---
title: Dad asks, "Were you with Tom all afternoon?" Tom begged you to say y… — Dilemmas about truth and friendship · tree and pragmatics
description: Dad asks, "Were you with Tom all afternoon?" Tom begged you to say yes, but he was at the river alone. What is the best choice? Test 8 · ★★ 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 questi
---

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# Test 8 · ★★ · Dilemmas about truth and friendship

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad asks, "Were you with Tom all afternoon?" Tom begged you to say yes, but he was at the river alone. What is the best choice?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 2 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** Dad, Tom, best choice · **What happens:** ask, be, beg, say · **To what, where:** you, river · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★★ 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/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Dad asks, "Were you with Tom all afternoon?"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t8:1
# text = Dad asks, "Were you with Tom all afternoon?"
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | Dad |  |  |  | afternoon | with Tom | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | past |  | you |  |  |  |  | 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:* Tom begged you to say yes, but he was at the river alone.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t8:2
# text = Tom begged you to say yes, but he was at the river alone.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	begged	beg	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
14	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beg** *speech: request* | past | Tom |  | you |  |  |  | vn beg-58.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Tom *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent yes=Topic |
| 3 | **is** | past | Tom |  |  | the river |  | alone *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* What is the best choice?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t8:3
# text = What is the best choice?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Say yes, and then tell Tom he owes you a big favour

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t8:o1:1
# text = Say yes, and then tell Tom he owes you a big favour
1	Say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	_
6	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	iobj	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	owes	owe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent yes=Topic |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | Tom |  | then |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent tom=Recipient |
| 3 | **owe** | present | Tom | a big favour | you |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.goal NP»: agent=Agent you=Goal favour=Theme |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell the truth, because his parents need to know he may be in danger

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t8:o2:1
# text = Tell the truth, because his parents need to know he may be in danger
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	cop	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |
| 2 | **need** | present | his parents |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **know** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | his parents *not said here* | he |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer he=Stimulus |
| 4 | **is** | may |  |  |  | danger |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Say you can't remember, so you are not really lying

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t8:o3:1
# text = Say you can't remember, so you are not really lying
1	Say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	really	really	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **remember** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **lie** | present · progressive | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Say yes, because Tom is your best friend and he asked you really nicely

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:41-dilemmas-about-truth-and-friendship:t8:o4:1
# text = Say yes, because Tom is your best friend and he asked you really nicely
1	Say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	iobj	_	_
14	really	really	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	nicely	nicely	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent yes=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Tom | your best friend |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Tom |  | you |  |  | nicely *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent you=Recipient |

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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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