---
title: As for the Future Buddha, he saw many advantages in going second, fo… — The grateful elephant · tree and pragmatics
description: As for the Future Buddha, he saw many advantages in going second, for the following considerations presented themselves to his mind: “Those who go first will make smooth the rough spots on the road; I shall go by the same road they have gone; the oxen that go first will eat the old tough grass, and 
---

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# The grateful elephant, Opening, part 15, sentence 23

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As for the Future Buddha, he saw many advantages in going second, for the following considerations presented themselves to his mind: “Those who go first will make smooth the rough spots on the road; I shall go by the same road they have gone; the oxen that go first will eat the old tough grass, and my oxen will eat the fresh grass which will have sprung up in the meantime; wherever they pluck leaves, fresh leaves for curry will have sprung up and will be at the disposal of my men; in places where there is no water, they will dig wells and obtain a supply, and we shall drink water from wells dug by others.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rut, many advantages, following considerations, Those, considerations, oxen · **What happens:** see, go, follow, present, make, eat · **To what, where:** many advantages, advantages, mind, rough spots, road, same road · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is a sentence of «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame, Opening, part 15. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (rut, many advantages, following considerations, Those), 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:pg74064:15:23
# text = As for the Future Buddha, he saw many advantages in going second, for the following considerations presented themselves to his mind: “Those who go first will make smooth the rough spots on the road; I shall go by the same road they have gone; the oxen that go first will eat the old tough grass, and my oxen will eat the fresh grass which will have sprung up in the meantime; wherever they pluck leaves, fresh leaves for curry will have sprung up and will be at the disposal of my men; in places where there is no water, they will dig wells and obtain a supply, and we shall drink water from wells dug by others.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	5	case	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Future	Future	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	Buddha	Buddha	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	advantages	advantage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
13	second	second	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	amod	_	_
18	considerations	consideration	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
19	presented	present	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
20	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	19	obj	_	_
21	to	to	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	23	nmod:poss	_	_
23	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	31	punct	_	_
25	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	Those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	31	nsubj	_	_
27	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	28	nsubj	_	_
28	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	26	acl:relcl	_	_
29	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	28	advmod	_	_
30	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	31	aux	_	_
31	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	advcl	_	_
32	smooth	smooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	31	xcomp	_	_
33	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
34	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	35	amod	_	_
35	spots	spot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	31	obj	_	_
36	on	on	ADP	IN	_	38	case	_	_
37	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	38	det	_	_
38	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	35	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	42	punct	_	_
40	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	42	nsubj	_	_
41	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	42	aux	_	_
42	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
43	by	by	ADP	IN	_	46	case	_	_
44	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	46	det	_	_
45	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	46	amod	_	_
46	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	42	obl	_	_
47	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	49	nsubj	_	_
48	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	49	aux	_	_
49	gone	go	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	46	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
50	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	57	punct	_	_
51	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	52	det	_	_
52	oxen	ox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	57	nsubj	_	_
53	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	54	nsubj	_	_
54	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	52	acl:relcl	_	_
55	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	54	advmod	_	_
56	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	57	aux	_	_
57	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	parataxis	_	_
58	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	61	det	_	_
59	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	61	amod	_	_
60	tough	tough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	61	amod	_	_
61	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	57	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
62	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	67	punct	_	_
63	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	67	cc	_	_
64	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	65	nmod:poss	_	_
65	oxen	ox	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	67	nsubj	_	_
66	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	67	aux	_	_
67	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	57	conj	_	_
68	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	70	det	_	_
69	fresh	fresh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	70	amod	_	_
70	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	67	obj	_	_
71	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	74	nsubj:pass	_	_
72	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	74	aux	_	_
73	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	74	aux	_	_
74	sprung	spring	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	70	acl:relcl	_	_
75	up	up	ADP	RP	_	74	compound:prt	_	_
76	in	in	ADP	IN	_	78	case	_	_
77	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	78	det	_	_
78	meantime	meantime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	74	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
79	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	82	punct	_	_
80	wherever	wherever	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	82	advmod	_	_
81	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	82	nsubj	_	_
82	pluck	pluck	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	67	conj	_	_
83	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	91	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
84	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	86	punct	_	_
85	fresh	fresh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	86	amod	_	_
86	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	83	conj	_	_
87	for	for	ADP	IN	_	88	case	_	_
88	curry	curry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	86	nmod	_	_
89	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	91	aux	_	_
90	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	91	aux	_	_
91	sprung	spring	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	82	ccomp	_	_
92	up	up	ADP	RP	_	91	compound:prt	_	_
93	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	98	cc	_	_
94	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	98	aux	_	_
95	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	98	cop	_	_
96	at	at	ADP	IN	_	98	case	_	_
97	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	98	det	_	_
98	disposal	disposal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	91	conj	_	_
99	of	of	ADP	IN	_	101	case	_	_
100	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	101	nmod:poss	_	_
101	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	98	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
102	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	113	punct	_	_
103	in	in	ADP	IN	_	104	case	_	_
104	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	113	obl	_	_
105	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	107	advmod	_	_
106	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	107	expl	_	_
107	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	113	advcl	_	_
108	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	109	det	_	_
109	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	107	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
110	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	107	punct	_	_
111	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	113	nsubj	_	_
112	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	113	aux	_	_
113	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	67	conj	_	_
114	wells	well	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	113	obj	_	_
115	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	116	cc	_	_
116	obtain	obtain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	113	conj	_	_
117	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	118	det	_	_
118	supply	supply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	116	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
119	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	123	punct	_	_
120	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	123	cc	_	_
121	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	123	nsubj	_	_
122	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	123	aux	_	_
123	drink	drink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	113	conj	_	_
124	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	123	obj	_	_
125	from	from	ADP	IN	_	126	case	_	_
126	wells	well	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	123	obl	_	_
127	dug	dig	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	126	acl	_	_
128	by	by	ADP	IN	_	129	case	_	_
129	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	127	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
130	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | rut | many advantages |  |  |  | as the Future Buddha | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | gerund | many advantages *not said here* |  |  |  |  | second *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **present** | past | the following considerations | advantages *= advantage* | rut's mind |  |  |  | vn fulfilling-13.4.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent themselves=Theme to mind=Recipient |
| 5 | **go** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | who *nsubj*; first *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **make** *in a quote* | future | Those | the rough spots |  | the road |  | smooth *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset spot=Product |
| 7 | **go** *in a quote* | shall | rut |  |  |  |  | by the same road | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme by road=Location |
| 8 | **go** *in a quote* | present · perfect | considerations *= consideration* | the same road *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location road=Theme |
| 9 | **go** *in a quote* | present | the oxen |  |  |  |  | first *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 10 | **eat** *in a quote* | future | the oxen | the old tough grass |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |
| 11 | **eat** *in a quote* | future | my oxen | the fresh grass |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |
| 12 | **spring up** *in a quote* | future · perfect · passive |  | the fresh grass |  | the meantime |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 13 | **pluck** *in a quote* | present | oxen *= ox* |  |  |  |  | wherever *property* | tree rules |
| 14 | **spring up** *in a quote* | future · perfect · passive |  | leaves and fresh leaves for curry |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 15 | **is** *in a quote* | future |  |  |  | the disposal |  | of my men | tree rules |
| 16 | **be** *in a quote* | present | no water |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 17 | **dig** *in a quote* | future | oxen *= ox* | wells |  | places |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent well=Theme in place=Location |
| 18 | **obtain** *in a quote* | present | oxen *= ox* *not said here* | a supply |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset supply=Theme |
| 19 | **drink** *in a quote* | shall | we | water |  | wells |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |
| 20 | **dig** *in a quote* | participle |  | wells *not said here* |  |  |  | by others | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent by other=Location |
| 21 | **mind** |  | rut |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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:** «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame, Project Gutenberg book 74064 (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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