--- title: Just a scratch and I'm fine: when to worry and tell an adult — a lesson of Mova's school · trees and pragmatics description: «Just a scratch and I'm fine: when to worry and tell an adult», a lesson of the language course of Mova's primary school, sentence by sentence with dependency trees and pragmatics. It begins: Sometimes playing down is dangerous. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/) [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/) / [Language](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/) / Just a scratch and I'm fine: when to w… # Just a scratch and I'm fine: when to worry and tell an adult Lesson 51 of the language course of Mova's primary school: 17 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/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/). - [0](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/0/) — Sometimes playing down is dangerous. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/1/) — A friend who is hurt, scared or in trouble may say «It's just a scratch», «I'm fine, honestly», «It's nothing», because they are embarrassed, don't want a fuss, or don't want to get into trouble. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/2/) — Picture Mia after falling off her scooter: her knee keeps bleeding through a tissue and she says «It's just a scratch, I'm fine, don't tell my mum». - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/3/) — Her words are small, but the blood is the evidence, and the wise friend gets an adult anyway. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/4/) — Grown-ups play things down too, like Grandad saying «it's nothing, I'm just a bit puffed» when he is pale on the stairs. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/5/) — And strangers online use «no biggie» to make a big thing sound small. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/7/) — The wise reader checks the evidence both ways, and when in doubt, tells a trusted adult — that is never telling tales. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/8/) — People often play down a real injury or problem because they are embarrassed, scared of getting into trouble, or don't want a fuss. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/9/) — Blood that keeps coming through a tissue means more than a scratch; get an adult, even if your friend asks you not to. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/11/) — If a friend is quiet, eats alone and doesn't want to play for weeks, «I'm fine, it's nothing» may not be true; be kind, stay near, and tell a teacher you trust. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/12/) — When a stranger online says «it's no biggie, just tell me what school you go to», it IS a big deal: don't answer, block, and tell a grown-up you trust. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/13/) — Banter is joking that is fun for everyone; if one person keeps getting hurt day after day, it is not banter, it can be bullying, and a teacher should be told. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/14/) — Grown-ups play things down too: if Grandad is pale and has to stop for breath on the stairs, tell another grown-up what you saw. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/15/) — With a nut allergy, tingly lips after eating can be the start of a reaction that gets dangerous fast; tell an adult straight away. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/16/) — A swelling ankle may be sprained; running on it can make it worse, so tell the coach. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/19/) — Once is nothing, every day is a pattern: a friend skipping lunch once is fine, but every day this week is worth telling a trusted teacher. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/51-just-a-scratch-and-i-m-fine-when-to-worry-and-tell-an-adult/20/) — Sometimes the words match the evidence: a tiny paper cut with one drop of blood really is just a scratch, and making a huge fuss is not needed. - ← previous: [Not unhappy and not half: litotes](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/50-not-unhappy-and-not-half-litotes/) - next →: [Sarcasm, hyperbole and understatement side by side](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/52-sarcasm-hyperbole-and-understatement-side-by-side/) - ↑ back to [Language](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/language/)