---
title: Kofi's dad: "Up at sparrow's, mate, no whinging." ("Whinging" means… — Day and night, shadows and sundials · tree and pragmatics
description: Kofi's dad: "Up at sparrow's, mate, no whinging." ("Whinging" means moaning.) Kofi: "What's a sparrow got to do with it?" Best answer? Test 11 of lesson 118 «Day and night, shadows and sundials» of the world course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and
---

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# Test 11 · Day and night, shadows and sundials

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kofi's dad: "Up at sparrow's, mate, no whinging." ("Whinging" means moaning.) Kofi: "What's a sparrow got to do with it?" Best answer?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 4 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Whinging, sparrow · **What happens:** mean, moan, be, do

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 11 of lesson 118 «Day and night, shadows and sundials» of the world 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/world/118-day-night-shadows-sundials/#t11).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Kofi's dad: "Up at sparrow's, mate, no whinging."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:118-day-night-shadows-sundials:t11:1
# text = Kofi's dad: "Up at sparrow's, mate, no whinging."
1	Kofi	Kofi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Up	up	ADV	RB	_	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sparrow	sparrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	14	det	_	_
14	whinging	whinging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* ("Whinging" means moaning.)

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:118-day-night-shadows-sundials:t11:2
# text = ("Whinging" means moaning.)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Whinging	Whinging	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	moaning	moan	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Whinging |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **moan** *not said to happen* | gerund | Whinging *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Kofi: "What's a sparrow got to do with it?"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:118-day-night-shadows-sundials:t11:3
# text = Kofi: "What's a sparrow got to do with it?"
1	Kofi	Kofi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sparrow	sparrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | a sparrow |  |  |  |  | get *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | a sparrow *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with sparrow | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 4:* Best answer?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:118-day-night-shadows-sundials:t11:4
# text = Best answer?
1	Best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	amod	_	_
2	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It means sleeping in late like a lazy bird

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:118-day-night-shadows-sundials:t11:o1:1
# text = It means sleeping in late like a lazy bird
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sleeping	sleep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	lazy	lazy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **sleep in** *not said to happen* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | like a lazy bird; late *property* | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It means feeding the sparrows before school

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:118-day-night-shadows-sundials:t11:o2:1
# text = It means feeding the sparrows before school
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	feeding	feed	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sparrows	sparrow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **feed** *not said to happen* | gerund |  | the sparrows |  |  | before school |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sparrow=Recipient |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It means getting up as soon as a sparrow lands on your roof

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:118-day-night-shadows-sundials:t11:o3:1
# text = It means getting up as soon as a sparrow lands on your roof
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	as	as	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sparrow	sparrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lands	land	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **get up** *not said to happen* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | soon *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **land** | present | a sparrow |  |  | your roof |  |  | vn pocket-9.10-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme on roof=Destination |

### Option 4 · ✓ the right answer {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Sparrow's" means first light, when birds start to sing

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:118-day-night-shadows-sundials:t11:o4:1
# text = "Sparrow's" means first light, when birds start to sing
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Sparrow	Sparrow	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	_
7	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	sing	sing	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Sparrow | first light |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent light=Topic |
| 2 | **start** | present | birds |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **sing** *speech: express* | to-infinitive | birds *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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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