---
title: Your mate says, "Sorry's just a word, so it doesn't matter how you s… — Saying sorry and making amends: Zaccha… · tree and pragmatics
description: Your mate says, "Sorry's just a word, so it doesn't matter how you say it." What is the best answer? Test 1 · ★★★ of lesson 90 «Saying sorry and making amends: Zacchaeus pays back» of the religion ethics course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of 
---

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# Test 1 · ★★★ · Saying sorry and making amends: Zacchaeus pays back

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your mate says, "Sorry's just a word, so it doesn't matter how you say it." What is the best answer?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 3 · **The right answer:** option 3 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** mate, it, you, best answer · **What happens:** say, be, not matter · **To what, where:** word, mate · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 1 · ★★★ of lesson 90 «Saying sorry and making amends: Zacchaeus pays back» 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/90-saying-sorry-and-making-amends-zacchaeus-pays-back/#t1).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Your mate says, "Sorry's just a word, so it doesn't matter how you say it."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:90-saying-sorry-and-making-amends-zacchaeus-pays-back:t1:1
# text = Your mate says, "Sorry's just a word, so it doesn't matter how you say it."
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Sorry	sorry	INTJ	UH	_	10	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	so	so	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
14	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	matter	matter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
17	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	csubj	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Your mate |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | a word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **matter** *in a quote* | present · do-support | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | present | you | mate |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

<!-- .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 the best answer?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:90-saying-sorry-and-making-amends-zacchaeus-pays-back:t1:2
# text = What is the best answer?
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	answer	answer	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 answer |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He's right; any sorry is as good as any other, however you say it

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:90-saying-sorry-and-making-amends-zacchaeus-pays-back:t1:o1:1
# text = He's right; any sorry is as good as any other, however you say it
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	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	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	sorry	sorry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	as	as	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	obl	_	_
12	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	however	however	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | any sorry |  |  |  |  | as any; good *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | you | sorry |  |  |  | however *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying sorry makes you look weak

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:90-saying-sorry-and-making-amends-zacchaeus-pays-back:t1:o2:1
# text = Saying sorry makes you look weak
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	csubj	_	_
2	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | sorry |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent sorry=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | present | Saying | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **look** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | weak *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

### Option 3 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A real sorry shows you understand the hurt and want to fix it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:90-saying-sorry-and-making-amends-zacchaeus-pays-back:t1:o3:1
# text = A real sorry shows you understand the hurt and want to fix it
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sorry	sorry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	understand	understand	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hurt	hurt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a real sorry |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **understand** | present | you | the hurt |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer hurt=Stimulus |
| 3 | **want** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **fix** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | hurt |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sorry only counts if a teacher hears it

```conllu
# sent_id = question:religion-ethics:90-saying-sorry-and-making-amends-zacchaeus-pays-back:t1:o4:1
# text = Sorry only counts if a teacher hears it
1	Sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	counts	count	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	hears	hear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | present | Sorry |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **hear** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a teacher | it |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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