---
title: Your little brother says, "Lying is always wrong, even to a burglar… — Dilemmas about truth and friendship · tree and pragmatics
description: Your little brother says, "Lying is always wrong, even to a burglar asking where Mum keeps her purse." How do you best answer? Test 1 · ★★ of lesson 41 «Dilemmas about truth and friendship» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the questio
---

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# Test 1 · ★★ · Dilemmas about truth and friendship

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your little brother says, "Lying is always wrong, even to a burglar asking where Mum keeps her purse." How do you best answer?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 4 · **The right answer:** option 4 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** little brother, Lying, burglar, Mum · **What happens:** say, be, ask, keep · **To what, where:** purse · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 1 · ★★ of lesson 41 «Dilemmas about truth and friendship» 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/41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship/#t1).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Your little brother says, "Lying is always wrong, even to a burglar asking where Mum keeps her purse."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t1:1
# text = Your little brother says, "Lying is always wrong, even to a burglar asking where Mum keeps her purse."
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Lying	lying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	10	advmod	_	_
10	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	even	even	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	burglar	burglar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
16	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	15	acl	_	_
17	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	19	advmod	_	_
18	Mum	Mum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
19	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	ccomp	_	_
20	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	purse	purse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Your little brother |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | Lying |  |  |  |  | always, wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* *in a quote* | gerund | a burglar *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **keep** *in a quote* | present | Mum | Mum's purse |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent purse=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:* How do you best answer?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t1:2
# text = How do you best answer?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lying is fine whenever you feel like it, so the question is silly

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t1:o1:1
# text = Lying is fine whenever you feel like it, so the question is silly
1	Lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	whenever	whenever	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | fine *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | present | you |  |  |  |  | like it; whenever *property* | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V S»: agent=Agent like it=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | present | the question |  |  |  |  | silly *property* | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You should ignore him, because little brothers never have good ideas

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t1:o2:1
# text = You should ignore him, because little brothers never have good ideas
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	ignore	ignore	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	brothers	brother	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
11	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ignore** | should | You | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **have** | present | little brothers | good ideas |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is right, and you must tell the burglar exactly where the purse is

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t1:o3:1
# text = He is right, and you must tell the burglar exactly where the purse is
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	burglar	burglar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	exactly	exactly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	ccomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	purse	purse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | must | you | the burglar |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent burglar=Recipient |
| 3 | **is** | present | the purse |  |  |  |  | exactly, where *property* | tree rules |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most people think lying to stop harm or robbery is allowed

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t1:o4:1
# text = Most people think lying to stop harm or robbery is allowed
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	csubj:pass	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	robbery	robbery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | Most people |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **lie** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  | harm or robbery |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality harm=Eventuality |
| 4 | **allow** | present · passive | lying |  |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V S\_ING» |

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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.

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- next →: [Dilemmas about truth and friendship, test 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship/t2/)
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