--- title: At last he broke the silence, and said to them: “I would declare for… — The Blue Fairy Book · tree and pragmatics description: At last he broke the silence, and said to them: “I would declare for one of you children with a great deal of pleasure if I could do it with justice; but consider whether I can do it or no. ‘Tis true, Prince Ahmed, the Princess my niece is obliged to your artificial apple for her cure; but I must as --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg503/50/18/) [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 Blue Fairy Book](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg503/) / [The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fair…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg503/50/) / 18 # The Blue Fairy Book, The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou, part 2, sentence 18 At last he broke the silence, and said to them: “I would declare for one of you children with a great deal of pleasure if I could do it with justice; but consider whether I can do it or no. ‘Tis true, Prince Ahmed, the Princess my niece is obliged to your artificial apple for her cure; but I must ask you whether or no you could have been so serviceable to her if you had not known by Prince Ali’s perspective glass the danger she was in, and if Prince Houssain’s tapestry had not brought you so soon. **Who acts:** Sultan, I, Princess, women, perspective glass · **What happens:** break, say, declare, do, consider, oblige · **To what, where:** silence, last, women, niece, Princess, danger · **Speech:** someone speaks here This is a sentence of «The Blue Fairy Book» by Andrew Lang, The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou, part 2. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (Sultan, I, Princess, women), 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:pg503:50:18 # text = At last he broke the silence, and said to them: “I would declare for one of you children with a great deal of pleasure if I could do it with justice; but consider whether I can do it or no. ‘Tis true, Prince Ahmed, the Princess my niece is obliged to your artificial apple for her cure; but I must ask you whether or no you could have been so serviceable to her if you had not known by Prince Ali’s perspective glass the danger she was in, and if Prince Houssain’s tapestry had not brought you so soon. 1 At at ADP IN _ 2 case _ _ 2 last last NOUN NN Number=Sing 4 obl _ _ 3 he he PRON PRP Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 4 nsubj _ _ 4 broke break VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 0 root _ _ 5 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 6 det _ _ 6 silence silence NOUN NN Number=Sing 4 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 7 , , PUNCT , _ 9 punct _ _ 8 and and CCONJ CC _ 9 cc _ _ 9 said say VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 4 parataxis _ _ 10 to to ADP IN _ 11 case _ _ 11 them they PRON PRP Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs 9 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 12 : : PUNCT : _ 16 punct _ _ 13 “ " PUNCT `` _ 16 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 14 I I PRON PRP Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs 16 nsubj _ _ 15 would would AUX MD VerbForm=Fin 16 aux _ _ 16 declare declare VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 9 conj _ _ 17 for for ADP IN _ 21 case _ _ 18 one one NUM CD NumForm=Word|NumType=Card 21 nummod _ _ 19 of of ADP IN _ 20 case _ _ 20 you you PRON PRP Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs 18 nmod _ _ 21 children child NOUN NNS Number=Plur 16 obl _ _ 22 with with ADP IN _ 25 case _ _ 23 a a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 25 det _ _ 24 great great ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 25 amod _ _ 25 deal deal NOUN NN Number=Sing 16 obl _ _ 26 of of ADP IN _ 27 case _ _ 27 pleasure pleasure NOUN NN Number=Sing 25 nmod _ _ 28 if if SCONJ IN _ 31 mark _ _ 29 I I PRON PRP Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs 31 nsubj _ _ 30 could could AUX MD VerbForm=Fin 31 aux _ _ 31 do do VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 16 advcl _ _ 32 it it PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 31 obj _ _ 33 with with ADP IN _ 34 case _ _ 34 justice justice NOUN NN Number=Sing 31 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 35 ; ; PUNCT , _ 37 punct _ _ 36 but but CCONJ CC _ 37 cc _ _ 37 consider consider VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 4 conj _ _ 38 whether whether SCONJ IN _ 41 mark _ _ 39 I I PRON PRP Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs 41 nsubj _ _ 40 can can AUX MD VerbForm=Fin 41 aux _ _ 41 do do VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 37 ccomp _ _ 42 it it PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 41 obj _ _ 43 or or CCONJ CC _ 44 cc _ _ 44 no. no. NOUN NN Abbr=Yes|Number=Sing 41 conj _ _ 45 ‘ ' PUNCT `` _ 46 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 46 Tis Tis PROPN NNP Number=Sing 41 obj _ _ 47 true true ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 46 xcomp _ SpaceAfter=No 48 , , PUNCT , _ 50 punct _ _ 49 Prince Prince PROPN NNP Number=Sing 50 compound _ _ 50 Ahmed Ahmed PROPN NNP Number=Sing 46 conj _ SpaceAfter=No 51 , , PUNCT , _ 53 punct _ _ 52 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 53 det _ _ 53 Princess Princess PROPN NNP Number=Sing 46 conj _ _ 54 my my PRON PRP$ Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs 55 nmod:poss _ _ 55 niece niece NOUN NN Number=Sing 57 nsubj:pass _ _ 56 is be AUX VBZ Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 57 aux:pass _ _ 57 obliged oblige VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 53 acl:relcl _ _ 58 to to ADP IN _ 61 case _ _ 59 your your PRON PRP$ Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs 61 nmod:poss _ _ 60 artificial artificial ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 61 amod _ _ 61 apple apple NOUN NN Number=Sing 57 obl _ _ 62 for for ADP IN _ 64 case _ _ 63 her her PRON PRP$ Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs 64 nmod:poss _ _ 64 cure cure NOUN NN Number=Sing 61 nmod _ SpaceAfter=No 65 ; ; PUNCT , _ 69 punct _ _ 66 but but CCONJ CC _ 69 cc _ _ 67 I I PRON PRP Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs 69 nsubj _ _ 68 must must AUX MD VerbForm=Fin 69 aux _ _ 69 ask ask VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 4 conj _ _ 70 you you PRON PRP Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs 69 iobj _ _ 71 whether whether SCONJ IN ExtPos=SCONJ 79 mark _ _ 72 or or CCONJ CC _ 71 fixed _ _ 73 no no INTJ UH Polarity=Neg 79 discourse _ _ 74 you you PRON PRP Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs 79 nsubj _ _ 75 could could AUX MD VerbForm=Fin 79 aux _ _ 76 have have AUX VB VerbForm=Inf 79 aux _ _ 77 been be AUX VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part 79 cop _ _ 78 so so ADV RB _ 79 advmod _ _ 79 serviceable serviceable ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 69 ccomp _ _ 80 to to ADP IN _ 81 case _ _ 81 her she PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 79 obl _ _ 82 if if SCONJ IN _ 86 mark _ _ 83 you you PRON PRP Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs 86 nsubj:pass _ _ 84 had have AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 86 aux _ _ 85 not not PART RB Polarity=Neg 86 advmod _ _ 86 known know VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 69 advcl _ _ 87 by by ADP IN _ 92 case _ _ 88 Prince Prince PROPN NNP Number=Sing 89 nmod:desc _ _ 89 Ali Ali PROPN NNP Number=Sing 92 nmod:poss _ SpaceAfter=No 90 ’s 's PART POS _ 89 case _ _ 91 perspective perspective NOUN NN Number=Sing 92 compound _ _ 92 glass glass NOUN NN Number=Sing 86 obl _ _ 93 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 94 det _ _ 94 danger danger NOUN NN Number=Sing 86 obl:unmarked _ _ 95 she she PRON PRP Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 97 nsubj _ _ 96 was be AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 97 cop _ _ 97 in in ADV RB _ 94 acl:relcl _ SpaceAfter=No 98 , , PUNCT , _ 107 punct _ _ 99 and and CCONJ CC _ 107 cc _ _ 100 if if SCONJ IN _ 107 mark _ _ 101 Prince Prince PROPN NNP Number=Sing 102 nmod:desc _ _ 102 Houssain Houssain PROPN NNP Number=Sing 104 nmod:poss _ SpaceAfter=No 103 ’s 's PART POS _ 102 case _ _ 104 tapestry tapestry NOUN NN Number=Sing 107 nsubj:pass _ _ 105 had have AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 107 aux _ _ 106 not not PART RB Polarity=Neg 107 advmod _ _ 107 brought bring VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 4 conj _ _ 108 you you PRON PRP Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs 107 obj _ _ 109 so so ADV RB _ 110 advmod _ _ 110 soon soon ADV RB Degree=Pos 107 advmod _ SpaceAfter=No 111 . . PUNCT . _ 4 punct _ _ ``` ## Pragmatics {#pragmatics} | # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | **break** | past | Sultan | the silence | | last | | | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer silence=Patient | | 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | | | women *= woman* | | | | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V PP.recipient S-Quote»: agent=Agent to they=Recipient | | 3 | **declare** *speech: other* *in a quote* | would | I | | | | | for one children; with a great deal of pleasure | vn declare-29.4-1-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent | | 4 | **do** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | could | I | silence | | | | with justice | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality | | 5 | **consider** *in a quote* | infinitive | Sultan *not said here* | | | | | | vn consider-29.9-1-1 «NP V whether/if S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme | | 6 | **do** *in a quote* | can | I | silence | | | | | tree rules | | 7 | **oblige** *in a quote* | present · passive | the Princess *not said here* | my niece | | | | to your artificial apple for Princess's cure | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient | | 8 | **ask** *speech: ask* *in a quote* | must | I | | women *= woman* | | | | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent you=Recipient | | 9 | **is** *in a quote* | could · perfect | women *= woman* | | Princess | | | serviceable *property* | tree rules | | 10 | **not** **know** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | past · perfect · passive | Ali Prince's perspective glass | women *= woman* | | | | the danger *obl:unmarked* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer subject=Stimulus | | 11 | **is** *in a quote* | past | Princess | the danger *not said here* | | | | in *property* | tree rules | | 12 | **not** **bring** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | past · perfect · passive | | Houssain Prince's tapestry | | | | soon *property* | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP ADVP»: subject=Theme you=Destination | | 13 | **deal** *in a quote* | | | pleasure | | | | | nom deal «act transitive»: of=patient | 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 Blue Fairy Book» by Andrew Lang, Project Gutenberg book 503 (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 17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg503/50/17/) - next →: [sentence 19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg503/50/19/) - ↑ back to [The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou, part 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg503/50/)