(ROOT (S (NP (NN Memory)) (PRN (, ,) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP say))) (, ,)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN matter)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN practice) (CC and) (NN exercise))))) (. .)))
Memory, they say, is a matter of practice and exercise.
nsubj
Number=Sing
memory
Memory
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
say
say
VERB
VBP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
root
Number=Sing
matter
matter
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
practice
practice
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
exercise
exercise
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN If) (S (NP (PRP you)) (VP (VP (VBP have) (NP (DT the) (NN wish))) (CC and) (ADVP (RB really)) (VP (VBP make) (NP (DT a) (JJ conscious) (NN effort)))))) (, ,) (ADVP (RB then)) (NP (PRP you)) (VP (MD can) (ADVP (RB quite) (RB easily)) (VP (VB improve) (NP (PRP$ your) (NN ability) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB remember) (NP (NNS things)))))))) (. .)))
If you have the wish and really make a conscious effort, then you can quite easily improve your ability to remember things.
mark
if
If
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
VERB
VBP
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
wish
wish
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
advmod
really
really
ADV
RB
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
make
make
VERB
VBP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
conscious
conscious
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
effort
effort
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
PronType=Dem
then
then
ADV
RB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
advmod
quite
quite
ADV
RB
advmod
easily
easily
ADV
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
improve
improve
VERB
VB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
your
your
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Sing
ability
ability
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
remember
remember
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Plur
thing
things
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (CC But) (SBAR (ADVP (RB even)) (IN if) (S (NP (PRP you)) (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (JJ successful))))) (, ,) (NP (EX there)) (VP (VBP are) (NP (NP (NNS times)) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (NP (PRP$ your) (NN memory)) (VP (VBZ seems) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB play) (NP (NNS tricks)) (PP (IN on) (NP (PRP you))))))))))) (. .)))
But even if you are successful, there are times when your memory seems to play tricks on you.
cc
but
But
CCONJ
CC
advmod
even
even
ADV
RB
mark
if
if
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advcl
Degree=Pos
successful
successful
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
expl
there
there
PRON
EX
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
VERB
VBP
nsubj
Number=Plur
time
times
NOUN
NNS
advmod
PronType=Int
when
when
ADV
WRB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
your
your
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
memory
memory
NOUN
NN
acl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
seem
seems
VERB
VBZ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
play
play
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Plur
trick
tricks
NOUN
NNS
case
on
on
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Sometimes)) (NP (PRP you)) (VP (VBP remember) (NP (NP (NNS things)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (ADVP (RB really)) (VP (VBD did) (RB not) (VP (VB happen))))))) (. .)))
Sometimes you remember things that really did not happen.
advmod
sometimes
Sometimes
ADV
RB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
remember
remember
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Plur
thing
things
NOUN
NNS
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
advmod
really
really
ADV
RB
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
do
did
AUX
VBD
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
acl:relcl
VerbForm=Inf
happen
happen
VERB
VB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (CD One) (NN morning)) (NP (JJ last) (NN week)) (, ,) (PP (IN for) (NP (NN example))) (, ,) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VP (VBD got) (PRT (RP up))) (CC and) (VP (VBD found) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD had) (VP (VBN left) (NP (DT the) (JJ front) (NN door)) (S (VP (VBN unlocked))) (NP (DT all) (NN night))))))))) (, ,) (RB yet) (S (NP (PRP I)) (ADVP (RB clearly)) (VP (VBD remembered) (S (VP (VBG locking) (NP (PRP it)) (ADVP (RB carefully)) (ADVP (NP (DT the) (NN night)) (RB before)))))) (. .)))
One morning last week, for example, I got up and found that I had left the front door unlocked all night, yet I clearly remembered locking it carefully the night before.
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
One
NUM
CD
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
morning
morning
NOUN
NN
amod
Degree=Pos
last
last
ADJ
JJ
nmod:tmod
Number=Sing
week
week
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
for
for
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
example
example
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
get
got
VERB
VBD
compound:prt
up
up
ADP
RP
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
find
found
VERB
VBD
mark
that
that
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
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
leave
left
VERB
VBN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
front
front
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
door
door
NOUN
NN
xcomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
unlock
unlocked
VERB
VBN
det
all
all
DET
DT
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
night
night
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
yet
yet
ADV
RB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
advmod
clearly
clearly
ADV
RB
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
remember
remembered
VERB
VBD
xcomp
VerbForm=Ger
lock
locking
VERB
VBG
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
advmod
carefully
carefully
ADV
RB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
night
night
NOUN
NN
advmod
before
before
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NN Memory) (`` ``) (NNS tricks) ('' '')) (VP (VB work) (NP (DT the) (JJ other) (NN way)) (ADVP (RB as) (RB well))) (. .)))
Memory "tricks" work the other way as well.
compound
Number=Sing
memory
Memory
NOUN
NN
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Number=Plur
trick
tricks
NOUN
NNS
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
root
Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin
work
work
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
other
other
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
way
way
NOUN
NN
advmod
as
as
ADV
RB
fixed
Degree=Pos
well
well
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Once) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT a) (NN while)))) (NP (PRP you)) (VP (VBP remember) (S (RB not) (VP (VP (VBG doing) (NP (NN something))) (CC and) (ADVP (RB then)) (VP (VB find) (PRT (RP out)) (SBAR (WHNP (IN that)) (S (NP (PRP you)) (VP (VBD did)))))))) (. .)))
Once in a while you remember not doing something and then find out that you did.
advmod
NumType=Mult
once
Once
ADV
RB
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
while
while
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
remember
remember
VERB
VBP
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
ccomp
VerbForm=Ger
do
doing
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Ind
something
something
PRON
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
advmod
PronType=Dem
then
then
ADV
RB
conj
Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin
find
find
VERB
VB
compound:prt
out
out
ADP
RP
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
do
did
AUX
VBD
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (CD One) (NN day)) (NP (JJ last) (NN month)) (, ,) (PP (IN for) (NP (NN example))) (, ,) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBG sitting) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN barbershop)) (VP (VBG waiting) (PP (IN for) (NP (PRP$ my) (NN turn))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB get) (NP (DT a) (NN haircut))))))))))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (ADVP (RB suddenly)) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD realized) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD had) (VP (VBN got) (NP (DT a) (NN haircut)) (ADVP (NP (CD two) (NNS days)) (RB before) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN barbershop)) (PP (IN across) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN street)) (PP (IN from) (NP (PRP$ my) (NN office)))))))))))))) (. .)))
One day last month, for example, I was sitting in a barbershop waiting for my turn to get a haircut, and suddenly I realized that I had got a haircut two days before at the barbershop across the street from my office.
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
One
NUM
CD
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
day
day
NOUN
NN
amod
Degree=Pos
last
last
ADJ
JJ
nmod:tmod
Number=Sing
month
month
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
for
for
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
example
example
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
root
Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part
sit
sitting
VERB
VBG
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
barbershop
barbershop
NOUN
NN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
wait
waiting
VERB
VBG
case
for
for
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Sing
turn
turn
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
get
get
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
haircut
haircut
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
advmod
Degree=Pos
suddenly
suddenly
ADV
RB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
realize
realized
VERB
VBD
mark
that
that
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
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
get
got
VERB
VBN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
haircut
haircut
NOUN
NN
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
two
two
NUM
CD
obl:npmod
Number=Plur
day
days
NOUN
NNS
advmod
before
before
ADV
RB
case
at
at
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
barbershop
barbershop
NOUN
NN
case
across
across
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
street
street
NOUN
NN
case
from
from
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nmod
Number=Sing
office
office
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP We)) (ADVP (RB always)) (VP (VBP seem) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB find) (NP (NP (NN something)) (ADJP (JJ funny) (CC and) (JJ interesting))) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (NNS incidents)) (VP (VBN caused) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (NNS people) (POS 's)) (NN forgetfulness) (CC or) (NN absent-mindedness)))))))))) (. .)))
We always seem to find something funny and interesting in incidents caused by people's forgetfulness or absent-mindedness.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
We
PRON
PRP
advmod
always
always
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
seem
seem
VERB
VBP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
find
find
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Ind
something
something
PRON
NN
amod
Degree=Pos
funny
funny
ADJ
JJ
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Pos
interesting
interesting
ADJ
JJ
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
incident
incidents
NOUN
NNS
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
cause
caused
VERB
VBN
case
by
by
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
case
's
's
PART
POS
obl:agent
Number=Sing
forgetfulness
forgetfulness
NOUN
NN
cc
or
or
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
absent-mindedness
absent-mindedness
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNS Stories)) (PP (IN about) (NP (JJ absent-minded) (NNS professors)))) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN been) (VP (VBN told) (PP (IN for) (NP (NNS years)))))) (. .)))
Stories about absent-minded professors have been told for years.
nsubj:pass
Number=Plur
story
Stories
NOUN
NNS
case
about
about
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
absent-minded
absent-minded
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
professor
professors
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
AUX
VBP
aux:pass
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
be
been
AUX
VBN
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
tell
told
VERB
VBN
case
for
for
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
year
years
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Unfortunately)) (, ,) (ADVP (RB however)) (, ,) (NP (NN absent-mindedness)) (VP (VBZ is) (RB not) (ADVP (RB always)) (JJ funny)) (. .)))
Unfortunately, however, absent-mindedness is not always funny.
advmod
unfortunately
Unfortunately
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
however
however
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Sing
absent-mindedness
absent-mindedness
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
advmod
always
always
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
funny
funny
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (EX There)) (VP (VBP are) (NP (NP (NNS times)) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (VP (`` ``) (NNS tricks) ('' '') (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP$ our) (NN memory)))) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB cause) (NP (PRP us)) (NP (JJ great) (NN trouble)))))))) (. .)))
There are times when "tricks" of our memory can cause us great trouble.
expl
there
There
PRON
EX
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
VERB
VBP
nsubj
Number=Plur
time
times
NOUN
NNS
advmod
PronType=Int
when
when
ADV
WRB
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Number=Plur
trick
tricks
NOUN
NNS
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
nmod
Number=Sing
memory
memory
NOUN
NN
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
cause
cause
VERB
VB
iobj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
amod
Degree=Pos
great
great
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
trouble
trouble
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
Memory, they say, is a matter of practice and exercise. If you have the wish and really make a conscious effort, then you can quite easily improve your ability to remember things. But even if you are successful, there are times when your memory seems to play tricks on you.  Sometimes you remember things that really did not happen. One morning last week, for example, I got up and found that I had left the front door unlocked all night, yet I clearly remembered locking it carefully the night before.  Memory "tricks" work the other way as well. Once in a while you remember not doing something and then find out that you did. One day last month, for example, I was sitting in a barbershop waiting for my turn to get a haircut, and suddenly I realized that I had got a haircut two days before at the barbershop across the street from my office.  We always seem to find something funny and interesting in incidents caused by people's forgetfulness or absent-mindedness. Stories about absent-minded professors have been told for years. Unfortunately, however, absent-mindedness is not always funny. There are times when "tricks" of our memory can cause us great trouble.