---
title: auntie said "they're only staying together for the kids" bout my cou… — Grandparents, divorce and step-families · tree and pragmatics
description: auntie said "they're only staying together for the kids" bout my cousin's parents Test 22 · ★ of lesson 96 «Grandparents, divorce and step-families» 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.
---

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# Test 22 · ★ · Grandparents, divorce and step-families

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
auntie said "they're only staying together for the kids" bout my cousin's parents

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 2 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** auntie, they · **What happens:** say, stay together · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 22 · ★ of lesson 96 «Grandparents, divorce and step-families» 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/96-grandparents-divorce-and-step-families/#t22).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:96-grandparents-divorce-and-step-families:t22:1
# text = auntie said "they're only staying together for the kids" bout my cousin's parents
1	auntie	auntie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	staying	stay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	_
8	together	together	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	_
13	bout	bout	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	's	's	PART	POS	_	15	case	_	_
17	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | auntie |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stay together** *in a quote* | present · progressive | they |  |  |  |  | for the kids; bout my cousin's parents; together *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Tell your cousin straight away what auntie said, because he has a right to know everything

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:96-grandparents-divorce-and-step-families:t22:o1:1
# text = Tell your cousin straight away what auntie said, because he has a right to know everything
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	_
7	auntie	auntie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	acl	_	_
17	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	16	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | your cousin |  |  |  | away *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent cousin=Recipient |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | auntie |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 3 | **have** | present | auntie | a right |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent right=Patient |
| 4 | **know** | to-infinitive | auntie *not said here* | everything |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer everything=Stimulus |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She thinks they are unhappy as a couple but stay together for the children; it is private, so do not repeat it

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:96-grandparents-divorce-and-step-families:t22:o2:1
# text = She thinks they are unhappy as a couple but stay together for the children; it is private, so do not repeat it
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unhappy	unhappy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	couple	couple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	together	together	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	so	so	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
21	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
22	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	23	advmod	_	_
23	repeat	repeat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
24	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | as a couple; unhappy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay together** | infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the children; together *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | couple |  |  |  |  | private *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **repeat** | infinitive · do-support | She *not said here* | couple |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It means they love their kids too little to bother splitting up, so the kids are a nuisance to them

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:96-grandparents-divorce-and-step-families:t22:o3:1
# text = It means they love their kids too little to bother splitting up, so the kids are a nuisance to them
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	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	too	too	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	bother	bother	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	splitting	split	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
17	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	nuisance	nuisance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
20	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .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 clause=Topic |
| 2 | **love** | present | they | their kids |  |  |  | little *obl:unmarked* | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer kid=Stimulus |
| 3 | **bother** | to-infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **split up** | gerund | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **is a** | present | the kids | a nuisance | them *= they* |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It means the kids must leave

```conllu
# sent_id = question:everyday:96-grandparents-divorce-and-step-families:t22:o4:1
# text = It means the kids must leave
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	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .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 clause=Topic |
| 2 | **leave** | must | the kids |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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