---
title: At this the robber ran back as fast as he could to his comrades, and… — Grimms' Fairy Tales · tree and pragmatics
description: At this the robber ran back as fast as he could to his comrades, and told the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house, and had spat at him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers; how a man with a knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed him in the leg; h
---

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# Grimms' Fairy Tales, The Travelling Musicians, sentence 45

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At this the robber ran back as fast as he could to his comrades, and told the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house, and had spat at him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers; how a man with a knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed him in the leg; how a black monster stood in the yard and struck him with a club, and how the devil had sat upon the top of the house and cried out, ‘Throw the rascal up here!’

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** robber, horrid witch, black monster, devil · **What happens:** run back, tell, get, have, scratch, hide · **To what, where:** this, captain, house, spat, face, man · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is a sentence of «Grimms' Fairy Tales» by Jacob Grimm, The Travelling Musicians. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (robber, horrid witch, black monster, devil), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree.

<!-- .note-en -->
**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:pg2591:5:45
# text = At this the robber ran back as fast as he could to his comrades, and told the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house, and had spat at him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers; how a man with a knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed him in the leg; how a black monster stood in the yard and struck him with a club, and how the devil had sat upon the top of the house and cried out, ‘Throw the rascal up here!’
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	obl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	robber	robber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	back	back	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	as	as	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	comrades	comrade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
20	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	25	advmod	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	horrid	horrid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
24	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux	_	_
25	got	get	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	17	ccomp	_	_
26	into	into	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
30	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
31	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
32	spat	spat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	obj	_	_
33	at	at	ADP	IN	_	34	case	_	_
34	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	31	obl	_	_
35	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	36	cc	_	_
36	scratched	scratch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	31	conj	_	_
37	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	38	nmod:poss	_	_
38	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	36	obj	_	_
39	with	with	ADP	IN	_	43	case	_	_
40	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	43	nmod:poss	_	_
41	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	43	amod	_	_
42	bony	bony	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	43	amod	_	_
43	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	36	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
44	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	55	punct	_	_
45	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	55	advmod	_	_
46	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	47	det	_	_
47	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	55	nsubj:pass	_	_
48	with	with	ADP	IN	_	50	case	_	_
49	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	50	det	_	_
50	knife	knife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	47	nmod	_	_
51	in	in	ADP	IN	_	53	case	_	_
52	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	53	nmod:poss	_	_
53	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	50	nmod	_	_
54	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	55	aux	_	_
55	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
56	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	55	obj	_	_
57	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	59	case	_	_
58	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	59	det	_	_
59	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	55	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
60	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	62	punct	_	_
61	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	62	cc	_	_
62	stabbed	stab	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
63	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	62	obj	_	_
64	in	in	ADP	IN	_	66	case	_	_
65	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	66	det	_	_
66	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	62	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
67	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	72	punct	_	_
68	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	72	advmod	_	_
69	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	71	det	_	_
70	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	71	amod	_	_
71	monster	monster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	72	nsubj	_	_
72	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
73	in	in	ADP	IN	_	75	case	_	_
74	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	75	det	_	_
75	yard	yard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	72	obl	_	_
76	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	77	cc	_	_
77	struck	strike	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	72	conj	_	_
78	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	77	obj	_	_
79	with	with	ADP	IN	_	81	case	_	_
80	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	81	det	_	_
81	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	77	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
82	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	88	punct	_	_
83	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	88	cc	_	_
84	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	88	advmod	_	_
85	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	86	det	_	_
86	devil	Devil	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	88	nsubj	_	_
87	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	88	aux	_	_
88	sat	sit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	parataxis	_	_
89	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	91	case	_	_
90	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	91	det	_	_
91	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	88	obl	_	_
92	of	of	ADP	IN	_	94	case	_	_
93	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	94	det	_	_
94	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	91	nmod	_	_
95	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	96	cc	_	_
96	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	88	conj	_	_
97	out	out	ADP	RP	_	96	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
98	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	100	punct	_	_
99	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	100	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
100	Throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	96	ccomp	_	_
101	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	102	det	_	_
102	rascal	rascal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	100	obj	_	_
103	up	up	ADP	RP	_	100	compound:prt	_	_
104	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	100	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
105	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	100	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
106	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run back** | past | the robber |  |  | this |  | fast *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at this=Trajectory |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the robber *not said here* | the captain |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent captain=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **get** | past · perfect | a horrid witch |  |  | the house |  |  | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme into house=Destination |
| 4 | **have** | past | the robber *not said here* | spat |  |  |  | at cat | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spat=Patient |
| 5 | **scratch** | past | the robber *not said here* | cat's face |  |  |  | with witch's long bony fingers | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent face=Patient with finger=Instrument |
| 6 | **hide** | past · perfect · passive |  | a man with a knife in cat's hand |  | the door |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **stab** | past | the robber *not said here* | cat |  | the leg |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent he=Patient in leg=Location |
| 8 | **stand** | past | a black monster |  |  |  |  | in the yard | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in yard=Location |
| 9 | **strike** | past | a black monster *not said here* | cat |  |  |  | with a club | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent he=Patient with club=Instrument |
| 10 | **sit** | past · perfect | the devil |  |  | the top of the house |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent upon top=Location |
| 11 | **cry out** *speech: express* | past | the devil *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 12 | **throw up** | infinitive |  | the rascal |  | here |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent rascal=Theme |

<!-- .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.

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**Text:** «Grimms' Fairy Tales» by Jacob Grimm, Project Gutenberg book 2591 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order.

<!-- /div -->

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