Test 2 · ★★★ · Is there one proper English? The big arguments
Your dad says "Two negatives make a positive, so 'I ain't got no money' means you've got money!" Is he right?
Mova's choice: option 1 · The right answer: option 4 · wrong ✗ · Who acts: dad, Two negatives, you · What happens: say, make, not get, mean, get, be · To what, where: money · Speech: someone speaks here
This is test 2 · ★★★ of lesson 20 «Is there one proper English? The big arguments» of the language course of Mova's primary school. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: the test at school.
The question
Sentence 1: Your dad says "Two negatives make a positive, so 'I ain't got no money' means you've got money!"
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Your | your | PRON | Case=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 2 dad | nmod:poss |
| 2 | dad | dad | NOUN | Number=Sing | 3 says | nsubj |
| 3 | says | say | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 4 | " | " | PUNCT | _ | 7 make | punct |
| 5 | Two | two | NUM | NumForm=Word NumType=Card | 6 negatives | nummod |
| 6 | negatives | negative | NOUN | Number=Plur | 7 make | nsubj |
| 7 | make | make | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 3 says | ccomp |
| 8 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 9 positive | det |
| 9 | positive | positive | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 7 make | xcomp |
| 10 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 20 means | punct |
| 11 | so | so | ADV | _ | 20 means | advmod |
| 12 | ' | ' | PUNCT | _ | 14 ai | punct |
| 13 | I | I | PRON | Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs | 14 ai | nsubj |
| 14 | ai | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 20 means | ccomp |
| 15 | n't | not | PART | Polarity=Neg | 16 got | advmod |
| 16 | got | get | VERB | Mood=Ind Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 14 ai | ccomp |
| 17 | no | no | DET | PronType=Neg | 18 money | det |
| 18 | money | money | NOUN | Number=Sing | 16 got | obj |
| 19 | ' | ' | PUNCT | _ | 18 money | punct |
| 20 | means | mean | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 3 says | parataxis |
| 21 | you | you | PRON | Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs | 23 got | nsubj |
| 22 | 've | have | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 23 got | aux |
| 23 | got | get | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part | 20 means | ccomp |
| 24 | money | money | NOUN | Number=Sing | 23 got | obj |
| 25 | ! | ! | PUNCT | _ | 23 got | punct |
| 26 | " | " | PUNCT | _ | 23 got | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | say speech: express | present | Your dad | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic | |||||
| 2 | make in a quote | present | Two negatives | positive property | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset | ||||
| 3 | not get in a quote | past | no money | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer money=Stimulus | |||||
| 4 | mean in a quote | present | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic | ||||||
| 5 | get in a quote | present · perfect | you | money | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer money=Stimulus |
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.
Sentence 2: Is he right?
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Is | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 3 right | cop |
| 2 | he | he | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 3 right | nsubj |
| 3 | right | right | ADJ | Degree=Pos | root | root |
| 4 | ? | ? | PUNCT | _ | 3 right | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | is | present | dad | right property | tree rules |
The options
Option 1 · ← Mova's choice
Yes, because language works exactly like maths
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yes | yes | INTJ | Polarity=Pos | 5 works | discourse |
| 2 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 5 works | punct |
| 3 | because | because | SCONJ | _ | 5 works | mark |
| 4 | language | language | NOUN | Number=Sing | 5 works | nsubj |
| 5 | works | work | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 6 | exactly | exactly | ADV | _ | 8 maths | advmod |
| 7 | like | like | ADP | _ | 8 maths | case |
| 8 | maths | math | NOUN | Number=Plur | 5 works | obl |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | work | present | language | like maths | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
Option 2
No, it means he has exactly two pounds
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No | no | INTJ | Polarity=Neg | 4 means | discourse |
| 2 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 1 No | punct |
| 3 | it | it | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 4 means | nsubj |
| 4 | means | mean | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 5 | he | he | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 6 has | nsubj |
| 6 | has | have | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 means | ccomp |
| 7 | exactly | exactly | ADV | _ | 8 two | advmod |
| 8 | two | two | NUM | NumForm=Word NumType=Card | 9 pounds | nummod |
| 9 | pounds | pound | NOUN | Number=Plur | 6 has | obj |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | mean | present | it | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic | |||||
| 2 | have | present | he | two pounds | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pound=Patient |
Option 3
Yes, it means he has lots of money hidden somewhere
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yes | yes | INTJ | Polarity=Pos | 4 means | discourse |
| 2 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 1 Yes | punct |
| 3 | it | it | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 4 means | nsubj |
| 4 | means | mean | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 5 | he | he | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 6 has | nsubj |
| 6 | has | have | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 4 means | ccomp |
| 7 | lots | lot | NOUN | Number=Plur | 6 has | obj |
| 8 | of | of | ADP | _ | 9 money | case |
| 9 | money | money | NOUN | Number=Sing | 7 lots | nmod |
| 10 | hidden | hide | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 9 money | acl |
| 11 | somewhere | somewhere | ADV | PronType=Ind | 10 hidden | advmod |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | mean | present | it | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic | |||||
| 2 | have | present | he | lots of money | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient | ||||
| 3 | hide | participle | money not said here | somewhere property | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
Option 4 · ✓ the right answer
No, everyone understands it means "I have no money"
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No | no | INTJ | Polarity=Neg | 4 understands | discourse |
| 2 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 1 No | punct |
| 3 | everyone | everyone | PRON | Number=Sing PronType=Tot | 4 understands | nsubj |
| 4 | understands | understand | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 6 means | advcl |
| 5 | it | it | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 6 means | nsubj |
| 6 | means | mean | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | root | root |
| 7 | " | " | PUNCT | _ | 9 have | punct |
| 8 | I | I | PRON | Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs | 9 have | nsubj |
| 9 | have | have | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=1 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 6 means | ccomp |
| 10 | no | no | DET | PronType=Neg | 11 money | det |
| 11 | money | money | NOUN | Number=Sing | 9 have | obj |
| 12 | " | " | PUNCT | _ | 9 have | punct |
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | understand | present | everyone | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer | |||||
| 2 | mean | present | it | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic | |||||
| 3 | have in a quote | present | I | no money | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Patient |
Text: the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (world/data/school/), as the course runner gave them to the student. Trees: Mova's own parse — the en model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. Frames: Mova's frames reader (prag), each text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.
This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/language/20-is-there-one-proper-english/t2/