---
title: Finn's dad from Glasgow says, "Aye, he started it, but ye cannae jus… — The fight I lost and the bullying I ca… · tree and pragmatics
description: Finn's dad from Glasgow says, "Aye, he started it, but ye cannae just skelp him." ("Cannae" means can't; "skelp" means hit.) What's the point? Test 6 of lesson 18 «The fight I lost and the bullying I can't escape» of the reflection course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragma
---

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# Test 6 · The fight I lost and the bullying I can't escape

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Finn's dad from Glasgow says, "Aye, he started it, but ye cannae just skelp him." ("Cannae" means can't; "skelp" means hit.) What's the point?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** dad, ye, Cannae, skelp, point · **What happens:** say, start, skelp, mean, hit, be · **To what, where:** it, dad · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 6 of lesson 18 «The fight I lost and the bullying I can't escape» 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/18-the-fight-i-lost-and-the-bullying-i-cant-escape/#t6).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Finn's dad from Glasgow says, "Aye, he started it, but ye cannae just skelp him."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:18-the-fight-i-lost-and-the-bullying-i-cant-escape:t6:1
# text = Finn's dad from Glasgow says, "Aye, he started it, but ye cannae just skelp him."
1	Finn	Finn	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Glasgow	Glasgow	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	Aye	aye	INTJ	UH	_	12	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
16	ye	ye	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Style=Arch	19	nsubj	_	_
17	cannae	cannae	X	FW	Foreign=Yes	19	nsubj	_	_
18	just	just	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	skelp	skelp	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
20	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Finn's dad from Glasgow |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **start** *in a quote* | past | dad | it |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 3 | **skelp** *in a quote* | infinitive | ye | dad |  |  |  |  | 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:* ("Cannae" means can't; "skelp" means hit.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:18-the-fight-i-lost-and-the-bullying-i-cant-escape:t6:2
# text = ("Cannae" means can't; "skelp" means hit.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Cannae	Cannae	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	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	skelp	skelp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
13	hit	hit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	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 | Cannae |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | skelp |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hit** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* What's the point?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:18-the-fight-i-lost-and-the-bullying-i-cant-escape:t6:3
# text = What's the point?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Finn should have kicked him instead of hitting, because that's allowed

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:18-the-fight-i-lost-and-the-bullying-i-cant-escape:t6:o1:1
# text = Finn should have kicked him instead of hitting, because that's allowed
1	Finn	Finn	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux	_	_
4	kicked	kick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	8	mark	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kick** | should · perfect | Finn | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent he=Patient |
| 2 | **hit** | gerund | Finn *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **allow** | present · passive |  | that |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Finn should wait until after school to fight

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:18-the-fight-i-lost-and-the-bullying-i-cant-escape:t6:o2:1
# text = Finn should wait until after school to fight
1	Finn	Finn	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	until	until	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | should | Finn |  |  |  | until school |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fight** | to-infinitive | Finn *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hitting back still gets you in trouble; tell a teacher instead

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:18-the-fight-i-lost-and-the-bullying-i-cant-escape:t6:o3:1
# text = Hitting back still gets you in trouble; tell a teacher instead
1	Hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit back** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **get** | present | Hitting | you |  | trouble | still |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Stimulus |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  | a teacher |  |  | instead *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was fine because he started it first

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:18-the-fight-i-lost-and-the-bullying-i-cant-escape:t6:o4:1
# text = It was fine because he started it first
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
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	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | fine *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **start** | past | he | it |  |  |  | first *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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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