---
title: Uncle Dai from the Valleys says Josh was "proper tamping" with his d… — When someone dies: guilt, numbness and… · tree and pragmatics
description: Uncle Dai from the Valleys says Josh was "proper tamping" with his dad about Smokey. ("Tamping" means furious.) A week later Josh asks why. What is the honest answer? Test 9 of lesson 1 «When someone dies: guilt, numbness and waves of grief» of the reflection course of Mova's primary school, with th
---

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# Test 9 · When someone dies: guilt, numbness and waves of grief

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Uncle Dai from the Valleys says Josh was "proper tamping" with his dad about Smokey. ("Tamping" means furious.) A week later Josh asks why. What is the honest answer?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Uncle Dai, Josh, Tamping, honest answer · **What happens:** say, be, mean, ask · **To what, where:** proper tamping · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 9 of lesson 1 «When someone dies: guilt, numbness and waves of grief» of the reflection 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/reflection/1-when-someone-dies-guilt-numbness-and-waves-of-grief/#t9).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Uncle Dai from the Valleys says Josh was "proper tamping" with his dad about Smokey.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:1-when-someone-dies-guilt-numbness-and-waves-of-grief:t9:1
# text = Uncle Dai from the Valleys says Josh was "proper tamping" with his dad about Smokey.
1	Uncle	Uncle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Dai	Dai	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Valleys	Valley	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	Josh	Josh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	tamping	tamping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
16	about	about	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	Smokey	Smokey	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Uncle Dai from the Valleys |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | Josh | proper tamping |  |  |  | with Josh's dad about Smokey | 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:* ("Tamping" means furious.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:1-when-someone-dies-guilt-numbness-and-waves-of-grief:t9:2
# text = ("Tamping" means furious.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Tamping	tamping	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	furious	furious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* A week later Josh asks why.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:1-when-someone-dies-guilt-numbness-and-waves-of-grief:t9:3
# text = A week later Josh asks why.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	_
4	Josh	Josh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | Josh |  |  |  | week | late *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 4:* What is the honest answer?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:1-when-someone-dies-guilt-numbness-and-waves-of-grief:t9:4
# text = What is the honest answer?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	honest	honest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smokey would have got better on his own if they had waited

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:1-when-someone-dies-guilt-numbness-and-waves-of-grief:t9:o1:1
# text = Smokey would have got better on his own if they had waited
1	Smokey	smokey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux	_	_
4	got	get	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	better	well	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl	_	_
9	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	waited	wait	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | would · perfect · passive |  | Smokey |  | his own |  | well *property* | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme on own=Source |
| 2 | **wait** *a condition, not said to happen* | past · perfect | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad was tired of looking after a cat and wanted a new one

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:1-when-someone-dies-guilt-numbness-and-waves-of-grief:t9:o2:1
# text = Dad was tired of looking after a cat and wanted a new one
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Dad |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | gerund | Dad *not said here* |  |  |  | after a cat |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **want** | past | Dad *not said here* | a new one |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot one=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vet wanted the cat because old cats are worth a lot of money

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:1-when-someone-dies-guilt-numbness-and-waves-of-grief:t9:o3:1
# text = The vet wanted the cat because old cats are worth a lot of money
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vet	vet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | the vet | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot cat=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | old cats |  |  |  |  | worth *property* | tree rules |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smokey was in pain every day, and the vet helped him die peacefully

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:1-when-someone-dies-guilt-numbness-and-waves-of-grief:t9:o4:1
# text = Smokey was in pain every day, and the vet helped him die peacefully
1	Smokey	Smokey	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	vet	vet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	die	die	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	peacefully	peacefully	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Smokey |  |  | pain | day |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | past | the vet | Smokey |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent he=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **die** | infinitive | Smokey *not said here* |  |  |  |  | peacefully *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=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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