---
title: A Scottish gran says, "Turn it aff, hen, it's aw greetin' and misery… — The news: who makes it and how · tree and pragmatics
description: A Scottish gran says, "Turn it aff, hen, it's aw greetin' and misery." ("Hen" means dear; "greetin'" means crying.) Why does the news seem sad? Test 8 · ★ of lesson 10 «The news: who makes it and how» of the politics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the que
---

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# Test 8 · ★ · The news: who makes it and how

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Scottish gran says, "Turn it aff, hen, it's aw greetin' and misery." ("Hen" means dear; "greetin'" means crying.) Why does the news seem sad?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** Scottish gran, gran, Hen, greetin, news · **What happens:** say, turn, be, mean, cry, seem · **To what, where:** gran, aw greetin · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★ of lesson 10 «The news: who makes it and how» 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/10-the-news-who-makes-it-and-how/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A Scottish gran says, "Turn it aff, hen, it's aw greetin' and misery."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:10-the-news-who-makes-it-and-how:t8:1
# text = A Scottish gran says, "Turn it aff, hen, it's aw greetin' and misery."
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Scottish	Scottish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	gran	gran	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	aff	aff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	aw	aw	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	greetin	greetin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	misery	misery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a Scottish gran |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **turn** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | gran |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP ADJ.result»: agent=Agent it=Theme aff=Result |
| 3 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | gran | aw greetin and misery |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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:* ("Hen" means dear; "greetin'" means crying.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:10-the-news-who-makes-it-and-how:t8:2
# text = ("Hen" means dear; "greetin'" means crying.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Hen	Hen	PROPN	NNP	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	dear	dear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	greetin	greetin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
12	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
13	crying	cry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Hen |  |  |  |  | dear *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | greetin |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **cry** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Why does the news seem sad?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:10-the-news-who-makes-it-and-how:t8:3
# text = Why does the news seem sad?
1	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	seem	seem	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | present · do-support | the news |  |  |  |  | sad *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

## The options {#options}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
News reports what is unusual, which is often problems

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:10-the-news-who-makes-it-and-how:t8:o1:1
# text = News reports what is unusual, which is often problems
1	News	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reports	report	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unusual	unusual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **report** | present | News |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | unusual *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present |  | problems |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The news is made only by sad people who want everyone else to feel sad too

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:10-the-news-who-makes-it-and-how:t8:o2:1
# text = The news is made only by sad people who want everyone else to feel sad too
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	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	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:agent	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	10	obj	_	_
12	else	else	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
15	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	_
16	too	too	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive | sad people | the news |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Product |
| 2 | **want** | present | sad people | everyone |  |  |  | else *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | everyone *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sad *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only sad things happen in Scotland

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:10-the-news-who-makes-it-and-how:t8:o3:1
# text = Only sad things happen in Scotland
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	happen	happen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present | sad things |  |  | Scotland |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in scotland=Location |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Happy news is banned from TV

```conllu
# sent_id = question:politics:10-the-news-who-makes-it-and-how:t8:o4:1
# text = Happy news is banned from TV
1	Happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	banned	ban	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ban** | present · passive |  | Happy news |  | TV |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Beneficiary from tv=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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