---
title: A tea shop sign says "Ye Olde Sweete Shoppe" and a lad laughs "they… — Where English came from · tree and pragmatics
description: A tea shop sign says "Ye Olde Sweete Shoppe" and a lad laughs "they said YE back then lol". What's true? Test 7 · ★ of lesson 22 «Where English came from» of the language course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's choice was ri
---

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# Test 7 · ★ · Where English came from

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tea shop sign says "Ye Olde Sweete Shoppe" and a lad laughs "they said YE back then lol". What's true?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** shop sign, lad, Ye Olde · **What happens:** say, laugh, be · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 7 · ★ of lesson 22 «Where English came from» of the language 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/language/22-where-english-came-from/#t7).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A tea shop sign says "Ye Olde Sweete Shoppe" and a lad laughs "they said YE back then lol".

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:22-where-english-came-from:t7:1
# text = A tea shop sign says "Ye Olde Sweete Shoppe" and a lad laughs "they said YE back then lol".
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Ye	Ye	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Olde	Olde	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
9	Sweete	Sweete	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	_
10	Shoppe	Shoppe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	lad	lad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	laughs	laugh	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
19	YE	ye	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Style=Arch	20	nsubj	_	_
20	back	back	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
21	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	20	advmod	_	_
22	lol	lol	INTJ	UH	_	18	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a shop sign |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **laugh** | present | a lad |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | Ye Olde |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: 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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* What's true?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:22-where-english-came-from:t7:2
# text = What's true?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	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	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Y was just a decoration that sign painters liked to add

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:22-where-english-came-from:t7:o1:1
# text = The Y was just a decoration that sign painters liked to add
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Y	Y	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	just	just	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	decoration	decoration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sign	sign	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	painters	painter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	liked	like	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the Y | a decoration |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sign** | present | a decoration | painters |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent painter=Destination |
| 3 | **like** | participle |  | painters *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **add** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He's right, people really said "ye" when they meant "the"

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:22-where-english-came-from:t7:o2:1
# text = He's right, people really said "ye" when they meant "the"
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	really	really	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	ye	ye	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Style=Arch	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
14	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **mean** | past | people | the |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent the=Topic |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Ye" meant "yes" in old times

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:22-where-english-came-from:t7:o3:1
# text = "Ye" meant "yes" in old times
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ye	ye	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Style=Arch	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
```

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

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They said "the"; the Y stood for the old letter thorn

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:22-where-english-came-from:t7:o4:1
# text = They said "the"; the Y stood for the old letter thorn
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Y	Y	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
12	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	thorn	thorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | They | the |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent the=Topic |
| 2 | **stand** | past | the Y |  |  |  |  | for the old letter thorn | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer for thorn=Attribute |

<!-- 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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