---
title: It is given that the proposition "if it rains, the grass is wet" hol… — "If... then..." and its traps · tree and pragmatics
description: It is given that the proposition "if it rains, the grass is wet" holds and that the grass is observed to be wet. Select the response that is consistent with the established facts. Exam question 1 of lesson 184 «"If... then..." and its traps» of the world course of Mova's primary school, with the dep
---

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# Exam question 1 · "If... then..." and its traps

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is given that the proposition "if it rains, the grass is wet" holds and that the grass is observed to be wet. Select the response that is consistent with the established facts.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 3 · **The right answer:** option 3 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** it, grass, proposition, you, response · **What happens:** give, rain, be, hold, observe, select · **To what, where:** It, grass, response · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 1 of lesson 184 «"If... then..." and its traps» of the world course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. 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/184-if-then-and-its-traps/#e1).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* It is given that the proposition "if it rains, the grass is wet" holds and that the grass is observed to be wet.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:184-if-then-and-its-traps:e1:1
# text = It is given that the proposition "if it rains, the grass is wet" holds and that the grass is observed to be wet.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	proposition	proposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	rains	rain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
17	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
19	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj:pass	_	_
22	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	aux:pass	_	_
23	observed	observe	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	conj	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
25	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	26	cop	_	_
26	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · passive |  | It |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **rain** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the grass |  |  |  |  | wet *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **hold** | present | the proposition |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **observe** | present · passive |  | the grass |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |
| 6 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | wet *property* | 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:* Select the response that is consistent with the established facts.

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:184-if-then-and-its-traps:e1:2
# text = Select the response that is consistent with the established facts.
1	Select	select	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	response	response	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	consistent	consistent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	established	establish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **select** | imperative | you *not said here* | the response |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent response=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | the response |  |  |  |  | with the established facts; consistent *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **establish** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78-1-1 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Pivot |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It may be concluded that it has not rained

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:184-if-then-and-its-traps:e1:o1:1
# text = It may be concluded that it has not rained
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	concluded	conclude	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	rained	rain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **conclude** | may · passive |  | It |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **rain** | present · perfect · passive |  | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The proposition is thereby shown to be false

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:184-if-then-and-its-traps:e1:o2:1
# text = The proposition is thereby shown to be false
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	proposition	proposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	thereby	thereby	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	shown	show	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present · passive |  | the proposition |  |  |  | thereby *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | false *property* | tree rules |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It cannot be concluded that it has rained, since other causes may wet the grass

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:184-if-then-and-its-traps:e1:o3:1
# text = It cannot be concluded that it has rained, since other causes may wet the grass
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	concluded	conclude	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	rained	rain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	causes	cause	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
14	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	wet	wet	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **conclude** | can · passive |  | It |  |  |  |  | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **rain** | present · perfect · passive |  | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **wet** | may | other causes | the grass |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It may be concluded with certainty that it has rained

```conllu
# sent_id = question:world:184-if-then-and-its-traps:e1:o4:1
# text = It may be concluded with certainty that it has rained
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	concluded	conclude	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	certainty	certainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	rained	rain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **conclude** | may · passive |  | It |  |  |  | with certainty | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: subject=Eventuality with certainty=Subeventuality |
| 2 | **rain** | present · perfect · passive |  | it |  |  |  |  | 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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