---
title: gran whispered "those two are a bit more than friends, if you know w… — White lies and kind silence · tree and pragmatics
description: gran whispered "those two are a bit more than friends, if you know what I mean" about the neighbours. what does she mean and what do you do? Test 21 · ★ 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 questio
---

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# Test 21 · ★ · White lies and kind silence

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
gran whispered "those two are a bit more than friends, if you know what I mean" about the neighbours. what does she mean and what do you do?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 2 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** two, you, I, gran · **What happens:** whisper, be, know, mean, do · **To what, where:** gran, neighbours · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 21 · ★ 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/#t21).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t21:1
# text = gran whispered "those two are a bit more than friends, if you know what I mean" about the neighbours. what does she mean and what do you do?
1	gran	gran	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj	_	_
2	whispered	whisper	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	advmod	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
16	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	18	obj	_	_
17	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	_
20	about	about	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	neighbours	neighbour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
24	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	27	obj	_	_
25	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	aux	_	_
26	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	27	nsubj	_	_
27	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
29	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	32	obj	_	_
30	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	32	aux	_	_
31	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	32	nsubj	_	_
32	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	27	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whisper** *speech: assert* | participle |  | gran *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | that two |  |  |  |  | than friends; a bit *obl:unmarked*; more *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **know** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **mean** *in a quote* | present | I | the neighbours |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **mean** | present · do-support | gran |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 6 | **do** | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They broke a rule, so you tell the police

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t21:o1:1
# text = They broke a rule, so you tell the police
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | They | a rule |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer rule=Patient |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | you | the police |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent police=Recipient |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They are probably a couple; that is their private business, so leave it

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t21:o2:1
# text = They are probably a couple; that is their private business, so leave it
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	probably	probably	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	couple	couple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	parataxis	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | They | a couple |  |  |  | probably *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | that | their private business |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **leave** | infinitive |  | business |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They are secretly enemies, so you warn them

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t21:o3:1
# text = They are secretly enemies, so you warn them
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	enemies	enemy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	warn	warn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | They | enemies |  |  |  | secretly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **warn** *speech: warn* | present | you |  | enemies *= enemy* |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They must be cousins, so you go and ask them all about their family tree

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:196-white-lies-and-kind-silence:t21:o4:1
# text = They must be cousins, so you go and ask them all about their family tree
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	cousins	cousin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	iobj	_	_
12	all	all	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
13	about	about	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
15	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | must | They | cousins |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | cousins *= cousin* |  |  | about cousins's family tree | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP PP.topic»: agent=Agent they=Recipient about tree=Topic |

<!-- 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 20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/196-white-lies-and-kind-silence/t20/)
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