--- title: The big sister: bossy, protective, borrowing your stuff — a lesson of Mova's school · trees and pragmatics description: «The big sister: bossy, protective, borrowing your stuff», a lesson of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, sentence by sentence with dependency trees and pragmatics. It begins: Big sisters are often bossy and protective in the same morning. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/) [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/) / The big sister: bossy, protective, bor… # The big sister: bossy, protective, borrowing your stuff Lesson 500 of the everyday course of Mova's primary school: 40 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/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/). - [0](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/0/) — Big sisters are often bossy and protective in the same morning. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/1/) — In Swansea, Megan-Lee, 15, bosses Cerys, 9, from breakfast on: «Shoes on. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/2/) — Not THOSE shoes. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/3/) — Brush your hair, you look like a scarecrow.» Then at the school gate a Year 6 boy pushes Cerys, and Megan-Lee is there in two seconds: «Touch my sister again and see what happens, butt» («butt» is South Wales for «mate»). - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/4/) — Cerys is fuming at the bossing and glowing at the rescue. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/5/) — Both come from the same place: a big sister feeling responsible for you. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/6/) — You can tell her the bossing annoys you, and say thanks for the rescue. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/7/) — Borrowing without asking breaks trust. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/8/) — In Atlanta, Destiny, 16, sees her favourite hoodie, taken without asking, on her little sister Imani's TikTok: «Girl, you did NOT. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/9/) — That's my fit» («fit» = outfit). - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/10/) — Then she says she'll borrow Imani's AirPods «for a week, no cap» («no cap» = no lie, for real). - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/11/) — In Edinburgh, it goes the other way: Morven, 16, borrows Iona's glittery hair clips for a party: «Ah, they're braw, cheers, wee yin» («braw» = lovely, «wee yin» = little one). - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/12/) — Iona is weirdly proud. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/13/) — Asking first, «Can I wear your hoodie Friday?», usually gets a yes and saves a war. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/14/) — In Aberystwyth, Ffion, 9, reads her big sister Lowri's diary and finds out Lowri likes a boy called Iwan. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/15/) — At tea Ffion sings, «Lowri loves Iwan!» Lowri goes white, then cries, then doesn't speak to her for three days. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/16/) — Ffion thought it was funny; now she feels awful. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/17/) — A diary is private, and a secret found by snooping is not yours to use. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/19/) — Anyone, even a sister, should ask before posting your picture, and Bea can ask her to take it down. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/21/) — In Dublin, Clodagh, 17, lets Saoirse play on her phone, and a message pops up from someone Saoirse doesn't know: «u still sneaking out tonite?» Clodagh grabs the phone: «Not a word to Mam, right?» Small secrets, like a surprise present, you can keep. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/22/) — Secrets about danger are different: if you think your sister could get hurt, tell a grown-up, even if she's raging after. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/24/) — Big sisters sometimes want to look cool in front of friends; it doesn't mean they don't love you. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/25/) — Big sisters can be grumpy and kind in the same hour. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/27/) — At bedtime she helps for half an hour. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/28/) — In Wigan, Jodie, 16, buys Hollie a hot chocolate every Saturday with her part-time job money, until one week: «Can't, I'm skint» (no money). - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/29/) — Hollie sulks, then feels bad: a treat is a gift, not a rule. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/30/) — In Bradford, with Mum in hospital for a week, Aziza, 17, cooks, does Maryam's plaits, checks homework, and cries quietly in the bathroom at night. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/31/) — Big sisters who do a parent's jobs need help too: make her a tea, and tell Dad or a teacher if she seems really down. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/32/) — Big sisters are often bossy and protective at the same time; both come from feeling responsible. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/33/) — You can tell a sibling the bossing annoys you and still thank her for looking out for you. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/34/) — Borrowing without asking breaks trust, even between sisters; asking first usually gets a yes. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/35/) — A diary is private; using a secret found by snooping to embarrass someone can wreck trust for a long time. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/36/) — After hurting someone, a real sorry and a promise never to do it again are the way back. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/37/) — Anyone, a sister included, should ask before posting a picture of you. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/38/) — Small harmless secrets can be kept; secrets about danger should be told to a grown-up. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/39/) — Teenagers sometimes want to look cool in front of friends; it does not mean they don't love you. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/40/) — Teenagers can be grumpy and kind within the same hour; asking at a good moment helps. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/41/) — A treat from a sibling is a gift, not a rule; say thanks, and don't sulk when it can't happen. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/42/) — A big sister doing a parent's jobs in hard times needs help and kindness too. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/43/) — «Butt» is South Wales for mate, «fit» means outfit, «no cap» means for real, «braw» is Scots for lovely, «wee yin» means little one, «howay» is Geordie for come on, «skint» means having no money, and in South Africa «now now» means soon. - ← previous: [The only child: all the attention and wanting a sibling](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/) - next →: [Big brothers](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/501-big-brothers/) - ↑ back to [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/)