---
title: heard a man in a white van was asking kids to help find his puppy ou… — Strangers and tricky people · tree and pragmatics
description: heard a man in a white van was asking kids to help find his puppy outside school, everyone's saying he's a kidnapper Test 17 · ★★ of lesson 58 «Strangers and tricky people» of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mo
---

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# Test 17 · ★★ · Strangers and tricky people

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
heard a man in a white van was asking kids to help find his puppy outside school, everyone's saying he's a kidnapper

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** white van, everyone, van · **What happens:** hear, ask, help, find, say, be · **To what, where:** man, kids, puppy, kidnapper · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 17 · ★★ of lesson 58 «Strangers and tricky people» 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/58-strangers-and-tricky-people/#t17).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:58-strangers-and-tricky-people:t17:1
# text = heard a man in a white van was asking kids to help find his puppy outside school, everyone's saying he's a kidnapper
1	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	van	van	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
10	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
13	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	21	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
22	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	cop	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	kidnapper	kidnapper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past |  | a man |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer man=Stimulus |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past · progressive | a white van |  | kids |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent kid=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **help** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a white van *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **find** *not said to happen* | infinitive | a white van *not said here* | van's puppy |  |  |  | outside school | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puppy=Topic |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | everyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **is a** | present | van | a kidnapper |  |  |  |  | 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.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Either way, adults who need help ask adults, so say no and tell a grown-up

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:58-strangers-and-tricky-people:t17:o1:1
# text = Either way, adults who need help ask adults, so say no and tell a grown-up
1	Either	either	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	adults	adult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	adults	adult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
13	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	12	discourse	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
17	grown	grown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | adults | help |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* *not said to happen* | infinitive | help *not said here* |  | adults |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive | either way and adults |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | either way and adults *not said here* | a grown up |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent up=Recipient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It means helping with lost puppies is always fine, whoever asks you to help

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:58-strangers-and-tricky-people:t17:o2:1
# text = It means helping with lost puppies is always fine, whoever asks you to help
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	helping	help	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	puppies	puppy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	advmod	_	_
9	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	whoever	whoever	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **help** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | with lost puppies | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with puppy=Theme |
| 3 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | helping |  |  |  |  | always, fine *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | whoever |  | you |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 6 | **help** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | whoever *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It proves all white vans are dangerous

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:58-strangers-and-tricky-people:t17:o3:1
# text = It proves all white vans are dangerous
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	proves	prove	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
4	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	vans	van	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prove** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | all white vans |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is gossip, so nothing needs doing

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:58-strangers-and-tricky-people:t17:o4:1
# text = It is gossip, so nothing needs doing
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	7	nsubj	_	_
7	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | gossip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | nothing | gossip *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | gerund | gossip *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: 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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