---
title: Ethan's cousin in Texas says, "Your grandma's fixin' to come home, y… — Old guilt: secrets that grow and how t… · tree and pragmatics
description: Ethan's cousin in Texas says, "Your grandma's fixin' to come home, y'all can make up." ("Fixin' to" means about to.) What is the best plan? Test 3 · ★ of lesson 17 «Old guilt: secrets that grow and how to let them go» of the reflection course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pr
---

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# Test 3 · ★ · Old guilt: secrets that grow and how to let them go

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ethan's cousin in Texas says, "Your grandma's fixin' to come home, y'all can make up." ("Fixin' to" means about to.) What is the best plan?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** cousin, y'all, Fixin, best plan · **What happens:** say, come, make up, mean, be · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 3 · ★ of lesson 17 «Old guilt: secrets that grow and how to let them go» 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/17-old-guilt-secrets-that-grow-and-how-to-let-them-go/#t3).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Ethan's cousin in Texas says, "Your grandma's fixin' to come home, y'all can make up."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:17-old-guilt-secrets-that-grow-and-how-to-let-them-go:t3:1
# text = Ethan's cousin in Texas says, "Your grandma's fixin' to come home, y'all can make up."
1	Ethan	Ethan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Texas	Texas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	fixin	fixin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
16	home	home	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	y'all	y'all	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
19	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
20	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	_
21	up	up	ADP	RP	_	20	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Ethan's cousin in Texas |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **come** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | Ethan's cousin in Texas *not said here* |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **make up** *in a quote* | can | y'all |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=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:* ("Fixin' to" means about to.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:17-old-guilt-secrets-that-grow-and-how-to-let-them-go:t3:2
# text = ("Fixin' to" means about to.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Fixin	Fixin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	about	about	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* What is the best plan?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:17-old-guilt-secrets-that-grow-and-how-to-let-them-go:t3:3
# text = What is the best plan?
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	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	plan	plan	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 best plan |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Say sorry when she's home, while he can

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:17-old-guilt-secrets-that-grow-and-how-to-let-them-go:t3:o1:1
# text = Say sorry when she's home, while he can
1	Say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	home	home	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: apologize* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | she |  |  |  |  | home *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never mention it, she has surely forgotten

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:17-old-guilt-secrets-that-grow-and-how-to-let-them-go:t3:o2:1
# text = Never mention it, she has surely forgotten
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	mention	mention	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	surely	surely	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	forgotten	forget	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mention** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 2 | **forget** | present · perfect | she |  |  |  |  | surely *property* | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell her the hospital food made him say it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:17-old-guilt-secrets-that-grow-and-how-to-let-them-go:t3:o3:1
# text = Tell her the hospital food made him say it
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	iobj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | her *= she* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent she=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | past | the hospital food | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* | food |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wait until she is ill again to say sorry

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:17-old-guilt-secrets-that-grow-and-how-to-let-them-go:t3:o4:1
# text = Wait until she is ill again to say sorry
1	Wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
2	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	_
6	again	again	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | she |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: apologize* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=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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- ↑ back to [Old guilt: secrets that grow and how to let them go](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/reflection/17-old-guilt-secrets-that-grow-and-how-to-let-them-go/)