---
title: In the evening when the chief’s favourite wife came to join him, the… — Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria · tree and pragmatics
description: In the evening when the chief’s favourite wife came to join him, the rabbit heard him tell her that the next day he was going to take all his sons into the bush to clear his farm, and that the one who was last in doing his share of work would be killed, and that all the boys would be placed in a lin
---

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# Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria, Xi.--how a Father Tried to Kill One of His Sons But Failed., sentence 24

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the evening when the chief’s favourite wife came to join him, the rabbit heard him tell her that the next day he was going to take all his sons into the bush to clear his farm, and that the one who was last in doing his share of work would be killed, and that all the boys would be placed in a line and he would tell them to clear the bush to where he would be standing and that as he had given Agberamfe a piece of iron instead of a matchet, he was certain to be last and would be killed.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** favourite wife, rabbit, Agbor, one · **What happens:** come, join, hear, tell, go, take · **To what, where:** Agbor, chief, sons, bush, farm, share · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is a sentence of «Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria» by Elphinstone Dayrell, Xi.--how a Father Tried to Kill One of His Sons But Failed.. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (favourite wife, rabbit, Agbor, one), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree.

<!-- .note-en -->
**Mova's own parse.** This tree may be wrong.

## The tree {#tree}

```conllu
# sent_id = book:pg70959:8:24
# text = In the evening when the chief’s favourite wife came to join him, the rabbit heard him tell her that the next day he was going to take all his sons into the bush to clear his farm, and that the one who was last in doing his share of work would be killed, and that all the boys would be placed in a line and he would tell them to clear the bush to where he would be standing and that as he had given Agberamfe a piece of iron instead of a matchet, he was certain to be last and would be killed.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	’s	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
18	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	iobj	_	_
21	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	27	mark	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl:unmarked	_	_
25	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	27	nsubj	_	_
26	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	27	aux	_	_
27	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	ccomp	_	_
28	to	to	PART	TO	_	29	mark	_	_
29	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	xcomp	_	_
30	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	32	det:predet	_	_
31	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	32	nmod:poss	_	_
32	sons	son	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	obj	_	_
33	into	into	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
34	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
35	bush	bush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obl	_	_
36	to	to	PART	TO	_	37	mark	_	_
37	clear	clear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	29	advcl	_	_
38	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	39	nmod:poss	_	_
39	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	56	punct	_	_
41	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	56	cc	_	_
42	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	56	mark	_	_
43	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	44	det	_	_
44	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	56	nsubj:pass	_	_
45	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	47	nsubj	_	_
46	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	47	cop	_	_
47	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	44	acl:relcl	_	_
48	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	49	mark	_	_
49	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	47	advcl	_	_
50	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	51	nmod:poss	_	_
51	share	share	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	49	obj	_	_
52	of	of	ADP	IN	_	53	case	_	_
53	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	51	nmod	_	_
54	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	56	aux	_	_
55	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	56	aux:pass	_	_
56	killed	kill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
57	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	65	punct	_	_
58	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	65	cc	_	_
59	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	65	mark	_	_
60	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	62	det:predet	_	_
61	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	62	det	_	_
62	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	65	nsubj:pass	_	_
63	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	65	aux	_	_
64	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	65	aux:pass	_	_
65	placed	place	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
66	in	in	ADP	IN	_	68	case	_	_
67	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	68	det	_	_
68	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	65	obl	_	_
69	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	72	cc	_	_
70	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	72	nsubj	_	_
71	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	72	aux	_	_
72	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
73	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	72	iobj	_	_
74	to	to	PART	TO	_	75	mark	_	_
75	clear	clear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	72	xcomp	_	_
76	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	77	det	_	_
77	bush	bush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	75	obj	_	_
78	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	83	mark	_	_
79	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	83	advmod	_	_
80	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	83	nsubj	_	_
81	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	83	aux	_	_
82	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	83	aux	_	_
83	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	77	acl	_	_
84	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	85	cc	_	_
85	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	83	obl	_	_
86	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	89	mark	_	_
87	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	89	nsubj:pass	_	_
88	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	89	aux	_	_
89	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	72	advcl	_	_
90	Agberamfe	Agberamfe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	89	iobj	_	_
91	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	92	det	_	_
92	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	89	obj	_	_
93	of	of	ADP	IN	_	94	case	_	_
94	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	92	nmod	_	_
95	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	98	case	_	_
96	of	of	ADP	IN	_	95	fixed	_	_
97	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	98	det	_	_
98	matchet	matchet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	89	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
99	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	102	punct	_	_
100	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	102	nsubj	_	_
101	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	102	cop	_	_
102	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
103	to	to	PART	TO	_	105	mark	_	_
104	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	105	cop	_	_
105	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	102	advcl	_	_
106	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	109	cc	_	_
107	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	109	aux	_	_
108	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	109	aux:pass	_	_
109	killed	kill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	102	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
110	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the chief's favourite wife |  |  |  | evening |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | to-infinitive | the chief's favourite wife *not said here* | Agbor |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |
| 3 | **hear** | past | the rabbit | Agbor |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | Agbor *not said here* |  | chief |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent she=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 5 | **go** | past · progressive | Agbor |  |  |  | day |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 6 | **take** | to-infinitive | Agbor *not said here* | Agbor's sons |  | the bush |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent son=Theme into bush=Destination |
| 7 | **clear** | to-infinitive | Agbor *not said here* | Agbor's farm |  |  |  |  | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent farm=Source |
| 8 | **is** | past | the one |  |  |  |  | last *property* | tree rules |
| 9 | **do** | gerund | the one *not said here* | Agbor's share of work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent share=Eventuality |
| 10 | **kill** | would · passive |  | the one |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 11 | **place** | would · passive |  | all boys |  | a line |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in line=Destination |
| 12 | **tell** *speech: assert* | would | Agbor |  | rabbit |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent they=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 13 | **clear** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Agbor *not said here* | the bush |  |  |  |  | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent bush=Source |
| 14 | **stand** | would · progressive | Agbor | the bush |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 15 | **give** | past · perfect · passive |  | Agbor | Agberamfe |  |  | instead a matchet; a piece of iron *obj* | tree rules |
| 16 | **is** | past | Agbor |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | tree rules |
| 17 | **is** | to-infinitive | Agbor *not said here* |  |  |  |  | last *property* | tree rules |
| 18 | **kill** | would · passive | Agbor *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle» |
| 19 | **share** |  | Agbor | work |  |  |  |  | nom share «possession transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

<!-- .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:** «Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria» by Elphinstone Dayrell, Project Gutenberg book 70959 (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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