---
title: A boy in Atlanta says, «Y'all, my grandma's fixin' to pass, my momma… — Illness, hospitals and children who ar… · tree and pragmatics
description: A boy in Atlanta says, «Y'all, my grandma's fixin' to pass, my momma says she doesn't have long.» («Fixin' to» means «about to»; «pass» means «die».) What does he mean? Test 8 · ★ of lesson 59 «Illness, hospitals and children who are very ill» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, 
---

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# Test 8 · ★ · Illness, hospitals and children who are very ill

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A boy in Atlanta says, «Y'all, my grandma's fixin' to pass, my momma says she doesn't have long.» («Fixin' to» means «about to»; «pass» means «die».) What does he mean?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** boy, momma, Fixin, pass · **What happens:** say, pass, not have, mean, die · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 · ★ of lesson 59 «Illness, hospitals and children who are very ill» 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/59-illness-hospitals-and-children-who-are-very-ill/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A boy in Atlanta says, «Y'all, my grandma's fixin' to pass, my momma says she doesn't have long.»

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:59-illness-hospitals-and-children-who-are-very-ill:t8:1
# text = A boy in Atlanta says, «Y'all, my grandma's fixin' to pass, my momma says she doesn't have long.»
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Atlanta	Atlanta	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Y'all	y'all	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	fixin	fixin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	momma	momma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
20	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
21	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
22	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	24	advmod	_	_
24	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	ccomp	_	_
25	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a boy in Atlanta |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **pass** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | a boy in Atlanta *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | present | my momma |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **not** **have** *in a quote* | present · do-support | momma |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: 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:* («Fixin' to» means «about to»; «pass» means «die».)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:59-illness-hospitals-and-children-who-are-very-ill:t8:2
# text = («Fixin' to» means «about to»; «pass» means «die».)
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	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	about	about	ADV	RB	_	7	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	pass	pass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	die	die	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fixin |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent about=Topic |
| 2 | **mean** | present | pass |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **die** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* What does he mean?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:59-illness-hospitals-and-children-who-are-very-ill:t8:3
# text = What does he mean?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
2	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	mean	mean	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 | **mean** | present · do-support | fixin |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## The options {#options}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His grandma is likely to die soon

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:59-illness-hospitals-and-children-who-are-very-ill:t8:o1:1
# text = His grandma is likely to die soon
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	die	die	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | His grandma |  |  |  |  | likely *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **die** | to-infinitive | His grandma *not said here* |  |  |  |  | soon *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His grandma is going away on a short trip to see the family

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:59-illness-hospitals-and-children-who-are-very-ill:t8:o2:1
# text = His grandma is going away on a short trip to see the family
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go away** | present · progressive | His grandma |  |  | a short trip |  | away *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on trip=Location |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | His grandma *not said here* | the family |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer family=Stimulus |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His grandma is about to pass an exam she has been studying for

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:59-illness-hospitals-and-children-who-are-very-ill:t8:o3:1
# text = His grandma is about to pass an exam she has been studying for
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	aux	_	_
12	studying	study	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | His grandma |  |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pass** | to-infinitive | His grandma *not said here* | a exam |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme exam=Trajectory |
| 3 | **study** | present · perfect · progressive | she | a exam *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent exam=Topic |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His grandma is getting better fast and will be home quite soon

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:59-illness-hospitals-and-children-who-are-very-ill:t8:o4:1
# text = His grandma is getting better fast and will be home quite soon
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	_
6	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
10	home	home	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	_
11	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present · progressive | His grandma |  |  |  |  | fast, good, soon *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | future | His grandma *not said here* |  |  |  |  | home *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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