--- title: A stranger's story — a lesson of Mova's school · trees and pragmatics description: «A stranger's story», a lesson of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, sentence by sentence with dependency trees and pragmatics. It begins: But her family had a password — a secret word only family and trusted friends know. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/) / [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/) / A stranger's story # A stranger's story Lesson 446 of the everyday course of Mova's primary school: 35 sentences, each with its syntax tree and pragmatics. The lessons are written for Mova, and their agreed trees are part of Mova corpus 0.4 (CC BY-SA 4.0). How Mova does on its tests: [the lesson at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/). - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/1/) — But her family had a password — a secret word only family and trusted friends know. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/2/) — «What's our password?» The woman didn't know it and walked off fast. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/3/) — Mia ran straight to her teacher, who rang Mia's mum (fine, at work) and the police. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/5/) — Tricksters use stories that pull at a kind child's heart. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/6/) — A man in a car in Ohio asked Noah, «Hey buddy, can you help me find my lost puppy? - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/7/) — He's just round the corner.» Noah said «Ask a grown-up» and ran home, and his dad called the police. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/9/) — A stranger at the beach in Durban offered Zara sweets «for a photo»; she said «No thanks» and went to her mum, who told the lifeguards. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/10/) — Gifts from strangers for photos or favours are a red flag — a warning sign. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/11/) — Some stories use something true to seem safe. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/12/) — A man near the shops in Toronto said to Grace, «Your dad's my best friend, he told me to give you a ride home.» He knew her dad's name — he'd read it on the tag of her school bag. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/13/) — Grace said no and walked into the shop; the shopkeeper rang her dad, who'd never heard of him. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/14/) — In Dublin a woman told Oisin she was a «talent scout» and he could be on telly: «Just give me your address and your mam's number — don't tell her, it's a surprise.» Oisin told his mam straight away. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/15/) — «Grand job, love,» she said. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/16/) — A grown-up who wants a secret from your parents is a big danger sign. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/17/) — Doors, packages and busy places have their own rules. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/19/) — At a bus stop in Glasgow a man said «Here, wee man, a fiver if you carry this bag to that car» — «wee» means small in Scotland. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/21/) — If someone won't carry a bag themselves, there's a reason. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/23/) — Mum was inside, by the shoes. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/24/) — Kindness is good — the trick is to bring in a grown-up. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/25/) — A woman crying at a station told Ruby she'd lost her purse; Ruby gave her lunch money, and the next week the woman was there with the same story. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/26/) — Her dad said «You were kind. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/27/) — Next time, find a station worker to help her.» And in Sydney a lady asked Kai to help find her dog. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/28/) — Kai said «I'll get my mum to help you.» «Sure, thanks, love.» Mum helped, and the dog was under a bench. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/29/) — Real people are happy to wait for your grown-up; tricksters get annoyed and leave. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/30/) — A family password is a secret word that only family and trusted adults know; a stranger who can't say it should not be trusted. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/31/) — Never go anywhere with someone you don't know, however urgent or scary their story. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/32/) — Adults who need help should ask other adults; a grown-up asking a child to find a puppy is a warning sign. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/33/) — Strangers offering sweets, money or gifts in return for photos or favours are a red flag. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/35/) — An adult who asks you to keep a secret from your parents is a serious danger sign; always tell. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/36/) — When you are home alone, don't open the door to strangers; real workers come back when an adult is home. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/37/) — Never carry packages or bags for strangers. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/38/) — If you are lost, stay inside the place, at a counter or desk where people work, and don't leave with anyone. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/39/) — People with sad stories can be sent to someone whose job it is to help, like a station worker or a police officer. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/40/) — «I'll get my mum» is the perfect answer: it helps if the story is true and protects you if it isn't. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/446-a-strangers-story/41/) — If something like this happens, tell a trusted adult straight away, even if you said no. - ← previous: [The older kid's «trade»](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/445-the-older-kids-trade/) - next →: [The fake friend online](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/447-the-fake-friend-online/) - ↑ back to [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/)