---
title: ★★★ Max: «I may have slightly broken the window». Lucy's neighbour:… — ★★★ Olympiad: hyperbole and downplayin… · tree and pragmatics
description: ★★★ Max: «I may have slightly broken the window». Lucy's neighbour: «it's nothing much». Both play things down. Which one should you NOT copy? Test 9 · ★★★ of lesson 55 «★★★ Olympiad: hyperbole and downplaying puzzles» of the language course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pra
---

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# Test 9 · ★★★ · ★★★ Olympiad: hyperbole and downplaying puzzles

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
★★★ Max: «I may have slightly broken the window». Lucy's neighbour: «it's nothing much». Both play things down. Which one should you NOT copy?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** I, neighbour, Both, one · **What happens:** break, be, play down, not copy · **To what, where:** window, things

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 9 · ★★★ of lesson 55 «★★★ Olympiad: hyperbole and downplaying puzzles» 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/55-olympiad-hyperbole-and-downplaying-puzzles/#t9).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ★★★ Max: «I may have slightly broken the window».

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:55-olympiad-hyperbole-and-downplaying-puzzles:t9:1
# text = ★★★ Max: «I may have slightly broken the window».
1	★	★	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	★	★	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	★	★	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	Max	Max	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
8	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
9	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux	_	_
10	slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	parataxis	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** *in a quote* | may · perfect | I | the window |  |  |  | slightly *property* | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer window=Patient |

<!-- .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:* Lucy's neighbour: «it's nothing much».

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:55-olympiad-hyperbole-and-downplaying-puzzles:t9:2
# text = Lucy's neighbour: «it's nothing much».
1	Lucy	Lucy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	9	nsubj	_	_
9	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Both play things down.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:55-olympiad-hyperbole-and-downplaying-puzzles:t9:3
# text = Both play things down.
1	Both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play down** | present | Both | things |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 4:* Which one should you NOT copy?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:55-olympiad-hyperbole-and-downplaying-puzzles:t9:4
# text = Which one should you NOT copy?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	NOT	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	copy	copy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **copy** | should | which one |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Neither, because both are perfectly polite and kind

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:55-olympiad-hyperbole-and-downplaying-puzzles:t9:o1:1
# text = Neither, because both are perfectly polite and kind
1	Neither	neither	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	perfectly	perfectly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | both |  |  |  |  | neither, perfectly, polite *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | both *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mrs Tanaka's, because playing down a gift is always rude

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:55-olympiad-hyperbole-and-downplaying-puzzles:t9:o2:1
# text = Mrs Tanaka's, because playing down a gift is always rude
1	Mrs	Mrs	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	Tanaka	Tanaka	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
6	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	csubj	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	gift	gift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	12	advmod	_	_
12	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play down** | gerund |  | a gift |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gift=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | playing |  |  |  |  | always, rude *property* | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Both, because playing anything down is always lying

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:55-olympiad-hyperbole-and-downplaying-puzzles:t9:o3:1
# text = Both, because playing anything down is always lying
1	Both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
3	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
4	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
5	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	advmod	_	_
9	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play down** | gerund |  | anything |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Theme |
| 2 | **lie** | present · progressive | playing |  |  |  |  | always *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Max's, because he plays down his own mistake to dodge trouble

```conllu
# sent_id = question:language:55-olympiad-hyperbole-and-downplaying-puzzles:t9:o4:1
# text = Max's, because he plays down his own mistake to dodge trouble
1	Max	Max	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	csubj	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	dodge	dodge	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl	_	_
13	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play down** | present | Max |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **dodge** | to-infinitive |  | trouble |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent trouble=Location |
| 3 | **mistake** |  | Max |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

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**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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