---
title: Uncle Dave, a proper Scouser (from Liverpool), says, "Taxes? Boss id… — What politics is: deciding things toge… · tree and pragmatics
description: Uncle Dave, a proper Scouser (from Liverpool), says, "Taxes? Boss idea, la, that's what fixed me knee in the ozzy." ("Boss" means great; "ozzy" means hospital.) What is he saying? Test 5 of lesson 1 «What politics is: deciding things together» of the politics course of Mova's primary school, with th
---

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# Test 5 · What politics is: deciding things together

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Uncle Dave, a proper Scouser (from Liverpool), says, "Taxes? Boss idea, la, that's what fixed me knee in the ozzy." ("Boss" means great; "ozzy" means hospital.) What is he saying?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Uncle Dave, that, Boss, ozzy · **What happens:** say, be, fix, mean · **To what, where:** Taxes, Boss idea, knee, me, ozzy, hospital · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 5 of lesson 1 «What politics is: deciding things together» of the politics 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/politics/1-what-politics-is-deciding-things-together/#t5).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Uncle Dave, a proper Scouser (from Liverpool), says, "Taxes?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:1-what-politics-is-deciding-things-together:t5:1
# text = Uncle Dave, a proper Scouser (from Liverpool), says, "Taxes?
1	Uncle	Uncle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Dave	Dave	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	Scouser	scouser	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Liverpool	Liverpool	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
12	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Taxes	tax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Uncle Dave | Taxes |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent tax=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:* Boss idea, la, that's what fixed me knee in the ozzy."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:1-what-politics-is-deciding-things-together:t5:2
# text = Boss idea, la, that's what fixed me knee in the ozzy."
1	Boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	la	la	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	appos	_	_
9	fixed	fix	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
10	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	ozzy	ozzy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | that | Boss idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fix** | past |  | knee | me | the ozzy |  |  | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP.beneficiary NP»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary knee=Product |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* ("Boss" means great; "ozzy" means hospital.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:1-what-politics-is-deciding-things-together:t5:3
# text = ("Boss" means great; "ozzy" means hospital.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	ozzy	ozzy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
12	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Boss |  |  |  |  | great *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | ozzy | hospital |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hospital=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 4:* What is he saying?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:1-what-politics-is-deciding-things-together:t5:4
# text = What is he saying?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | ozzy |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taxes should be paid only by the boss at work

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:1-what-politics-is-deciding-things-together:t5:o1:1
# text = Taxes should be paid only by the boss at work
1	Taxes	tax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:agent	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | should · passive | the boss | Taxes |  | work |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Asset |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hospitals are paid for by bosses, not by taxes

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:1-what-politics-is-deciding-things-together:t5:o2:1
# text = Hospitals are paid for by bosses, not by taxes
1	Hospitals	hospital	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	bosses	boss	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	taxes	tax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay for** | present · passive | bosses | Hospitals |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Asset |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taxes are good because they pay for things like hospitals

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:1-what-politics-is-deciding-things-together:t5:o3:1
# text = Taxes are good because they pay for things like hospitals
1	Taxes	tax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	pay	pay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	hospitals	hospital	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Taxes |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay** | present | Taxes *= tax* |  |  |  |  | for things like hospitals | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent for thing=Theme |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His knee was fixed for free, so taxes must be pointless for him

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:1-what-politics-is-deciding-things-together:t5:o4:1
# text = His knee was fixed for free, so taxes must be pointless for him
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	taxes	tax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
10	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
12	pointless	pointless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fix** | past · passive |  | His knee |  |  |  | for free | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: subject=Product for free=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **is** | must | taxes |  |  |  |  | for him *= he*; pointless *property* | tree rules |

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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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