Tagging as AUX vs. VERB when a copula/aux serves as head of a clause

[muchang]

Hi, the followings are the suspicious cases that tag VERB as AUX.

Word: "wilt" (Duplicate Items)

# sent_id = weblog-blogspot.com_rigorousintuition_20060511134300_ENG_20060511_134300-0175
# text = They trust you and me to be befuddled by their actions, while they "do as they wilt".
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	2:nsubj	_
2	trust	trust	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	0:root	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	2:obj|8:nsubj:xsubj	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	5:cc	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	conj	2:obj|3:conj:and|8:nsubj:xsubj	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	8:mark	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux:pass	8:aux:pass	_
8	befuddled	befuddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	2:xcomp	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	11:case	_
10	their	they	PRON	PRP$	Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	11:nmod:poss	_
11	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	8:obl:by	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	8:punct	_
13	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	16:mark	_
14	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	16:nsubj	_
15	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	16:punct	SpaceAfter=No
16	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	8:advcl:while	_
17	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	19:mark	_
18	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	19:nsubj	_
19	wilt	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	16:advcl:as	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	16:punct	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	2:punct	_

# sent_id = weblog-blogspot.com_rigorousintuition_20060511134300_ENG_20060511_134300-0218
# text = They trust you and me to be befuddled by their actions, while they "do as they wilt."
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	2:nsubj	_
2	trust	trust	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	0:root	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	2:obj|8:nsubj:xsubj	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	5:cc	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	conj	2:obj|3:conj:and|8:nsubj:xsubj	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	8:mark	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux:pass	8:aux:pass	_
8	befuddled	befuddle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	2:xcomp	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	11:case	_
10	their	they	PRON	PRP$	Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	11:nmod:poss	_
11	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	8:obl:by	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	8:punct	_
13	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	16:mark	_
14	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	16:nsubj	_
15	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	16:punct	SpaceAfter=No
16	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	8:advcl:while	_
17	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	19:mark	_
18	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	19:nsubj	_
19	wilt	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	16:advcl:as	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	2:punct	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	2:punct	_

Word: "are"

# sent_id = newsgroup-groups.google.com_misc.consumers_a534e32067078b08_ENG_20060116_030800-0121
# text = Unfortunately, all the dangers in the world are no match for the self-assurance of a bubble-encased zealot.
1	Unfortunately	unfortunately	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	11:advmod	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	11:punct	_
3	all	all	DET	PDT	_	5	det:predet	5:det:predet	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	5:det	_
5	dangers	danger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	11:nsubj	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	8:case	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	8:det	_
8	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	5:nmod:in	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	11:cop	_
10	no	no	DET	DT	_	11	det	11:det	_
11	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	0:root	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	16:case	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	16:det	_
14	self	self	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	16:compound	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	16	punct	16:punct	SpaceAfter=No
16	assurance	assurance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	11:nmod:for	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	22:case	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	22:det	_
19	bubble	bubble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl:npmod	21:obl:npmod	SpaceAfter=No
20	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	21	punct	21:punct	SpaceAfter=No
21	encased	encase	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	22	amod	22:amod	_
22	zealot	zealot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	16:nmod:of	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	11:punct	_

Word: "is"

# sent_id = answers-20111108103957AAcF3iZ_ans-0002
# newpar id = answers-20111108103957AAcF3iZ_ans-p0002
# text = I got a riding lesson today on one of my boss's fino horses and it made me realize just how unsteady my left leg is.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	2:nsubj	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	0:root	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	5:det	_
4	riding	riding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	5:compound	_
5	lesson	lesson	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	2:obj	_
6	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:tmod	2:obl:tmod	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	8:case	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumType=Card	2	obl	2:obl:on	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	14:case	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	11:nmod:poss	_
11-12	boss's	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_
11	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	14:nmod:poss	_
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	11:case	_
13	fino	fino	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	14:compound	_
14	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	8:nmod:of	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	17:cc	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	17:nsubj	_
17	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	2:conj:and	_
18	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	17	obj	17:obj|19:nsubj:xsubj	_
19	realize	realize	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	17:xcomp	_
20	just	just	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	22:advmod	_
21	how	how	SCONJ	WRB	PronType=Int	22	mark	22:mark	_
22	unsteady	unsteady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	ccomp	19:ccomp	_
23	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	25:nmod:poss	_
24	left	left	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	25:amod	_
25	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	22:nsubj	_
26	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	22:cop	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	2:punct	_

Word: "was"

# sent_id = email-enronsent43_01-0061
# text = I just couldn't remember if it was you or Terry.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	5:nsubj	_
2	just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	5:advmod	_
3-4	couldn't	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	5:aux	_
4	n't	not	PART	RB	_	5	advmod	5:advmod	_
5	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	0:root	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	9:mark	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	9:nsubj|11:nsubj	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	9:cop	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	ccomp	5:ccomp	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	11:cc	_
11	Terry	Terry	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	conj	5:ccomp|9:conj:or	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	5:punct	_

Commit: 2f5eba2

[nschneid]

Copulas should be tagged as AUX.

"Will" is usually an auxiliary but in the case of "do as they wilt" I'm not sure if it should be interpreted as a main verb.

[muchang]

Copulas should be tagged as AUX.

Thanks, here might be some cases that tag copulas as AUX, which made me confused.

Word: "is"

# sent_id = weblog-typepad.com_ripples_20040407125600_ENG_20040407_125600-0009
# text = One of the most widespread myths of recent times is that the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in 1986 caused many thousands of extra cancer deaths in neighbouring regions, and that public health has been severely affected by exposure to radiation.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumType=Card	10	nsubj	10:nsubj	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	6:case	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	6:det	_
4	most	most	ADV	RBS	_	5	advmod	5:advmod	_
5	widespread	widespread	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	6:amod	_
6	myths	myth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	1:nmod:of	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	9:case	_
8	recent	recent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	9:amod	_
9	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	6:nmod:of	_
10	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	0:root	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	19:mark	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	16:det	_
13	Chernobyl	Chernobyl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	compound	16:compound	_
14	nuclear	nuclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	15:amod	_
15	reactor	reactor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	16:compound	_
16	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	19:nsubj	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	18:case	_
18	1986	1986	NUM	CD	NumType=Card	16	nmod	16:nmod:in	_
19	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	10:ccomp	_
20	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	21:amod	_
21	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	19:obj	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	25:case	_
23	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	25:amod	_
24	cancer	cancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	25:compound	_
25	deaths	death	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nmod	21:nmod:of	_
26	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	28:case	_
27	neighbouring	neighbour	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	28	amod	28:amod	_
28	regions	region	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obl	19:obl:in	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	37	punct	37:punct	_
30	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	37	cc	37:cc	_
31	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	37	mark	37:mark	_
32	public	public	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	33	amod	33:amod	_
33	health	health	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	nsubj:pass	37:nsubj:pass	_
34	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	37	aux	37:aux	_
35	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	37	aux:pass	37:aux:pass	_
36	severely	severely	ADV	RB	_	37	advmod	37:advmod	_
37	affected	affect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	conj	10:ccomp|19:conj:and	_
38	by	by	ADP	IN	_	39	case	39:case	_
39	exposure	exposure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	obl	37:obl:by	_
40	to	to	ADP	IN	_	41	case	41:case	_
41	radiation	radiation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	39	nmod	39:nmod:to	SpaceAfter=No
42	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	10:punct	_

# sent_id = weblog-juancole.com_juancole_20030911085700_ENG_20030911_085700-0035
# text = The thing to keep in mind is that Sunni Arab nationalists and Baathists and local Sunni radicals are likely to remain far more dangerous to the US in Iraq than al-Qaeda infiltrators, and it would be dangerous to take one's eyes off the former ball.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	2:det	_
2	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	7:nsubj	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	4:mark	_
4	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	2:acl:to	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	6:case	_
6	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	4:obl:in	_
7	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	0:root	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	19:mark	_
9	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	11:amod	_
10	Arab	Arab	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	11:amod	_
11	nationalists	nationalist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	19:nsubj|21:nsubj:xsubj|24:nsubj:xsubj	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	13:cc	_
13	Baathists	Baathist	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	11	conj	11:conj:and|19:nsubj|21:nsubj:xsubj|24:nsubj:xsubj	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	17:cc	_
15	local	local	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	17:amod	_
16	Sunni	Sunni	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	17:amod	_
17	radicals	radical	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	11:conj:and|19:nsubj|21:nsubj:xsubj|24:nsubj:xsubj	_
18	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	19:cop	_
19	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	7:ccomp	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	21:mark	_
21	remain	remain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	xcomp	19:xcomp	_
22	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	21	advmod	21:advmod	_
23	more	more	ADV	RBR	_	21	advmod	21:advmod	_
24	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	xcomp	21:xcomp	_
25	to	to	ADP	IN	_	27	case	27:case	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	27:det	_
27	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	obl	24:obl:to	_
28	in	in	ADP	IN	_	29	case	29:case	_
29	Iraq	Iraq	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	27	nmod	27:nmod:in	_
30	than	than	ADP	IN	_	34	case	34:case	_
31	al	al	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	33	compound	33:compound	SpaceAfter=No
32	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	33	punct	33:punct	SpaceAfter=No
33	Qaeda	Qaeda	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	34	compound	34:compound	_
34	infiltrators	infiltrator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	obl	24:obl:than	SpaceAfter=No
35	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	40	punct	40:punct	_
36	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	40	cc	40:cc	_
37	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	40	expl	40:expl	_
38	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	40	aux	40:aux	_
39	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	40	cop	40:cop	_
40	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	7:ccomp|19:conj:and	_
41	to	to	PART	TO	_	42	mark	42:mark	_
42	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	40	csubj	40:csubj	_
43-44	one's	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_
43	one	one	PRON	PRP	_	45	nmod:poss	45:nmod:poss	_
44	's	's	PART	POS	_	43	case	43:case	_
45	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	42	obj	42:obj	_
46	off	off	ADP	IN	_	49	case	49:case	_
47	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	49	det	49:det	_
48	former	former	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	49	amod	49:amod	_
49	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	42	obl	42:obl:off	SpaceAfter=No
50	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	7:punct	_

# sent_id = weblog-juancole.com_juancole_20040708181175_ENG_20040708_181175-0002
# text = The problem with this argument is that Bush lacked the experience necessary to be president when he ran in 2000, so this sort of cheap shot just hoists him by his own petard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	2:det	_
2	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	6:nsubj	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	5:case	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	5:det	_
5	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	2:nmod:with	_
6	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	0:root	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	9:mark	_
8	Bush	Bush	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	9:nsubj	_
9	lacked	lack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	6:ccomp	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	11:det	_
11	experience	experience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	9:obj	_
12	necessary	necessary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	11:amod	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	15:mark	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	cop	15:cop	_
15	president	president	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	advcl	12:advcl:to	_
16	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	PronType=Int	18	mark	18:mark	_
17	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	18:nsubj	_
18	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	9:advcl:when	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	20:case	_
20	2000	2000	NUM	CD	NumType=Card	18	obl	18:obl:in	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	9:punct	_
22	so	so	ADV	RB	_	29	advmod	29:advmod	_
23	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	24	det	24:det	_
24	sort	sort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nsubj	29:nsubj	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	27:case	_
26	cheap	cheap	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	27:amod	_
27	shot	shot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	24:nmod:of	_
28	just	just	ADV	RB	_	29	advmod	29:advmod	_
29	hoists	hoist	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	9:parataxis	_
30	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	29	obj	29:obj	_
31	by	by	ADP	IN	_	34	case	34:case	_
32	his	he	PRON	PRP$	Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	34	nmod:poss	34:nmod:poss	_
33	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	34	amod	34:amod	_
34	petard	petard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obl	29:obl:by	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	6:punct	_

"Will" is usually an auxiliary but in the case of "do as they wilt" I'm not sure if it should be interpreted as a main verb.

In this case, a "do" after "will" might be omitted?

[nschneid]

Interesting. The VERB cases are "X is that Y" sentences, which are an exception to the usual rule that copulas are not heads ("Exception: If the predicative element in the equation is a clause, then the copula verb is treated as the head of the clause, with the following clause as a ccomp (to prevent that the head of the smaller clause gets two subjects).").

• EWT "be that"
• GUM "be that"

I assume the copula should be AUX and is only VERB due to a conversion error.

"Be" verbs are not considered copulas in existential sentences IIRC.

[nschneid]

"Will" is usually an auxiliary but in the case of "do as they wilt" I'm not sure if it should be interpreted as a main verb.

In this case, a "do" after "will" might be omitted?

Right, one interpretation is "do as they will do", and another is "do as they will", with "will" meaning something like 'want' or 'choose'.

[muchang]

Here are some more cases that tag AUX as VERB:

Word: "did"

# sent_id = weblog-juancole.com_juancole_20051126063000_ENG_20051126_063000-0037
# text = If he or she did not, then they should have all the same rights as other Iraqis.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	5:mark	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	5:nsubj	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	4:cc	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	conj	2:conj:or|5:nsubj	_
5	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	11:advcl:if	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	_	5	advmod	5:advmod	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	11:punct	_
8	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	11:advmod	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	11:nsubj	_
10	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	11:aux	_
11	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	0:root	_
12	all	all	DET	PDT	_	15	det:predet	15:det:predet	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	15:det	_
14	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	15:amod	_
15	rights	rights	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	11:obj	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	case	18:case	_
17	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	18:amod	_
18	Iraqis	Iraqi	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	15	nmod	15:nmod:as	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	11:punct	_

Word: "is"

# sent_id = newsgroup-groups.google.com_GuildWars_086f0f64ab633ab3_ENG_20041111_173500-0004
# text = The main reason is Google is more accessible to the global community and you can rest assured that it's not going to go away.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	3:det	_
2	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	3:amod	_
3	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	4:nsubj	_
4	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	0:root	_
5	Google	Google	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	8:nsubj	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	8:cop	_
7	more	more	ADV	RBR	_	8	advmod	8:advmod	_
8	accessible	accessible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	4:ccomp	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	12:case	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	12:det	_
11	global	global	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	12:amod	_
12	community	community	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	8:obl:to	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	16:cc	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	16:nsubj	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	16:aux	_
16	rest	rest	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	4:ccomp|8:conj:and	_
17	assured	assure	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	16	advcl	16:advcl	_
18	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	22:mark	_
19-20	it's	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	22:nsubj|24:nsubj:xsubj	_
20	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	22:aux	_
21	not	not	PART	RB	_	22	advmod	22:advmod	_
22	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	ccomp	17:ccomp	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	24:mark	_
24	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	xcomp	22:xcomp	_
25	away	away	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	24:advmod	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	4:punct	_

Word: "is"

# sent_id = reviews-053248-0003
# text = The truth is, in my and my dining partners' experience, this is a fine little restaurant with some unique food.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	2:det	_
2	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	3:nsubj	_
3	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	0:root	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	3:punct	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	12:case	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	12:nmod:poss	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	10:cc	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	10:nmod:poss	_
9	dining	dining	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	10:compound	_
10-11	partners'	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_
10	partners	partner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	6:conj:and|12:nmod:poss	_
11	'	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	10:case	_
12	experience	experience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	3:obl:in	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	3:punct	_
14	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	19	nsubj	19:nsubj	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	19:cop	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	19:det	_
17	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	19:amod	_
18	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	19:amod	_
19	restaurant	restaurant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	3:ccomp	_
20	with	with	ADP	IN	_	23	case	23:case	_
21	some	some	DET	DT	_	23	det	23:det	_
22	unique	unique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	23:amod	_
23	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	19:nmod:with	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	3:punct	_

Commit: 2f5eba2

[nschneid]

The last 2 are the same construction as "X is that Y" but "that" is omitted.

[muchang]

Yes, it seems so.

[amir-zeldes]

The VERB cases are "X is that Y" sentences, which are an exception to the usual rule that copulas are not heads

GUM does not implement this exception, which I think is a mistake, for several reasons. In "the problem is that Kim is tired", If we label the matrix clause copula as root and make "tired" its ccomp dependent, then we are saying that:

• "is" can be a transitive verb (which it definitely isn't)
• there is a different construction in "Kim is tired" vs. "the problem is that..." (there is no difference IMO, they are both the copular A is B construction)
• we are not using the usual phrasal analysis in UD, in which functional dependents of a phrase are attached to the normal root of that phrase, regardless of what is going on inside it. For example in "jump from under the bed", "bed" has two case dependents, one actually modifying the noun, and one modifying the PP. For PPs it doesn't seem to bother us that there are two case dependents, but for nsubj for some reason it triggers a different treatment. In my opinion the two are analogous.

I can add to these considerations for English that in languages with zero copula constructions, the analysis of the copula as root and head of ccomp is not even possible, leading to further inconsistency across UD languages. Hebrew example:

• ha-be'aya lo she-kim ayefa
• the-problem not that-Kim tired "the problem is not that Kim is tired"

In this case, there is no possibility of applying the exceptional analysis, and we get two nsubj relations on "tired". I don't consider this to be a problem though, I consider it to be the expected analysis from a UD perspective (lexico-centric, does not assume that we need verbs for predication "A is B" analyzed the same on both levels).

[nschneid]

I understand, but the tag should be AUX regardless of the dependency structure, right?

[amir-zeldes]

I don't know how to answer that exactly, since I don't agree with the exceptional dependency structure... I suppose if we were to say it's root then it would be right for it to be VERB, since and AUX has to be a kind of aux/cop/etc. to something else (i.e. AUX is a relationally defined category). But essentially, I don't accept the premise here, so I can't give an unbiased answer regarding the POS...

[nschneid]

Sentences like "X is that Y" now have multiple subjects with the first one attaching as nsubj:outer or csubj:outer (https://universaldependencies.org/changes.html#multiple-subjects & #310).

There are still >100 instances of "be" as VERB rather than AUX without existential "there". I think most of these are copulas (in various constructions: ellipsis etc.) and should be revised. http://universal.grew.fr/?custom=638e0f72dd8f8