--- title: As soon as the cat had lapped up the milk, the cat began to kill the… — English Fairy Tales · tree and pragmatics description: As soon as the cat had lapped up the milk, the cat began to kill the rat; the rat began to gnaw the rope; the rope began to hang the butcher; the butcher began to kill the ox; the ox began to drink the water; the water began to quench the fire; the fire began to burn the stick; the stick began to be --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/9/36/) [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/) / [English Fairy Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/) / [The Old Woman and Her Pig](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/9/) / 36 # English Fairy Tales, The Old Woman and Her Pig, sentence 36 As soon as the cat had lapped up the milk, the cat began to kill the rat; the rat began to gnaw the rope; the rope began to hang the butcher; the butcher began to kill the ox; the ox began to drink the water; the water began to quench the fire; the fire began to burn the stick; the stick began to beat the dog; the dog began to bite the pig; the little pig in a fright jumped over the stile, and so the old woman got home that night. **Who acts:** cat, rat, rope, butcher, ox, water · **What happens:** lap up, begin, kill, gnaw, hang, drink · **To what, where:** milk, rat, rope, butcher, ox, water This is a sentence of «English Fairy Tales» by Joseph Jacobs, The Old Woman and Her Pig. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (cat, rat, rope, butcher), 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:pg7439:9:36 # text = As soon as the cat had lapped up the milk, the cat began to kill the rat; the rat began to gnaw the rope; the rope began to hang the butcher; the butcher began to kill the ox; the ox began to drink the water; the water began to quench the fire; the fire began to burn the stick; the stick began to beat the dog; the dog began to bite the pig; the little pig in a fright jumped over the stile, and so the old woman got home that night. 1 As as ADV RB _ 2 advmod _ _ 2 soon soon ADV RB Degree=Pos 7 advmod _ _ 3 as as SCONJ IN _ 7 mark _ _ 4 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 5 det _ _ 5 cat cat NOUN NN Number=Sing 7 nsubj _ _ 6 had have AUX VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 aux _ _ 7 lapped lap VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part 0 root _ _ 8 up up ADP RP _ 7 compound:prt _ _ 9 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 10 det _ _ 10 milk milk NOUN NN Number=Sing 7 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 11 , , PUNCT , _ 14 punct _ _ 12 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 13 det _ _ 13 cat cat NOUN NN Number=Sing 14 nsubj _ _ 14 began begin VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 10 acl:relcl _ _ 15 to to PART TO _ 16 mark _ _ 16 kill kill VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 14 xcomp _ _ 17 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 18 det _ _ 18 rat rat NOUN NN Number=Sing 16 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 19 ; ; PUNCT : _ 22 punct _ _ 20 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 21 det _ _ 21 rat rat NOUN NN Number=Sing 22 nsubj _ _ 22 began begin VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 conj _ _ 23 to to PART TO _ 24 mark _ _ 24 gnaw gnaw VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 22 xcomp _ _ 25 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 26 det _ _ 26 rope rope NOUN NN Number=Sing 24 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 27 ; ; PUNCT : _ 30 punct _ _ 28 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 29 det _ _ 29 rope rope NOUN NN Number=Sing 30 nsubj _ _ 30 began begin VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 conj _ _ 31 to to PART TO _ 32 mark _ _ 32 hang hang VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 30 xcomp _ _ 33 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 34 det _ _ 34 butcher butcher NOUN NN Number=Sing 32 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 35 ; ; PUNCT : _ 38 punct _ _ 36 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 37 det _ _ 37 butcher butcher NOUN NN Number=Sing 38 nsubj _ _ 38 began begin VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 conj _ _ 39 to to PART TO _ 40 mark _ _ 40 kill kill VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 38 xcomp _ _ 41 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 42 det _ _ 42 ox ox NOUN NN Number=Sing 40 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 43 ; ; PUNCT : _ 46 punct _ _ 44 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 45 det _ _ 45 ox ox NOUN NN Number=Sing 46 nsubj _ _ 46 began begin VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 conj _ _ 47 to to PART TO _ 48 mark _ _ 48 drink drink VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 46 xcomp _ _ 49 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 50 det _ _ 50 water water NOUN NN Number=Sing 48 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 51 ; ; PUNCT : _ 54 punct _ _ 52 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 53 det _ _ 53 water water NOUN NN Number=Sing 54 nsubj _ _ 54 began begin VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 conj _ _ 55 to to PART TO _ 56 mark _ _ 56 quench quench VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 54 xcomp _ _ 57 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 58 det _ _ 58 fire fire NOUN NN Number=Sing 56 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 59 ; ; PUNCT : _ 62 punct _ _ 60 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 61 det _ _ 61 fire fire NOUN NN Number=Sing 62 nsubj _ _ 62 began begin VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 conj _ _ 63 to to PART TO _ 64 mark _ _ 64 burn burn VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 62 xcomp _ _ 65 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 66 det _ _ 66 stick stick NOUN NN Number=Sing 64 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 67 ; ; PUNCT : _ 70 punct _ _ 68 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 69 det _ _ 69 stick stick NOUN NN Number=Sing 70 nsubj _ _ 70 began begin VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 conj _ _ 71 to to PART TO _ 72 mark _ _ 72 beat beat VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 70 xcomp _ _ 73 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 74 det _ _ 74 dog dog NOUN NN Number=Sing 72 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 75 ; ; PUNCT : _ 78 punct _ _ 76 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 77 det _ _ 77 dog dog NOUN NN Number=Sing 78 nsubj _ _ 78 began begin VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 conj _ _ 79 to to PART TO _ 80 mark _ _ 80 bite bite VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 78 xcomp _ _ 81 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 82 det _ _ 82 pig pig NOUN NN Number=Sing 80 obj _ SpaceAfter=No 83 ; ; PUNCT : _ 90 punct _ _ 84 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 86 det _ _ 85 little little ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 86 amod _ _ 86 pig pig NOUN NN Number=Sing 90 nsubj _ _ 87 in in ADP IN _ 89 case _ _ 88 a a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 89 det _ _ 89 fright fright NOUN NN Number=Sing 86 nmod _ _ 90 jumped jump VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 7 parataxis _ _ 91 over over ADP IN _ 93 case _ _ 92 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 93 det _ _ 93 stile stile NOUN NN Number=Sing 90 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 94 , , PUNCT , _ 100 punct _ _ 95 and and CCONJ CC _ 100 cc _ _ 96 so so ADV RB _ 100 advmod _ _ 97 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 99 det _ _ 98 old old ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 99 amod _ _ 99 woman woman NOUN NN Number=Sing 100 nsubj _ _ 100 got get VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 90 conj _ _ 101 home home ADV RB _ 100 advmod _ _ 102 that that DET DT Number=Sing|PronType=Dem 103 det _ _ 103 night night NOUN NN Number=Sing 100 obl:unmarked _ SpaceAfter=No 104 . . PUNCT . _ 7 punct _ _ ``` ## Pragmatics {#pragmatics} | # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | **lap up** | past · perfect | the cat | the milk | | | | soon *property* | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent milk=Patient | | 2 | **begin** | past | the cat | the milk *not said here* | | | | | tree rules | | 3 | **kill** | to-infinitive | the cat *not said here* | the rat | | | | | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rat=Theme | | 4 | **begin** | past | the rat | | | | | | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality | | 5 | **gnaw** | to-infinitive | the rat *not said here* | the rope | | | | | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rope=Patient | | 6 | **begin** | past | the rope | | | | | | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality | | 7 | **hang** | to-infinitive | the rope *not said here* | the butcher | | | | | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent butcher=Patient | | 8 | **begin** | past | the butcher | | | | | | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality | | 9 | **kill** | to-infinitive | the butcher *not said here* | the ox | | | | | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ox=Theme | | 10 | **begin** | past | the ox | | | | | | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality | | 11 | **drink** | to-infinitive | the ox *not said here* | the water | | | | | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient | | 12 | **begin** | past | the water | | | | | | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality | | 13 | **quench** | to-infinitive | the water *not said here* | the fire | | | | | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus fire=Experiencer | | 14 | **begin** | past | the fire | | | | | | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality | | 15 | **burn** | to-infinitive | the fire *not said here* | the stick | | | | | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent stick=Theme | | 16 | **begin** | past | the stick | | | | | | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality | | 17 | **beat** | to-infinitive | the stick *not said here* | the dog | | | | | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location dog=Theme | | 18 | **begin** | past | the dog | | | | | | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality | | 19 | **bite** | to-infinitive | the dog *not said here* | the pig | | | | | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pig=Patient | | 20 | **jump** | past | the little pig in a fright | | | the stile | | | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over stile=Trajectory | | 21 | **get** | past | the old woman | | | | night | home *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer | 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:** «English Fairy Tales» by Joseph Jacobs, Project Gutenberg book 7439 (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 35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/9/35/) - next →: [How Jack Went to Seek His Fo…, 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/10/1/) - ↑ back to [The Old Woman and Her Pig](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/9/)