---
title: A green meadow valley lay before the house, on which fat, comfortabl… — Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains · tree and pragmatics
description: A green meadow valley lay before the house, on which fat, comfortable-looking cows were grazing; well-scoured milk-pails hung on the garden fence, fruit-trees were trained on the house-walls, a powerful dog lay basking in the glowing sunshine before the door; from the well-populated barn-yard one he
---

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# Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains, A Historical Tale., part 5, sentence 86

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A green meadow valley lay before the house, on which fat, comfortable-looking cows were grazing; well-scoured milk-pails hung on the garden fence, fruit-trees were trained on the house-walls, a powerful dog lay basking in the glowing sunshine before the door; from the well-populated barn-yard one heard an animated conversation among the feathered tribes, where a peacock was chairman, and made short emphatic speeches, and a turkey-cock filled the office of crier; in short, all bore the stamp of wealth and comfort.

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**Who acts:** green meadow valley, fat, scoured milk pails, powerful dog, populated yard one, peacock · **What happens:** lay, look, graze, scour, hang, train · **To what, where:** scoured milk pails, house, garden fence, fruit, house walls, glowing sunshine

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This is a sentence of «Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains» by Toofie Lauder, A Historical Tale., part 5. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (green meadow valley, fat, scoured milk pails, powerful dog), 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:pg74323:22:86
# text = A green meadow valley lay before the house, on which fat, comfortable-looking cows were grazing; well-scoured milk-pails hung on the garden fence, fruit-trees were trained on the house-walls, a powerful dog lay basking in the glowing sunshine before the door; from the well-populated barn-yard one heard an animated conversation among the feathered tribes, where a peacock was chairman, and made short emphatic speeches, and a turkey-cock filled the office of crier; in short, all bore the stamp of wealth and comfort.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	meadow	meadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	valley	valley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	lay	lay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	12	det	_	_
12	fat	fat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	comfortable	comfortable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	amod	_	_
17	cows	cow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
18	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	grazing	graze	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
21	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	23	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	scoured	scour	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	26	amod	_	_
24	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	pails	pail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
27	hung	hang	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	26	acl	_	_
28	on	on	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
30	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	_
31	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	37	punct	_	_
33	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	33	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	37	nsubj:pass	_	_
36	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	37	aux:pass	_	_
37	trained	train	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	26	acl	_	_
38	on	on	ADP	IN	_	42	case	_	_
39	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	42	det	_	_
40	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	42	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	40	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
42	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	37	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
43	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	47	punct	_	_
44	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	46	det	_	_
45	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	46	amod	_	_
46	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	47	nsubj	_	_
47	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	42	conj	_	_
48	basking	bask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	47	xcomp	_	_
49	in	in	ADP	IN	_	52	case	_	_
50	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	52	det	_	_
51	glowing	glow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	52	amod	_	_
52	sunshine	sunshine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	48	obl	_	_
53	before	before	ADP	IN	_	55	case	_	_
54	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	55	det	_	_
55	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	48	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
56	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	66	punct	_	_
57	from	from	ADP	IN	_	65	case	_	_
58	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	65	det	_	_
59	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	61	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
60	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	59	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
61	populated	populate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	65	amod	_	_
62	barn	barn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	64	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
63	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	62	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
64	yard	yard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	65	compound	_	_
65	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	66	nsubj	_	_
66	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
67	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	69	det	_	_
68	animated	animated	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	69	amod	_	_
69	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	66	obj	_	_
70	among	among	ADP	IN	_	73	case	_	_
71	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	73	det	_	_
72	feathered	feathered	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	73	amod	_	_
73	tribes	tribe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	66	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
74	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	79	punct	_	_
75	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	79	advmod	_	_
76	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	77	det	_	_
77	peacock	peacock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	79	nsubj	_	_
78	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	79	cop	_	_
79	chairman	chairman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	73	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
80	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	82	punct	_	_
81	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	82	cc	_	_
82	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	66	conj	_	_
83	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	85	amod	_	_
84	emphatic	emphatic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	85	amod	_	_
85	speeches	speech	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	82	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
86	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	92	punct	_	_
87	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	92	cc	_	_
88	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	91	det	_	_
89	turkey	turkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	91	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
90	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	89	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
91	cock	cock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	92	nsubj	_	_
92	filled	fill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	66	conj	_	_
93	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	94	det	_	_
94	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	92	obj	_	_
95	of	of	ADP	IN	_	96	case	_	_
96	crier	crier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	94	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
97	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	102	punct	_	_
98	in	in	ADP	IN	_	99	case	_	_
99	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	102	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
100	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	99	punct	_	_
101	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	102	advmod	_	_
102	bore	bear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	66	conj	_	_
103	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	104	det	_	_
104	stamp	stamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	102	obj	_	_
105	of	of	ADP	IN	_	106	case	_	_
106	wealth	wealth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	104	nmod	_	_
107	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	108	cc	_	_
108	comfort	comfort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	104	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
109	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | present | a green meadow valley | scoured milk pails |  | the house |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent before house=Destination |
| 2 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **graze** | past · progressive | which fat |  |  |  |  | looking cows *nsubj* | vn dine-39.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **scour** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **hang** | participle |  | scoured milk pails *not said here* |  | the garden fence |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on fence=Location |
| 6 | **train** | past · passive | scoured milk pails *not said here* | fruit |  | the house walls |  | trees *nsubj:pass* | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 7 | **lie** | past | a powerful dog |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 8 | **bask** | gerund | a powerful dog *not said here* |  |  | the glowing sunshine | before the door |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 9 | **glow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 10 | **populate** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | tree rules |
| 11 | **hear** | past | the populated yard one | a animated conversation |  |  |  | among the feathered tribes and chairman | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer conversation=Stimulus |
| 12 | **is a** | past | a peacock | chairman |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 13 | **make** | past | the populated yard one *not said here* | short emphatic speeches |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset speech=Product |
| 14 | **fill** | past | a turkey cock | the office of crier |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent office=Patient |
| 15 | **bear** | past | the populated yard one *not said here* | the stamp of wealth and comfort |  | short |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stamp=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:** «Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains» by Toofie Lauder, Project Gutenberg book 74323 (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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