	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **letter** *in a quote* |  | Yer |  |  |  |  | to the council | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | present | a grandad in Glasgow |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **numpty** *in a quote* |  | ye |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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:* That'll work a treat."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade:t5:2
# text = That'll work a treat."
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	treat	treat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | future | That | a treat |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent treat=Material |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* ("Numpties" means silly people.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade:t5:3
# text = ("Numpties" means silly people.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Numpties	numpty	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	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 | Numpties | silly people |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 4:* What is he really saying?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade:t5:4
# text = What is he really saying?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	really	really	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council loves being called numpties

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade:t5:o1:1
# text = The council loves being called numpties
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
6	numpties	numpty	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | the council | numpties |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer numpty=Stimulus |
| 2 | **call** | gerund · passive |  | numpties *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V» |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Insults will not persuade the council

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade:t5:o2:1
# text = Insults will not persuade the council
1	Insults	insult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	persuade	persuade	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **persuade** | future | Insults | the council |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent council=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The letter is perfect and very polite

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade:t5:o3:1
# text = The letter is perfect and very polite
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the letter |  |  |  |  | perfect *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the letter *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wants more Scottish words in it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade:t5:o4:1
# text = He wants more Scottish words in it
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	Scottish	Scottish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | He | Scottish words |  | it |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot word=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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