---
title: A kid says, "My bestie told me a secret: her stepdad hits her, but I… — When it was my fault: owning up and ma… · tree and pragmatics
description: A kid says, "My bestie told me a secret: her stepdad hits her, but I swore not to tell." What should she do? Test 8 · ★★ of lesson 5 «When it was my fault: owning up and making it right» of the reflection course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of
---

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# Test 8 · ★★ · When it was my fault: owning up and making it right

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A kid says, "My bestie told me a secret: her stepdad hits her, but I swore not to tell." What should she do?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** kid, bestie, stepdad · **What happens:** say, tell, hit, swear, not tell, do · **To what, where:** secret, kid, bestie · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★★ of lesson 5 «When it was my fault: owning up and making it right» 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/5-when-it-was-my-fault-owning-up-and-making-it-right/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A kid says, "My bestie told me a secret: her stepdad hits her, but I swore not to tell."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:5-when-it-was-my-fault-owning-up-and-making-it-right:t8:1
# text = A kid says, "My bestie told me a secret: her stepdad hits her, but I swore not to tell."
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kid	kid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	bestie	bestie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	iobj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	stepdad	stepdad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	hits	hit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
16	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	swore	swear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
21	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	23	advmod	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a kid |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | My bestie | a secret | a kid *= kid* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient secret=Topic |
| 3 | **hit** *in a quote* | present | bestie's stepdad | bestie |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme she=Co-Theme |
| 4 | **swear** *in a quote* | past | a kid *= kid* |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 5 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | to-infinitive | a kid *= kid* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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:* What should she do?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:5-when-it-was-my-fault-owning-up-and-making-it-right:t8:2
# text = What should she do?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | should | stepdad |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell the whole class so everyone can help

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:5-when-it-was-my-fault-owning-up-and-making-it-right:t8:o1:1
# text = Tell the whole class so everyone can help
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | the whole class |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent class=Recipient |
| 2 | **help** | can | everyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep the promise, because a promise always comes first

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:5-when-it-was-my-fault-owning-up-and-making-it-right:t8:o2:1
# text = Keep the promise, because a promise always comes first
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	advmod	_	_
9	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
10	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* | the promise |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent promise=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | present | a promise |  |  |  |  | always, first *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ask the stepdad to stop by herself

```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:5-when-it-was-my-fault-owning-up-and-making-it-right:t8:o3:1
# text = Ask the stepdad to stop by herself
1	Ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	stepdad	stepdad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* | the stepdad |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent stepdad=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stop** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the stepdad *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by herself *= she* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

### Option 4 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell a trusted adult, because someone being hurt is not a secret to keep

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:reflection:5-when-it-was-my-fault-owning-up-and-making-it-right:t8:o4:1
# text = Tell a trusted adult, because someone being hurt is not a secret to keep
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nsubj	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	acl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | a trusted adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |
| 2 | **trust** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **hurt** | gerund · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle» |
| 4 | **not** **is a** | present | someone | a secret |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **keep** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: 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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- ← previous: [When it was my fault: owning up and ma…, test 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/reflection/5-when-it-was-my-fault-owning-up-and-making-it-right/t7/)
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- ↑ back to [When it was my fault: owning up and making it right](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/reflection/5-when-it-was-my-fault-owning-up-and-making-it-right/)