---
title: Crows and choughs, in great close masses, flew past over the tall ch… — Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen · tree and pragmatics
description: Crows and choughs, in great close masses, flew past over the tall chestnut trees, and chattered and screamed as if they had something very important to tell one another--as if they were saying, "Now she's come back again, the little girl who had their eggs and their young ones stolen from them; and 
---

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# Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, Poultry Meg's Family, sentence 79

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crows and choughs, in great close masses, flew past over the tall chestnut trees, and chattered and screamed as if they had something very important to tell one another--as if they were saying, "Now she's come back again, the little girl who had their eggs and their young ones stolen from them; and as for the thief who had got them down, he had to climb up a leafless tree, for he sat on a tall ship's mast, and was beaten with a rope's end if he did not behave himself."

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Crows, something, glory, little girl, end · **What happens:** fly, chatter, scream, have, tell, say · **To what, where:** tall chestnut trees, something, one, eggs, young ones, trees · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is a sentence of «Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen» by H. C. Andersen, Poultry Meg's Family. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (Crows, something, glory, little girl), 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:pg27200:149:79
# text = Crows and choughs, in great close masses, flew past over the tall chestnut trees, and chattered and screamed as if they had something very important to tell one another--as if they were saying, "Now she's come back again, the little girl who had their eggs and their young ones stolen from them; and as for the thief who had got them down, he had to climb up a leafless tree, for he sat on a tall ship's mast, and was beaten with a rope's end if he did not behave himself."
1	Crows	crow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	choughs	chough	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	masses	mass	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
10	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	past	past	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	over	over	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	chestnut	chestnut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	chattered	chatter	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	screamed	scream	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	conj	_	_
22	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
23	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
24	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	advcl	_	_
26	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	25	obj	_	_
27	very	very	ADV	RB	_	28	advmod	_	_
28	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
29	to	to	PART	TO	_	30	mark	_	_
30	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	28	xcomp	_	_
31	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	30	obj	_	_
32	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	31	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	38	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	38	mark	_	_
35	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	38	mark	_	_
36	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	38	nsubj	_	_
37	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	38	aux	_	_
38	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	44	punct	_	_
40	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	44	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	44	advmod	_	_
42	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	44	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
43	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	44	aux	_	_
44	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	38	ccomp	_	_
45	back	back	ADV	RB	_	44	advmod	_	_
46	again	again	ADV	RB	_	44	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
47	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	50	punct	_	_
48	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	50	det	_	_
49	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	50	amod	_	_
50	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	44	parataxis	_	_
51	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	52	nsubj	_	_
52	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	50	acl:relcl	_	_
53	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	54	nmod:poss	_	_
54	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	52	obj	_	_
55	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	58	cc	_	_
56	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	58	nmod:poss	_	_
57	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	58	amod	_	_
58	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	54	conj	_	_
59	stolen	steal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	58	acl	_	_
60	from	from	ADP	IN	_	61	case	_	_
61	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	59	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
62	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	70	punct	_	_
63	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	70	cc	_	_
64	as	as	ADV	RB	_	70	advmod	_	_
65	for	for	ADP	IN	_	67	case	_	_
66	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	67	det	_	_
67	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	70	obl	_	_
68	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	70	nsubj	_	_
69	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	70	aux	_	_
70	got	get	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	_
71	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	70	obj	_	_
72	down	down	ADP	RP	_	70	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
73	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	75	punct	_	_
74	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	75	nsubj	_	_
75	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
76	to	to	PART	TO	_	77	mark	_	_
77	climb	climb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	75	xcomp	_	_
78	up	up	ADP	RP	_	77	compound:prt	_	_
79	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	81	det	_	_
80	leafless	leafless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	81	amod	_	_
81	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	77	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
82	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	85	punct	_	_
83	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	85	mark	_	_
84	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	85	nsubj	_	_
85	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	75	conj	_	_
86	on	on	ADP	IN	_	91	case	_	_
87	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	89	det	_	_
88	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	89	amod	_	_
89	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	91	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
90	's	's	PART	POS	_	89	case	_	_
91	mast	mast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	85	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
92	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	95	punct	_	_
93	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	95	cc	_	_
94	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	95	aux:pass	_	_
95	beaten	beat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
96	with	with	ADP	IN	_	100	case	_	_
97	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	98	det	_	_
98	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	100	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
99	's	's	PART	POS	_	98	case	_	_
100	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	95	obl	_	_
101	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	105	mark	_	_
102	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	105	nsubj	_	_
103	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	105	aux	_	_
104	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	105	advmod	_	_
105	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	95	advcl	_	_
106	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	105	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
107	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
108	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | past | Crows and choughs and great close masses |  |  | the tall chestnut trees |  | past *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V NP.theme PP»: agent=Agent over tree=Location |
| 2 | **chatter** | participle | Crows and choughs and great close masses *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **scream** *speech: express* | participle | Crows and choughs and great close masses *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **have** | past | Crows *= crow* | something |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 5 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | something *not said here* | one |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent one=Recipient |
| 6 | **say** *speech: assert* | past · progressive | Crows *= crow* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 7 | **come back** *in a quote* | present | glory |  |  |  | now; again |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 8 | **have** *in a quote* | past | the little girl | trees's eggs and trees's young ones |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Patient |
| 9 | **steal** *in a quote* | participle |  | trees's young ones *not said here* |  |  |  | from trees *= tree* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 10 | **get down** *in a quote* | past · perfect |  | trees *= tree* |  |  |  | for the thief | tree rules |
| 11 | **have** *in a quote* | past | end |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 12 | **climb up** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | end *not said here* | a leafless tree |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location tree=Theme |
| 13 | **sit** *in a quote* | past | end |  |  | a tall ship's mast |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on mast=Location |
| 14 | **beat** *in a quote* | past · passive | Crows and choughs and great close masses *not said here* |  |  |  | with a rope's end |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: with end=Theme |
| 15 | **not** **behave** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | past · do-support | end | end |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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:** «Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen» by H. C. Andersen, Project Gutenberg book 27200 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order.

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