---
title: A cartoon shows a Brownie who says the promise and then laughs, "It'… — Vows, oaths and promises in faith · tree and pragmatics
description: A cartoon shows a Brownie who says the promise and then laughs, "It's just words." What is wrong? Test 8 of lesson 88 «Vows, oaths and promises in faith» 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 
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith/t8/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [questions](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/) / [Religion ethics](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/) / [Vows, oaths and promises in faith](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith/) / t8

# Test 8 · Vows, oaths and promises in faith

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cartoon shows a Brownie who says the promise and then laughs, "It's just words." What is wrong?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 1 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** cartoon, Brownie · **What happens:** show, say, laugh, be · **To what, where:** Brownie, promise, words · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 8 of lesson 88 «Vows, oaths and promises in faith» 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/88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith/#t8).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A cartoon shows a Brownie who says the promise and then laughs, "It's just words."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith:t8:1
# text = A cartoon shows a Brownie who says the promise and then laughs, "It's just words."
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cartoon	cartoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Brownie	Brownie	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	12	advmod	_	_
12	laughs	laugh	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
17	just	just	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a cartoon |  | a Brownie |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent brownie=Recipient |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a Brownie | the promise |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent promise=Topic |
| 3 | **laugh** | present | a Brownie *not said here* |  |  |  | then |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | cartoon | words |  |  |  |  | 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:* What is wrong?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith:t8:2
# text = What is wrong?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A promise said together reminds you who you want to be; it's meant

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith:t8:o1:1
# text = A promise said together reminds you who you want to be; it's meant
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl	_	_
4	together	together	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	reminds	remind	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	be	be	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	meant	mean	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | a promise *not said here* |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **remind** *speech: other* | present | a promise |  | you |  |  |  | vn tell-37.2 «NP V NP.recipient S»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **mean** | present · passive |  | promise |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Brownies don't have any promise

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith:t8:o2:1
# text = Brownies don't have any promise
1	Brownies	brownie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** | present · do-support | Brownies | any promise |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent promise=Patient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing; promises at clubs are only words, and nobody expects children to mean them

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith:t8:o3:1
# text = Nothing; promises at clubs are only words, and nobody expects children to mean them
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	promises	promise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	clubs	club	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	12	nsubj	_	_
12	expects	expect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Nothing | words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **expect** | present | nobody | children |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | children *not said here* | children *= child* |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Topic |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She should have said it louder

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith:t8:o4:1
# text = She should have said it louder
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux	_	_
4	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	louder	loud	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | should · perfect | She | it |  |  |  | loud *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [Vows, oaths and promises in faith, test 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith/t7/)
- next →: [Vows, oaths and promises in faith, test 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith/t9/)
- ↑ back to [Vows, oaths and promises in faith](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/religion-ethics/88-vows-oaths-and-promises-in-faith/)