(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD lost) (NP (PRP$ my) (NN sight)) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (NP (CD four) (NNS years)) (JJ old)) (PP (IN by) (S (VP (VP (VBG falling) (PP (IN off) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN box) (NN car)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN freight) (NN yard)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNP Atlantic) (NNP City)))))))) (CC and) (VP (VBG landing) (PP (IN on) (NP (PRP$ my) (NN head))))))))))) (. .)))
I lost my sight when I was four years old by falling off a box car in a freight yard in Atlantic City and landing on my head.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
lose
lost
VERB
VBD
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Sing
sight
sight
NOUN
NN
advmod
PronType=Int
when
when
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
four
four
NUM
CD
obl:npmod
Number=Plur
year
years
NOUN
NNS
advcl
Degree=Pos
old
old
ADJ
JJ
mark
by
by
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
fall
falling
VERB
VBG
case
off
off
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
box
box
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Sing
car
car
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
freight
freight
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Sing
yard
yard
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
Atlantic
Atlantic
ADJ
NNP
nmod
Number=Sing
City
City
PROPN
NNP
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Ger
land
landing
VERB
VBG
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Sing
head
head
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Now)) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP am) (NP (QP (CD thirty) (CD two)))) (. .)))
Now I am thirty two.
advmod
now
Now
ADV
RB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
am
AUX
VBP
root
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
thirty
thirty
NUM
CD
compound
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
two
two
NUM
CD
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD can) (ADVP (RB slightly)) (VP (VB remember) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (NN brightness)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN sunshine)))) (CC and) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT what) (NN color) (NN red)) (S (VP (VBZ is))))))) (. .)))
I can slightly remember the brightness of sunshine and what color red is.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
advmod
slightly
slightly
ADV
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
remember
remember
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
brightness
brightness
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
sunshine
sunshine
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
PronType=Int
what
what
DET
WDT
compound
Number=Sing
color
color
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Number=Sing
red
red
NOUN
NN
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (NP (PRP It))) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ wonderful)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB see) (ADVP (RB again)))))))) (, ,) (CC but) (S (NP (DT a) (NN calamity)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB do) (NP (JJ strange) (NNS things)) (PP (IN to) (NP (NNS people)))))) (. .)))
It would be wonderful to see again, but a calamity can do strange things to people.
expl
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
would
would
AUX
MD
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
root
Degree=Pos
wonderful
wonderful
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
csubj
VerbForm=Inf
see
see
VERB
VB
advmod
again
again
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
calamity
calamity
NOUN
NN
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
conj
VerbForm=Inf
do
do
VERB
VB
amod
Degree=Pos
strange
strange
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
thing
things
NOUN
NNS
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBD occurred) (PP (IN to) (NP (PRP me))) (NP (DT the) (JJ other) (NN day)) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD might) (RB not) (VP (VB have) (VP (VBN come) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB love) (NP (NP (NN life)) (SBAR (IN as) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP do))))) (SBAR (IN if) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD had) (RB n't) (VP (VBN been) (ADJP (JJ blind))))))))))))))) (. .)))
It occurred to me the other day that I might not have come to love life as I do if I hadn't been blind.
expl
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
occur
occurred
VERB
VBD
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
other
other
ADJ
JJ
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
day
day
NOUN
NN
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
might
might
AUX
MD
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
aux
VerbForm=Inf
have
have
AUX
VB
csubj
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
come
come
VERB
VBN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
love
love
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
life
life
NOUN
NN
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
do
do
VERB
VBP
mark
if
if
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
AUX
VBD
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
cop
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
be
been
AUX
VBN
advcl
Degree=Pos
blind
blind
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP believe) (PP (IN in) (NP (NN life))) (ADVP (RB now))) (. .)))
I believe in life now.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
believe
believe
VERB
VBP
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
life
life
NOUN
NN
advmod
now
now
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP am) (RB not) (ADJP (RB so) (JJ sure) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB have) (VP (VBN believed) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP it))) (ADVP (RB so) (RB deeply)) (, ,) (ADVP (RB otherwise))))))))) (. .)))
I am not so sure that I would have believed in it so deeply, otherwise.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
am
AUX
VBP
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
advmod
so
so
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
sure
sure
ADJ
JJ
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
would
would
AUX
MD
aux
VerbForm=Inf
have
have
AUX
VB
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
believe
believed
VERB
VBN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
advmod
so
so
ADV
RB
advmod
deeply
deeply
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
otherwise
otherwise
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP do) (RB n't) (VP (VB mean) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB prefer) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB go) (PP (IN without) (NP (PRP$ my) (NNS eyes)))))))))))) (. .)))
I don't mean that I would prefer to go without my eyes.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
do
do
AUX
VBP
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
mean
mean
VERB
VB
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
would
would
AUX
MD
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
prefer
prefer
VERB
VB
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
go
go
VERB
VB
case
without
without
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Plur
eye
eyes
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (ADVP (RB simply)) (VP (VBP mean) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (DT the) (NN loss)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP them)))) (VP (VBD made) (S (NP (PRP me)) (VP (VB appreciate) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJR more)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD had) (VP (VBN left)))))))))))) (. .)))
I simply mean that the loss of them made me appreciate the more what I had left.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
advmod
simply
simply
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
mean
mean
VERB
VBP
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
loss
loss
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
make
made
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
appreciate
appreciate
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADJ
JJR
obj
PronType=Rel
what
what
PRON
WP
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
AUX
VBD
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
leave
left
VERB
VBN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NN Life)) (PRN (, ,) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP believe))) (, ,)) (VP (VBZ asks) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ continuous) (NN series)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNS adjustments)) (PP (IN to) (NP (NN reality))))))) (. .)))
Life, I believe, asks a continuous series of adjustments to reality.
nsubj
Number=Sing
life
Life
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
believe
believe
VERB
VBP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
ask
asks
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
continuous
continuous
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
series
series
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
adjustment
adjustments
NOUN
NNS
case
to
to
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
reality
reality
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (ADVP (DT The) (RBR more) (RB readily)) (SBAR (S (NP (DT a) (NN person)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (JJ able) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB make) (NP (DT these) (NNS adjustments)))))))))) (, ,) (NP (ADVP (DT the) (RBR more) (JJ meaningful)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP$ his) (JJ own) (JJ private) (NN world)) (VP (VBZ becomes))))) (. .)))
The more readily a person is able to make these adjustments, the more meaningful his own private world becomes.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
advmod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADV
RBR
advmod
readily
readily
ADV
RB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
person
person
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advcl:relcl
Degree=Pos
able
able
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
make
make
VERB
VB
det
Number=Plur|PronType=Dem
this
these
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
adjustment
adjustments
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
advmod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADV
RBR
xcomp
Degree=Pos
meaningful
meaningful
ADJ
JJ
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
his
his
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
own
own
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
private
private
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
world
world
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
become
becomes
VERB
VBZ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN adjustment)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADVP (RB never)) (ADJP (JJ easy))) (. .)))
The adjustment is never easy.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
adjustment
adjustment
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
never
never
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
easy
easy
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (RB totally) (JJ confused) (CC and) (JJ afraid))) (. .)))
I was totally confused and afraid.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
advmod
totally
totally
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
confused
confused
ADJ
JJ
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Pos
afraid
afraid
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (CC But) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (JJ lucky))) (. .)))
But I was lucky.
cc
but
But
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
root
Degree=Pos
lucky
lucky
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP$ My) (NNS parents)) (CC and) (NP (PRP$ my) (NNS teachers))) (VP (VBD saw) (NP (NP (NP (NN something)) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP me)))) (: --) (S (NP (NP (DT a) (NN potential)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB live)))))) (, ,) (S (NP (PRP you)) (VP (MD might) (VP (VB call) (S (NP (PRP it)))))) (, --) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT which)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD did) (RB n't) (VP (VB see)))))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBD made) (S (NP (PRP me)) (VP (VB want) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB fight) (NP (PRP it)) (PRT (RP out)) (PP (IN with) (NP (NN blindness)))))))))))) (. .)))
My parents and my teachers saw something in me--a potential to live, you might call it--which I didn't see, and they made me want to fight it out with blindness.
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
My
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Plur
parent
parents
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
conj
Number=Plur
teacher
teachers
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
see
saw
VERB
VBD
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Ind
something
something
PRON
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
punct
--
--
PUNCT
:
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
appos
Number=Sing
potential
potential
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
live
live
VERB
VB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
might
might
AUX
MD
parataxis
VerbForm=Inf
call
call
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
punct
--
--
PUNCT
,
obj
PronType=Rel
which
which
PRON
WDT
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
do
did
AUX
VBD
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
acl:relcl
VerbForm=Inf
see
see
VERB
VB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
make
made
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
want
want
VERB
VB
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
fight
fight
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
compound:prt
out
out
ADP
RP
case
with
with
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
blindness
blindness
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (JJS hardest) (NN lesson)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD had) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB learn)))))))) (VP (VBD was) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB believe) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP myself))))))) (. .)))
The hardest lesson I had to learn was to believe in myself.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Sup
hard
hardest
ADJ
JJS
nsubj:outer
Number=Sing
lesson
lesson
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
VERB
VBD
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
learn
learn
VERB
VB
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
mark
to
to
PART
TO
root
VerbForm=Inf
believe
believe
VERB
VB
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes
myself
myself
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT That)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (JJ basic))) (. .)))
That was basic.
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
That
PRON
DT
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
root
Degree=Pos
basic
basic
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN If) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD had) (RB n't) (VP (VBN been) (ADJP (JJ able) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB do) (NP (DT that)))))))))) (, ,) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB have) (VP (VP (VBN collapsed)) (CC and) (VP (VB become) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN chair) (NN rocker)) (PP (IN on) (NP (DT the) (JJ front) (NN porch)))) (PP (IN for) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN rest)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP$ my) (NN life))))))))) (. .)))
If I hadn't been able to do that, I would have collapsed and become a chair rocker on the front porch for the rest of my life.
mark
if
If
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
AUX
VBD
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
cop
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
be
been
AUX
VBN
advcl
Degree=Pos
able
able
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
do
do
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
that
PRON
DT
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
would
would
AUX
MD
aux
VerbForm=Inf
have
have
AUX
VB
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
collapse
collapsed
VERB
VBN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
become
become
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
chair
chair
NOUN
NN
xcomp
Number=Sing
rocker
rocker
NOUN
NN
case
on
on
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
front
front
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
porch
porch
NOUN
NN
case
for
for
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
rest
rest
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nmod
Number=Sing
life
life
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB When)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP say) (NP (NP (NN belief)) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP myself))))))) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP am) (RB not) (VP (VBG talking) (PP (IN about) (NP (NP (NP (ADVP (RB simply)) (DT the) (NN kind)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN self) (NN confidence)))) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBZ helps) (NP (PRP me)) (PP (IN down) (NP (NP (DT an) (JJ unfamiliar) (NN staircase)) (ADVP (RB alone))))))))))) (. .)))
When I say belief in myself I am not talking about simply the kind of self confidence that helps me down an unfamiliar staircase alone.
advmod
PronType=Int
when
When
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
say
say
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Sing
belief
belief
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes
myself
myself
PRON
PRP
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
am
AUX
VBP
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
root
Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part
talk
talking
VERB
VBG
case
about
about
ADP
IN
advmod
simply
simply
ADV
RB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
kind
kind
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
self
self
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Sing
confidence
confidence
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
help
helps
VERB
VBZ
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
case
down
down
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
unfamiliar
unfamiliar
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
staircase
staircase
NOUN
NN
advmod
alone
alone
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT That)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (NN part)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP it))))) (. .)))
That is part of it.
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
That
PRON
DT
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Number=Sing
part
part
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (CC But) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP mean) (NP (NP (NP (NN something)) (ADJP (ADJP (JJR bigger)) (PP (IN than) (NP (DT that))))) (: :) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN assurance) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP am) (, ,) (PP (IN despite) (NP (NNS imperfections))) (, ,) (NP (DT a) (JJ real) (, ,) (JJ positive) (NN person)))))) (: ;) (SBAR (IN that) (S (ADVP (RB somewhere) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ sweeping) (, ,) (JJ intricate) (NN pattern)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS people)))))) (ADVP (RB there)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ special) (NN place)) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB where)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB make) (S (NP (PRP myself)) (ADJP (NN fit)))))))))))))) (. .)))
But I mean something bigger than that: an assurance that I am, despite imperfections, a real, positive person; that somewhere in the sweeping, intricate pattern of people there is a special place where I can make myself fit.
cc
but
But
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
mean
mean
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Ind
something
something
PRON
NN
amod
Degree=Cmp
big
bigger
ADJ
JJR
case
than
than
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
that
PRON
DT
punct
:
:
PUNCT
:
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
appos
Number=Sing
assurance
assurance
NOUN
NN
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
am
AUX
VBP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
despite
despite
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
imperfection
imperfections
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
real
real
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
positive
positive
ADJ
JJ
acl
Number=Sing
person
person
NOUN
NN
punct
;
;
PUNCT
:
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
somewhere
somewhere
ADV
RB
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
sweeping
sweeping
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
intricate
intricate
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
pattern
pattern
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
advmod
PronType=Dem
there
there
ADV
RB
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
special
special
ADJ
JJ
acl
Number=Sing
place
place
NOUN
NN
advmod
PronType=Rel
where
where
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
acl:relcl
VerbForm=Inf
make
make
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes
myself
myself
PRON
PRP
xcomp
Number=Sing
fit
fit
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP It))) (VP (VBD took) (NP (PRP me) (NNS years)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB discover) (CC and) (VB strengthen) (NP (DT this) (NN assurance)))))) (. .)))
It took me years to discover and strengthen this assurance.
expl
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
take
took
VERB
VBD
iobj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
obj
Number=Plur
year
years
NOUN
NNS
mark
to
to
PART
TO
csubj
VerbForm=Inf
discover
discover
VERB
VB
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
strengthen
strengthen
VERB
VB
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
assurance
assurance
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBD had) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB start) (PP (IN with) (NP (DT the) (JJS simplest) (NNS things))))))) (. .)))
It had to start with the simplest things.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
VERB
VBD
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
start
start
VERB
VB
case
with
with
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Sup
simple
simplest
ADJ
JJS
obl
Number=Plur
thing
things
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (SBAR (IN Once) (S (NP (DT a) (NN man)) (VP (VBD gave) (NP (PRP me)) (NP (DT an) (JJ indoor) (NN baseball)))) (. .)))
Once a man gave me an indoor baseball.
mark
once
Once
SCONJ
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
man
man
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
give
gave
VERB
VBD
iobj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
indoor
indoor
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
baseball
baseball
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD thought) (SBAR (S (S (NP (PRP he)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBG making) (NP (NP (NN fun)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP me))))))) (CC and) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBN hurt))))))) (. .)))
I thought he was making fun of me and I was hurt.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
think
thought
VERB
VBD
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
he
he
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
ccomp
Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part
make
making
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Sing
fun
fun
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nsubj:pass
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
conj
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
hurt
hurt
VERB
VBN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (`` ``) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD ca) (RB n't) (VP (VB use) (NP (DT this)))) (. .) ('' '')))
"I can't use this."
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
ca
AUX
MD
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
use
use
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
PRON
DT
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD said)) (. .)))
I said.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
say
said
VERB
VBD
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (`` ``) (S (VP (VB Take) (NP (PRP it)) (PP (IN with) (NP (PRP you))))) (PRN (, ,) ('' '') (S (NP (PRP he)) (VP (VBD urged) (NP (PRP me)))) (, ,)) (`` ``) (CC and) (VP (VB roll) (NP (PRP it)) (PRT (RB around))) (. .) ('' '')))
"Take it with you," he urged me, "and roll it around."
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
ccomp
Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin
take
Take
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
case
with
with
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
he
he
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
urge
urged
VERB
VBD
iobj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin
roll
roll
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
compound:prt
around
around
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (NP (NP (DT The) (NNS words)) (VP (VBN stuck) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP$ my) (NN head)))) (. .)))
The words stuck in my head.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
root
Number=Plur
word
words
NOUN
NNS
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
stick
stuck
VERB
VBN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Sing
head
head
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (`` ``) (VP (VB Roll) (NP (PRP it)) (ADVP (RB around))) (. !) ('' '')))
"Roll it around!"
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
root
Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin
Roll
Roll
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
advmod
around
around
ADV
RB
punct
!
!
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (S (PP (IN By) (S (VP (VBG rolling) (NP (DT the) (NN ball))))) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD could) (VP (VB hear) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB where)) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBD went)))))) (. .)))
By rolling the ball I could hear where it went.
mark
by
By
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
roll
rolling
VERB
VBG
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
ball
ball
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
could
could
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
hear
hear
VERB
VB
obj
PronType=Int
where
where
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
advcl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
go
went
VERB
VBD
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT This)) (VP (VBD gave) (NP (PRP me)) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN idea)) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB how)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB achieve) (NP (NP (NP (DT a) (NN goal)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD had) (VP (VBN thought) (S (ADJP (JJ impossible)))))))) (: :) (S (VP (VBG playing) (NP (NN baseball))))))))))) (. .)))
This gave me an idea how to achieve a goal I had thought impossible: playing baseball.
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
This
PRON
DT
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
give
gave
VERB
VBD
iobj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
idea
idea
NOUN
NN
advmod
PronType=Int
how
how
ADV
WRB
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
achieve
achieve
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
goal
goal
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
AUX
VBD
acl:relcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
think
thought
VERB
VBN
xcomp
Degree=Pos
impossible
impossible
ADJ
JJ
punct
:
:
PUNCT
:
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
play
playing
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Sing
baseball
baseball
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN At) (NP (NP (NP (NNP Philadelphia) (POS 's)) (NNP Overbrook) (NNP School)) (PP (IN for) (NP (DT the) (NNP Blind))))) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD invented) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ successful) (NN variation)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN baseball))))) (. .)))
At Philadelphia's Overbrook School for the Blind I invented a successful variation of baseball.
case
at
At
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
compound
Number=Sing
Overbrook
Overbrook
PROPN
NNP
obl
Number=Sing
School
School
PROPN
NNP
case
for
for
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
Blind
Blind
PROPN
NNP
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
invent
invented
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
successful
successful
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
variation
variation
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
baseball
baseball
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP We)) (VP (VBD called) (NP (PRP it)) (S (NP (NN ground) (NN ball)))) (. .)))
We called it ground ball.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
We
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
call
called
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
compound
Number=Sing
ground
ground
NOUN
NN
xcomp
Number=Sing
ball
ball
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (NP (NP (NP (PDT All) (PRP$ my) (NN life)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VP (VBN set) (ADVP (RB ahead) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP me)))) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN series)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS goals))))) (CC and) (ADVP (RB then)) (VP (VBD tried) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB reach) (NP (PRP them))))))))))) (, ,) (NP (NP (CD one)) (PP (IN at) (NP (DT a) (NN time)))) (. .)))
All my life I have set ahead of me a series of goals and then tried to reach them, one at a time.
det:predet
all
All
DET
PDT
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
life
life
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
AUX
VBP
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
set
set
VERB
VBN
advmod
ahead
ahead
ADV
RB
case
of
of
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
series
series
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
goal
goals
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
advmod
PronType=Dem
then
then
ADV
RB
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
try
tried
VERB
VBD
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
reach
reach
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
parataxis
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
case
at
at
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
time
time
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD had) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB learn) (NP (PRP$ my) (NNS limitations)))))) (. .)))
I had to learn my limitations.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
VERB
VBD
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
learn
learn
VERB
VB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Plur
limitation
limitations
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP It))) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (RB no) (JJ good)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB try) (PP (IN for) (S (NP (NP (NN something)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD knew) (PP (IN at) (NP (DT the) (NN start))))))) (VP (VBD was) (PP (ADVP (RB wildly)) (IN out) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN reach)))))))))) (SBAR (IN because) (S (NP (DT that)) (ADVP (RB only)) (VP (VBD invited) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN bitterness)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN failure)))))))) (. .)))
It was no good to try for something I knew at the start was wildly out of reach because that only invited the bitterness of failure.
expl
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
advmod
no
no
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
good
good
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
csubj
VerbForm=Inf
try
try
VERB
VB
case
for
for
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing|PronType=Ind
something
something
PRON
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
know
knew
VERB
VBD
case
at
at
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
start
start
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
advmod
wildly
wildly
ADV
RB
case
out
out
ADP
IN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
ccomp
Number=Sing
reach
reach
NOUN
NN
mark
because
because
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
that
PRON
DT
advmod
only
only
ADV
RB
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
invite
invited
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
bitterness
bitterness
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
failure
failure
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB fail) (ADVP (RB sometimes)) (ADVP (RB anyway))))) (CC but) (S (PP (IN on) (NP (DT the) (NN average))) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD made) (NP (NN progress)))) (. .)))
I would fail sometimes anyway but on the average I made progress.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
would
would
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
fail
fail
VERB
VB
advmod
sometimes
sometimes
ADV
RB
advmod
anyway
anyway
ADV
RB
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
case
on
on
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
average
average
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
make
made
VERB
VBD
obj
Number=Sing
progress
progress
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
I lost my sight when I was four years old by falling off a box car in a freight yard in Atlantic City and landing on my head. Now I am thirty two. I can slightly remember the brightness of sunshine and what color red is. It would be wonderful to see again, but a calamity can do strange things to people. It occurred to me the other day that I might not have come to love life as I do if I hadn't been blind. I believe in life now. I am not so sure that I would have believed in it so deeply, otherwise. I don't mean that I would prefer to go without my eyes. I simply mean that the loss of them made me appreciate the more what I had left.  Life, I believe, asks a continuous series of adjustments to reality. The more readily a person is able to make these adjustments, the more meaningful his own private world becomes. The adjustment is never easy. I was totally confused and afraid. But I was lucky. My parents and my teachers saw something in me--a potential to live, you might call it--which I didn't see, and they made me want to fight it out with blindness.  The hardest lesson I had to learn was to believe in myself. That was basic. If I hadn't been able to do that, I would have collapsed and become a chair rocker on the front porch for the rest of my life. When I say belief in myself I am not talking about simply the kind of self confidence that helps me down an unfamiliar staircase alone. That is part of it. But I mean something bigger than that: an assurance that I am, despite imperfections, a real, positive person; that somewhere in the sweeping, intricate pattern of people there is a special place where I can make myself fit.  It took me years to discover and strengthen this assurance. It had to start with the simplest things. Once a man gave me an indoor baseball. I thought he was making fun of me and I was hurt. "I can't use this." I said. "Take it with you," he urged me, "and roll it around." The words stuck in my head. "Roll it around!" By rolling the ball I could hear where it went. This gave me an idea how to achieve a goal I had thought impossible: playing baseball. At Philadelphia's Overbrook School for the Blind I invented a successful variation of baseball. We called it ground ball.  All my life I have set ahead of me a series of goals and then tried to reach them, one at a time. I had to learn my limitations. It was no good to try for something I knew at the start was wildly out of reach because that only invited the bitterness of failure. I would fail sometimes anyway but on the average I made progress.