---
title: Ella's mum goes, "fixin' to write a thank-you letter to someone who'… — Grief has no timetable: houses, annive… · tree and pragmatics
description: Ella's mum goes, "fixin' to write a thank-you letter to someone who's passed? That's weird, hon." ("Fixin' to" means about to.) What's the reason it isn't weird? Test 10 · ★ of lesson 2 «Grief has no timetable: houses, anniversaries and big questions» of the reflection course of Mova's primary schoo
---

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# Test 10 · ★ · Grief has no timetable: houses, anniversaries and big ques…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ella's mum goes, "fixin' to write a thank-you letter to someone who's passed? That's weird, hon." ("Fixin' to" means about to.) What's the reason it isn't weird?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** mum, That, Fixin, reason · **What happens:** go, write, pass, be, mean, not be · **To what, where:** fixin, thank letter, someone, reason

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 10 · ★ of lesson 2 «Grief has no timetable: houses, anniversaries and big questions» 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/2-grief-has-no-timetable-houses-anniversaries-and-big-questions/#t10).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Ella's mum goes, "fixin' to write a thank-you letter to someone who's passed?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:2-grief-has-no-timetable-houses-anniversaries-and-big-questions:t10:1
# text = Ella's mum goes, "fixin' to write a thank-you letter to someone who's passed?
1	Ella	Ella	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	goes	go	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	fixin	fixin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
12	thank	thank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	flat	_	_
15	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obl	_	_
18	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux:pass	_	_
20	passed	pass	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | Ella's mum | fixin |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location fixin=Theme |
| 2 | **write** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | Ella's mum *not said here* | a thank letter | someone |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent letter=Topic to someone=Recipient |
| 3 | **pass** *in a quote* | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V NP»: subject=Trajectory |

<!-- .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:* That's weird, hon."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:2-grief-has-no-timetable-houses-anniversaries-and-big-questions:t10:2
# text = That's weird, hon."
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	weird	weird	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	hon	hon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* ("Fixin' to" means about to.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:2-grief-has-no-timetable-houses-anniversaries-and-big-questions:t10:3
# 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 4:* What's the reason it isn't weird?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:2-grief-has-no-timetable-houses-anniversaries-and-big-questions:t10:4
# text = What's the reason it isn't weird?
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	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	weird	weird	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the reason |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | reason | the reason *not said here* |  |  |  | weird *property* | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Writing an unsendable letter can still help your feelings

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:2-grief-has-no-timetable-houses-anniversaries-and-big-questions:t10:o1:1
# text = Writing an unsendable letter can still help your feelings
1	Writing	write	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	unsendable	unsendable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | gerund |  | a unsendable letter |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | can | Writing | your feelings |  |  | still |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feeling=Beneficiary |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is the law to write to every teacher who dies

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:2-grief-has-no-timetable-houses-anniversaries-and-big-questions:t10:o2:1
# text = It is the law to write to every teacher who dies
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	expl	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	dies	die	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | the law |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | to-infinitive |  |  | every teacher |  |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V PP.recipient PP.topic»: agent=Agent to teacher=Recipient |
| 3 | **die** | present | every teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Writing letters to someone makes forgetting them completely impossible

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:2-grief-has-no-timetable-houses-anniversaries-and-big-questions:t10:o3:1
# text = Writing letters to someone makes forgetting them completely impossible
1	Writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	_
5	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
6	forgetting	forget	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **forget** | gerund | someone *not said here* | letters *= letter* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The letter will be delivered to the teacher anyway

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:2-grief-has-no-timetable-houses-anniversaries-and-big-questions:t10:o4:1
# text = The letter will be delivered to the teacher anyway
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	delivered	deliver	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	anyway	anyway	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deliver** | future · passive |  | the letter | the teacher |  |  | anyway *property* | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme to teacher=Destination |

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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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