---
title: my mate says Ava's got cuts on her arm but made him swear not to tel… — White lies and kind silence · tree and pragmatics
description: my mate says Ava's got cuts on her arm but made him swear not to tell, people say she's just attention seeking Test 17 · ★ of lesson 196 «White lies and kind silence» of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's c
---

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# Test 17 · ★ · White lies and kind silence

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
my mate says Ava's got cuts on her arm but made him swear not to tell, people say she's just attention seeking

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 1 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** mate, Ava, people, attention · **What happens:** say, get, make, swear, not tell, be · **To what, where:** got cuts, arm, Ava, attention · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 17 · ★ of lesson 196 «White lies and kind silence» 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/196-white-lies-and-kind-silence/#t17).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t17:1
# text = my mate says Ava's got cuts on her arm but made him swear not to tell, people say she's just attention seeking
1	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Ava	Ava	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	got	get	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	cuts	cut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	swear	swear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nsubj	_	_
20	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
21	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
23	just	just	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
24	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	ccomp	_	_
25	seeking	seek	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	24	acl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | my mate | Ava's got cuts |  | mate's arm |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent cut=Topic |
| 2 | **get** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **make** | past | my mate *not said here* | Ava |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **swear** | infinitive | Ava *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | Ava *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 7 | **is a** | present | mate | attention |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 8 | **seek** | gerund | attention *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V»: agent=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.

## The options {#options}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't gossip, but a trusted adult must know, her safety matters most

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t17:o1:1
# text = Don't gossip, but a trusted adult must know, her safety matters most
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	gossip	gossip	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	matters	matter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
15	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	14	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **gossip** *speech: other* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **trust** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **know** | must | a trusted adult |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **matter** | present | adult's safety |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ignore it, it's attention seeking

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t17:o2:1
# text = Ignore it, it's attention seeking
1	Ignore	ignore	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	_
7	seeking	seek	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ignore** | imperative | you *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | it | attention |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **seek** | gerund | attention *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep it secret, he swore

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t17:o3:1
# text = Keep it secret, he swore
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	swore	swear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* | it |  |  |  | secret *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 2 | **swear** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell the whole class so that they can all keep an eye on her and help out

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t17:o4:1
# text = Tell the whole class so that they can all keep an eye on her and help out
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	all	all	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	ccomp	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
17	out	out	ADP	RP	_	16	compound:prt	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | the whole class |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent class=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **keep** | can | they | a eye |  |  |  | on her *= she*; all *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent eye=Theme on she=Location |
| 3 | **help out** | infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: 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 -->

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- ← previous: [White lies and kind silence, test 16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/196-white-lies-and-kind-silence/t16/)
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