---
title: You cannot come to a party because you are visiting your grandma. Wh… — Birthday parties · tree and pragmatics
description: You cannot come to a party because you are visiting your grandma. What is the polite way to answer? Test 8 · ★ of lesson 130 «Birthday parties» of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's choice was right.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/130-birthday-parties/t8/)

<!-- 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/) / [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/) / [Birthday parties](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/130-birthday-parties/) / t8

# Test 8 · ★ · Birthday parties

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You cannot come to a party because you are visiting your grandma. What is the polite way to answer?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** You, polite way · **What happens:** not come, visit, be, answer · **To what, where:** party, grandma

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★ of lesson 130 «Birthday parties» of the everyday 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/everyday/130-birthday-parties/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* You cannot come to a party because you are visiting your grandma.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:130-birthday-parties:t8:1
# text = You cannot come to a party because you are visiting your grandma.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	visiting	visit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **come** | can | You |  |  | a party |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to party=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **visit** | present · progressive | you | your grandma |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grandma=Co-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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* What is the polite way to answer?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:130-birthday-parties:t8:2
# text = What is the polite way to answer?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the polite way |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | the polite way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Say yes and then simply not turn up

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:130-birthday-parties:t8:o1:1
# text = Say yes and then simply not turn up
1	Say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	1	obj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
4	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	_
5	simply	simply	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent yes=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **turn up** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  | then | simply *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not answer at all, since you are not coming and they will work it out

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:130-birthday-parties:t8:o2:1
# text = Do not answer at all, since you are not coming and they will work it out
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	answer	answer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	parataxis	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	out	out	ADP	RP	_	15	compound:prt	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **answer** *speech: assert* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | all |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **come** | present · progressive | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **work out** | future | they | it |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell them your grandma is more fun

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:130-birthday-parties:t8:o3:1
# text = Tell them your grandma is more fun
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	iobj	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | your grandma | more fun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thank them for inviting you and say you are sorry you cannot come

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:130-birthday-parties:t8:o4:1
# text = Thank them for inviting you and say you are sorry you cannot come
1	Thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	inviting	invite	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* | present |  |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |
| 2 | **invite** | gerund |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Recipient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **not** **come** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Birthday parties, test 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/130-birthday-parties/t7/)
- next →: [Birthday parties, test 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/130-birthday-parties/t9/)
- ↑ back to [Birthday parties](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/130-birthday-parties/)