---
title: Charlotte says, "Why say madame? It sounds dead formal." ("Dead" mea… — Tu or vous? Manners in French · tree and pragmatics
description: Charlotte says, "Why say madame? It sounds dead formal." ("Dead" means very.) What's the truth? Test 7 · ★ of lesson 5 «Tu or vous? Manners in French» of the French course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's choice was wrong.
---

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# Test 7 · ★ · Tu or vous? Manners in French

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Charlotte says, "Why say madame? It sounds dead formal." ("Dead" means very.) What's the truth?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Charlotte, madame, truth · **What happens:** say, sound, mean, be · **To what, where:** madame · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 7 · ★ of lesson 5 «Tu or vous? Manners in French» of the French 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/french/5-tu-or-vous-manners-in-french/#t7).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Charlotte says, "Why say madame?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:french:5-tu-or-vous-manners-in-french:t7:1
# text = Charlotte says, "Why say madame?
1	Charlotte	Charlotte	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	madame	madame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: ask* | present | Charlotte |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | infinitive |  | madame |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent madame=Topic |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* It sounds dead formal."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:french:5-tu-or-vous-manners-in-french:t7:2
# text = It sounds dead formal."
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | madame |  |  |  |  | formal *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* ("Dead" means very.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:french:5-tu-or-vous-manners-in-french:t7:3
# text = ("Dead" means very.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 4:* What's the truth?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:french:5-tu-or-vous-manners-in-french:t7:4
# text = What's the truth?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the truth |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is only for the Queen and very important people

```conllu
# sent_id = question:french:5-tu-or-vous-manners-in-french:t7:o1:1
# text = It is only for the Queen and very important people
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Queen	Queen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | for the Queen and important people | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is rude, because it makes the lady sound old

```conllu
# sent_id = question:french:5-tu-or-vous-manners-in-french:t7:o2:1
# text = It is rude, because it makes the lady sound old
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	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lady	lady	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	sound	sound	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | it | the lady |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **sound** | infinitive | the lady *not said here* |  |  |  |  | old *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In France, bonjour, madame is normal and polite, even for kids

```conllu
# sent_id = question:french:5-tu-or-vous-manners-in-french:t7:o3:1
# text = In France, bonjour, madame is normal and polite, even for kids
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	France	France	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	bonjour	bonjour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	madame	madame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	normal	normal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	even	even	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	kids	kid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | madame |  |  | France and bonjour |  | normal *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | madame *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is old-fashioned, nobody in France says it any more, not even grans

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:french:5-tu-or-vous-manners-in-french:t7:o4:1
# text = It is old-fashioned, nobody in France says it any more, not even grans
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	10	nsubj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	France	France	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	any	any	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
16	even	even	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	grans	gran	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | grans *obl*; fashioned *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | nobody | it |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=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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