--- title: It is only plain that, perhaps a hundred thousand years ago, some sa… — The Crimson Fairy Book · tree and pragmatics description: It is only plain that, perhaps a hundred thousand years ago, some savage grandmother told a tale to a savage granddaughter; that the granddaughter told it in her turn; that various tellers made changes to suit their taste, adding or omitting features and incidents; that, as the world grew civilised, --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2435/1/12/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Crimson Fairy Book](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2435/) / [The Crimson Fairy Book, part 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2435/1/) / 12 # The Crimson Fairy Book, The Crimson Fairy Book, part 1, sentence 12 It is only plain that, perhaps a hundred thousand years ago, some savage grandmother told a tale to a savage granddaughter; that the granddaughter told it in her turn; that various tellers made changes to suit their taste, adding or omitting features and incidents; that, as the world grew civilised, other alterations were made, and that, at last, Homer composed the “Odyssey,” and somebody else composed the Story of Jason and the Fleece of Gold, and the enchantress Medea, out of a set of wandering popular tales, which are still told among Samoyeds and Samoans, Hindoos and Japanese. **Who acts:** rule, savage grandmother, granddaughter, that, various tellers, changes · **What happens:** be, tell, teller, make, suit, add · **To what, where:** tale, savage granddaughter, rule, turn, changes, taste · **Speech:** someone speaks here This is a sentence of «The Crimson Fairy Book» by Andrew Lang, The Crimson Fairy Book, part 1. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (rule, savage grandmother, granddaughter, that), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree. **Parsed by Mova, not checked by a teacher.** This tree is Mova's own parse (the `en` model, on the CPU, when the site is built); it may be wrong. ## The tree {#tree} ```conllu # sent_id = book:pg2435:1:12 # text = It is only plain that, perhaps a hundred thousand years ago, some savage grandmother told a tale to a savage granddaughter; that the granddaughter told it in her turn; that various tellers made changes to suit their taste, adding or omitting features and incidents; that, as the world grew civilised, other alterations were made, and that, at last, Homer composed the “Odyssey,” and somebody else composed the Story of Jason and the Fleece of Gold, and the enchantress Medea, out of a set of wandering popular tales, which are still told among Samoyeds and Samoans, Hindoos and Japanese. 1 It it PRON PRP Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 4 nsubj _ _ 2 is be AUX VBZ Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 4 cop _ _ 3 only only ADV RB _ 4 advmod _ _ 4 plain plain ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 0 root _ _ 5 that that SCONJ IN _ 12 mark _ SpaceAfter=No 6 , , PUNCT , _ 12 punct _ _ 7 perhaps perhaps ADV RB _ 10 advmod _ _ 8 a a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 9 det _ _ 9 hundred hundred NUM CD NumForm=Word|NumType=Card 10 compound _ _ 10 thousand thousand NUM CD NumForm=Word|NumType=Card 11 nummod _ _ 11 years year NOUN NNS Number=Plur 12 obl:unmarked _ _ 12 ago ago ADV RB _ 4 advcl _ SpaceAfter=No 13 , , PUNCT , _ 17 punct _ _ 14 some some DET DT PronType=Ind 16 det _ _ 15 savage savage ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 16 amod _ _ 16 grandmother grandmother NOUN NN Number=Sing 17 nsubj _ _ 17 told tell VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 4 parataxis _ _ 18 a a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 19 det _ _ 19 tale tale NOUN NN Number=Sing 17 obj _ _ 20 to to ADP IN _ 23 case _ _ 21 a a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 23 det _ _ 22 savage savage ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 23 amod _ _ 23 granddaughter granddaughter NOUN NN Number=Sing 17 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 24 ; ; PUNCT : _ 28 punct _ _ 25 that that SCONJ IN _ 28 mark _ _ 26 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 27 det _ _ 27 granddaughter granddaughter NOUN NN Number=Sing 28 nsubj _ _ 28 told tell VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 4 parataxis _ _ 29 it it PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 28 obj _ _ 30 in in ADP IN _ 32 case _ _ 31 her her PRON PRP$ Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs 32 nmod:poss _ _ 32 turn turn NOUN NN Number=Sing 28 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 33 ; ; PUNCT : _ 37 punct _ _ 34 that that PRON DT Number=Sing|PronType=Dem 36 nsubj _ _ 35 various various ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 36 amod _ _ 36 tellers teller NOUN NNS Number=Plur 37 nsubj _ _ 37 made make VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 4 parataxis _ _ 38 changes change NOUN NNS Number=Plur 37 obj _ _ 39 to to PART TO _ 40 mark _ _ 40 suit suit VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 37 xcomp _ _ 41 their their PRON PRP$ Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs 42 nmod:poss _ _ 42 taste taste NOUN NN Number=Sing 40 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 43 , , PUNCT , _ 44 punct _ _ 44 adding add VERB VBG Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part 40 advcl _ _ 45 or or CCONJ CC _ 46 cc _ _ 46 omitting omit VERB VBG Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part 44 conj _ _ 47 features feature NOUN NNS Number=Plur 46 obj _ _ 48 and and CCONJ CC _ 49 cc _ _ 49 incidents incident NOUN NNS Number=Plur 47 conj _ SpaceAfter=No 50 ; ; PUNCT : _ 51 punct _ _ 51 that that PRON DT Number=Sing|PronType=Dem 4 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 52 , , PUNCT , _ 56 punct _ _ 53 as as SCONJ IN _ 56 mark _ _ 54 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 55 det _ _ 55 world world NOUN NN Number=Sing 56 nsubj _ _ 56 grew grow VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 4 parataxis _ _ 57 civilised civilise VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 56 xcomp _ SpaceAfter=No 58 , , PUNCT , _ 62 punct _ _ 59 other other ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 60 amod _ _ 60 alterations alteration NOUN NNS Number=Plur 62 nsubj:pass _ _ 61 were be AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 62 aux:pass _ _ 62 made make VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 56 conj _ SpaceAfter=No 63 , , PUNCT , _ 65 punct _ _ 64 and and CCONJ CC _ 65 cc _ _ 65 that that PRON DT Number=Sing|PronType=Dem 62 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 66 , , PUNCT , _ 65 punct _ _ 67 at at ADP IN _ 68 case _ _ 68 last last ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 62 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 69 , , PUNCT , _ 71 punct _ _ 70 Homer Homer PROPN NNP Number=Sing 71 nsubj _ _ 71 composed compose VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 62 parataxis _ _ 72 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 74 det _ _ 73 “ " PUNCT `` _ 74 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 74 Odyssey Odyssey PROPN NNP Number=Sing 71 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 75 , , PUNCT , _ 74 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 76 ” " PUNCT '' _ 71 punct _ _ 77 and and CCONJ CC _ 80 cc _ _ 78 somebody somebody PRON NN Number=Sing|PronType=Ind 80 nsubj _ _ 79 else else ADV RB _ 78 advmod _ _ 80 composed compose VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 71 conj _ _ 81 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 82 det _ _ 82 Story Story PROPN NNP Number=Sing 80 obj _ _ 83 of of ADP IN _ 84 case _ _ 84 Jason Jason PROPN NNP Number=Sing 82 nmod _ _ 85 and and CCONJ CC _ 87 cc _ _ 86 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 87 det _ _ 87 Fleece fleece NOUN NN Number=Sing 82 conj _ _ 88 of of ADP IN _ 89 case _ _ 89 Gold gold NOUN NN Number=Sing 87 nmod _ SpaceAfter=No 90 , , PUNCT , _ 93 punct _ _ 91 and and CCONJ CC _ 93 cc _ _ 92 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 93 det _ _ 93 enchantress enchantress NOUN NN Number=Sing 4 conj _ _ 94 Medea Medea PROPN NNP Number=Sing 93 appos _ SpaceAfter=No 95 , , PUNCT , _ 99 punct _ _ 96 out out ADP IN _ 99 case _ _ 97 of of ADP IN _ 99 case _ _ 98 a a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 99 det _ _ 99 set set NOUN NN Number=Sing 93 appos _ _ 100 of of SCONJ IN _ 101 mark _ _ 101 wandering wonder VERB VBG VerbForm=Ger 99 acl _ _ 102 popular popular ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 103 amod _ _ 103 tales tale NOUN NNS Number=Plur 101 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 104 , , PUNCT , _ 108 punct _ _ 105 which which PRON WDT PronType=Rel 108 nsubj:pass _ _ 106 are be AUX VBP Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 108 aux:pass _ _ 107 still still ADV RB _ 108 advmod _ _ 108 told tell VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 103 acl:relcl _ _ 109 among among ADP IN _ 110 case _ _ 110 Samoyeds samoyed NOUN NNS Number=Plur 108 iobj _ _ 111 and and CCONJ CC _ 112 cc _ _ 112 Samoans Samoan PROPN NNPS Number=Plur 110 conj _ SpaceAfter=No 113 , , PUNCT , _ 114 punct _ _ 114 Hindoos Hindoos PROPN NNP Number=Sing 110 nmod _ _ 115 and and CCONJ CC _ 116 cc _ _ 116 Japanese Japanese PROPN NNP Number=Sing 114 conj _ SpaceAfter=No 117 . . PUNCT . _ 4 punct _ _ ``` ## Pragmatics {#pragmatics} | # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | **is** | present | rule | | | | | that *obl*; plain *property* | tree rules | | 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | some savage grandmother | a tale | a savage granddaughter | | | | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent tale=Topic to granddaughter=Recipient | | 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the granddaughter | | rule | granddaughter's turn | | | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient | | 4 | **teller** | | that | | | | | | tree rules | | 5 | **make** | past | various tellers | changes | | | | | tree rules | | 6 | **suit** | to-infinitive | changes *not said here* | tellers's taste | | | | | tree rules | | 7 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund | changes *not said here* | | | | | | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient | | 8 | **omit** | gerund | changes *not said here* | features and incidents | | | | | vn exclude-107.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feature=Theme | | 9 | **grow** | past | the world | | | | | | tree rules | | 10 | **civilise** | participle | the world *not said here* | | | | | | tree rules | | 11 | **make** | past · passive | | other alterations | | last | | | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: subject=Beneficiary that=Product | | 12 | **compose** | past | Homer | the Odyssey | | | | | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent odyssey=Result | | 13 | **compose** | past | somebody | the Story of Jason and the Fleece of Gold | | | | | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent story=Result | | 14 | **wonder** *speech: ask* | gerund | popular tales | a set *not said here* | | | | | tree rules | | 15 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · passive | | popular tales | Samoyeds Hindoos and Japanese and Samoans | | still | | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: subject=Recipient samoyed=Topic | | 16 | **taste** | | tellers *= teller* | | | | | | nom taste «cognition transitive»: poss=agent | 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. **Text:** «The Crimson Fairy Book» by Andrew Lang, Project Gutenberg book 2435 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order. - ← previous: [sentence 11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2435/1/11/) - next →: [sentence 13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2435/1/13/) - ↑ back to [The Crimson Fairy Book, part 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2435/1/)