---
title: everyone's saying Ella has nits cos her house is dirty — Chickens, goats and little creatures · tree and pragmatics
description: everyone's saying Ella has nits cos her house is dirty Test 18 · ★ of lesson 68 «Chickens, goats and little creatures» 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/68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures/t18/)

<!-- 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/) / [Chickens, goats and little creatures](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures/) / t18

# Test 18 · ★ · Chickens, goats and little creatures

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
everyone's saying Ella has nits cos her house is dirty

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** everyone, Ella, saying · **What happens:** say, have, be · **To what, where:** nits · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 18 · ★ of lesson 68 «Chickens, goats and little creatures» 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/68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures/#t18).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures:t18:1
# text = everyone's saying Ella has nits cos her house is dirty
1	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	csubj	_	_
4	Ella	Ella	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	nits	nit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	cos	cos	SCONJ	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | everyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** | present | Ella | nits |  |  |  | cos Ella's house | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nit=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | present | saying |  |  |  |  | dirty *property* | 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 -->
Wrong; head lice spread by head-to-head contact and are common, not a sign of being dirty

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures:t18:o1:1
# text = Wrong; head lice spread by head-to-head contact and are common, not a sign of being dirty
1	Wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
3	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	lice	louse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	spread	spread	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
7	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	contact	contact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
20	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
21	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	22	cop	_	_
22	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	acl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | present | Wrong head lice |  |  |  |  | by head head contact | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme by contact=Location |
| 2 | **is** | present | Wrong head lice *not said here* |  |  |  |  | common *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | gerund | a sign *not said here* |  |  |  |  | dirty *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is true, only messy kids get lice

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures:t18:o2:1
# text = It is true, only messy kids get lice
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	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	lice	louse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present | messy kids | lice |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer louse=Stimulus |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is true, nits come from dirt, so if her house was clean she would never have caught them

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures:t18:o3:1
# text = It is true, nits come from dirt, so if her house was clean she would never have caught them
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	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	nits	nit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	dirt	dirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	clean	clean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
16	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
18	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
19	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	aux	_	_
20	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	conj	_	_
21	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | present | nits |  |  | dirt |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from dirt=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **is** | past | her house |  |  |  |  | clean *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **catch** | would · perfect · passive |  | she |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP.beneficiary NP»: subject=Beneficiary they=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is true, if she has long hair

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures:t18:o4:1
# text = It is true, if she has long hair
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	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
8	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | she | long hair |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Patient |

<!-- 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: [Chickens, goats and little creatures, test 17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures/t17/)
- next →: [Chickens, goats and little creatures, test 19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures/t19/)
- ↑ back to [Chickens, goats and little creatures](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/everyday/68-chickens-goats-and-little-creatures/)