---
title: My brother says changing your mind in an argument means you lost. Pu… — How to argue: counter-arguments and re… · tree and pragmatics
description: My brother says changing your mind in an argument means you lost. Put him right. Test 1 · ★★★ of lesson 40 «How to argue: counter-arguments and respect» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's choice w
---

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# Test 1 · ★★★ · How to argue: counter-arguments and respect

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother says changing your mind in an argument means you lost. Put him right.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** brother, changing, you, your · **What happens:** say, change, mean, lose, mind, put · **To what, where:** mind, argument, brother · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 1 · ★★★ of lesson 40 «How to argue: counter-arguments and respect» of the religion ethics 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/religion-ethics/40-how-to-argue-counter-arguments-and-respect/#t1).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* My brother says changing your mind in an argument means you lost.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:40-how-to-argue-counter-arguments-and-respect:t1:1
# text = My brother says changing your mind in an argument means you lost.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | My brother |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** | gerund |  | your mind |  | a argument |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 3 | **mean** | present | changing |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **lose** | past | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=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:* Put him right.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:40-how-to-argue-counter-arguments-and-respect:t1:2
# text = Put him right.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	right	right	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* |  | brother |  |  | right *property* | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent he=Goal |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, a strong thinker never changes their mind about anything

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:40-how-to-argue-counter-arguments-and-respect:t1:o1:1
# text = Yes, a strong thinker never changes their mind about anything
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	7	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	thinker	thinker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **change** | present | a strong thinker | their mind |  |  |  | about anything | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 2 | **mind** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No, changing your mind only counts if a teacher tells you to

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:40-how-to-argue-counter-arguments-and-respect:t1:o2:1
# text = No, changing your mind only counts if a teacher tells you to
1	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	counts	count	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	iobj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | gerund |  | your mind |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 2 | **count** | present | changing |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a teacher |  | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent you=Recipient |
| 4 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, whoever changes their mind first has lost the argument

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:40-how-to-argue-counter-arguments-and-respect:t1:o3:1
# text = Yes, whoever changes their mind first has lost the argument
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	whoever	whoever	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	advmod	_	_
8	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | present | whoever | their mind |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 2 | **lose** | present · perfect |  | the argument |  |  |  | first *property* | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent argument=Eventuality |
| 3 | **mind** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Changing your mind for a better reason is a strength, not losing

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:40-how-to-argue-counter-arguments-and-respect:t1:o4:1
# text = Changing your mind for a better reason is a strength, not losing
1	Changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | gerund |  | your mind |  |  |  | for a better reason | vn exchange-13.6.1 «NP V NP PP.co-theme»: agent=Agent mind=Theme for reason=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Changing | a strength |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **lose** | gerund | Changing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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- ← previous: [How to argue: reasons and evidence, exam 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/39-how-to-argue-reasons-and-evidence/e4/)
- next →: [How to argue: counter-arguments and re…, test 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/40-how-to-argue-counter-arguments-and-respect/t2/)
- ↑ back to [How to argue: counter-arguments and respect](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/40-how-to-argue-counter-arguments-and-respect/)