---
title: overheard dad on the phone: "we're going our separate ways, it's for… — Family changes and grief · tree and pragmatics
description: overheard dad on the phone: "we're going our separate ways, it's for the best". what does it mean and who can you talk to? Test 21 · ★★ of lesson 214 «Family changes and grief» of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option
---

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# Test 21 · ★★ · Family changes and grief

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
overheard dad on the phone: "we're going our separate ways, it's for the best". what does it mean and who can you talk to?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** we, phone · **What happens:** overhear, go, be, mean, talk · **To what, where:** dad, phone, separate ways · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 21 · ★★ of lesson 214 «Family changes and grief» 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/214-family-changes-and-grief/#t21).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:214-family-changes-and-grief:t21:1
# text = overheard dad on the phone: "we're going our separate ways, it's for the best". what does it mean and who can you talk to?
1	overheard	overhear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	ccomp	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
12	separate	separate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	ways	way	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
22	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	25	obj	_	_
23	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux	_	_
24	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	ccomp	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
27	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	30	nsubj	_	_
28	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	30	aux	_	_
29	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	30	nsubj	_	_
30	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	25	conj	_	_
31	to	to	ADP	IN	_	30	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overhear** | past |  | dad |  | the phone |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** *in a quote* | present · progressive | we | our separate ways |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location way=Theme |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present | we *not said here* |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **mean** | present · do-support | phone |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 5 | **talk** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «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 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's your fault, so keep it secret forever

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:214-family-changes-and-grief:t21:o1:1
# text = It's your fault, so keep it secret forever
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	fault	fault	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
10	forever	forever	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | your fault |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | infinitive |  | fault |  |  |  | forever, secret *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad is going on a business trip

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:214-family-changes-and-grief:t21:o2:1
# text = Dad is going on a business trip
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present · progressive | Dad |  |  | a business trip |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on trip=Location |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum and dad are walking home on two roads

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:214-family-changes-and-grief:t21:o3:1
# text = Mum and dad are walking home on two roads
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	home	home	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | present · progressive | Mum and dad |  |  | two roads |  | home *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on road=Trajectory |

### Option 4 · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum and dad may be separating; you can ask them or another trusted adult about it

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:214-family-changes-and-grief:t21:o4:1
# text = Mum and dad may be separating; you can ask them or another trusted adult about it
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux	_	_
6	separating	separate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	iobj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	15	det	_	_
14	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	amod	_	_
15	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
16	about	about	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **separate** | may · progressive | Mum and dad |  |  |  |  |  | vn separate-23.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | can | you |  | Mum |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |
| 3 | **trust** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

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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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- ← previous: [Family changes and grief, test 20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/214-family-changes-and-grief/t20/)
- next →: [Family changes and grief, test 22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/214-family-changes-and-grief/t22/)
- ↑ back to [Family changes and grief](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/214-family-changes-and-grief/)