---
title: ★ Gran's friend says she's «a bit peckish», so you bring her one gra… — A bit nippy and not ideal: British und… · tree and pragmatics
description: ★ Gran's friend says she's «a bit peckish», so you bring her one grape. Everyone else gets a full plate. What went wrong? Test 8 · ★ of lesson 49 «A bit nippy and not ideal: British understatement» of the language course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the questi
---

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# Test 8 · ★ · A bit nippy and not ideal: British understatement

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
★ Gran's friend says she's «a bit peckish», so you bring her one grape. Everyone else gets a full plate. What went wrong?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** friend, you, Everyone · **What happens:** say, be, bring, get, go · **To what, where:** one grape, friend, full plate · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★ of lesson 49 «A bit nippy and not ideal: British understatement» 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/49-a-bit-nippy-and-not-ideal-british-understatement/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ★ Gran's friend says she's «a bit peckish», so you bring her one grape.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:49-a-bit-nippy-and-not-ideal-british-understatement:t8:1
# text = ★ Gran's friend says she's «a bit peckish», so you bring her one grape.
1	★	★	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
4	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	peckish	peckish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	bring	bring	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
17	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	grape	grape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | ★'s friend |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | friend |  |  |  |  | a bit *obl:unmarked*; peckish *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **bring** | present | you | one grape | friend |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent she=Destination grape=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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Everyone else gets a full plate.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:49-a-bit-nippy-and-not-ideal-british-understatement:t8:2
# text = Everyone else gets a full plate.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	nsubj	_	_
2	else	else	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plate	plate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | Everyone | a full plate |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer plate=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* What went wrong?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:49-a-bit-nippy-and-not-ideal-british-understatement:t8:3
# text = What went wrong?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past |  |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## The options {#options}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A bit peckish» was a polite way of saying «I'm hungry»

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:49-a-bit-nippy-and-not-ideal-british-understatement:t8:o1:1
# text = «A bit peckish» was a polite way of saying «I'm hungry»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
4	peckish	peckish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	hungry	hungry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | peckish | a polite way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a polite way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present | a polite way *= way* |  |  |  |  | hungry *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Peckish» means she only eats fruit

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:49-a-bit-nippy-and-not-ideal-british-understatement:t8:o2:1
# text = «Peckish» means she only eats fruit
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Peckish	peckish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	eats	eat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Peckish |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **eat** | present | she | fruit |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fruit=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gran's friend asked for exactly one grape

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:49-a-bit-nippy-and-not-ideal-british-understatement:t8:o3:1
# text = Gran's friend asked for exactly one grape
1	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	exactly	exactly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	grape	grape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Gran's friend |  |  |  |  | for one grape | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing, one grape is a polite size for a guest at Sunday lunch

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:49-a-bit-nippy-and-not-ideal-british-understatement:t8:o4:1
# text = Nothing, one grape is a polite size for a guest at Sunday lunch
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	grape	grape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	guest	guest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Nothing | a polite size |  |  |  | for a guest at Sunday lunch | tree rules |

<!-- 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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