(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NN skin)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT which)) (S (VP (VBZ covers) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS tips)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NNS fingers) (CC and) (NNS thumbs)))))))) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN crossed) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (JJ numerous) (NNS ridges)) (VP (VBN arranged) (PP (IN in) (NP (JJ different) (NNS patterns)))))))) (. .)))
The skin which covers the tips of the fingers and thumbs is crossed by numerous ridges arranged in different patterns.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
skin
skin
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
which
which
PRON
WDT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
cover
covers
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
tip
tips
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Plur
finger
fingers
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Plur
thumb
thumbs
NOUN
NNS
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
cross
crossed
VERB
VBN
case
by
by
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
numerous
numerous
ADJ
JJ
obl:agent
Number=Plur
ridge
ridges
NOUN
NNS
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
arrange
arranged
VERB
VBN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
different
different
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
pattern
patterns
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT These) (NNS patterns)) (VP (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (JJ permanent)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NN birth)))) (CC and) (VP (VBP remain) (NP (ADVP (RB exactly)) (DT the) (JJ same)) (PP (IN throughout) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN person) (POS 's)) (NN life))) (, ,) (SBAR (WHADVP (RB even) (WRB when)) (S (NP (DT the) (NN skin)) (VP (VBZ becomes) (ADJP (JJ wrinkled) (CC and) (VBN cracked) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN result)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ old) (NN age))))))))))) (. .)))
These patterns are permanent from birth and remain exactly the same throughout a person's life, even when the skin becomes wrinkled and cracked as a result of old age.
det
Number=Plur|PronType=Dem
this
These
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
pattern
patterns
NOUN
NNS
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
root
Degree=Pos
permanent
permanent
ADJ
JJ
case
from
from
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
birth
birth
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
remain
remain
VERB
VBP
advmod
exactly
exactly
ADV
RB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
xcomp
Degree=Pos
same
same
ADJ
JJ
case
throughout
throughout
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
person
person
NOUN
NN
case
's
's
PART
POS
obl
Number=Sing
life
life
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
even
even
ADV
RB
advmod
PronType=Int
when
when
ADV
WRB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
skin
skin
NOUN
NN
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
become
becomes
VERB
VBZ
xcomp
Degree=Pos
wrinkled
wrinkled
ADJ
JJ
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
crack
cracked
VERB
VBN
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
result
result
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
old
old
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
age
age
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (JJ Such) (NNS patterns)) (VP (VBP are) (ADVP (RB never)) (VP (VBN passed) (PRT (RP on)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NNS parents))) (PP (IN to) (NP (NNS children)))))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (NP (NP (DT no) (NN one)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN world)))) (VP (VBZ has) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ same) (NNS patterns)) (PP (IN as) (NP (NN anyone) (JJ else)))))) (. .)))
Such patterns are never passed on from parents to children, and no one in the world has the same patterns as anyone else.
amod
Degree=Pos
such
Such
ADJ
JJ
nsubj:pass
Number=Plur
pattern
patterns
NOUN
NNS
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advmod
never
never
ADV
RB
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
pass
passed
VERB
VBN
compound:prt
on
on
ADP
RP
case
from
from
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
parent
parents
NOUN
NNS
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
no
no
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Neg
one
one
PRON
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
world
world
NOUN
NN
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
same
same
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
pattern
patterns
NOUN
NNS
case
as
as
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing|PronType=Ind
anyone
anyone
PRON
NN
amod
Degree=Pos
else
else
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (RB Even) (JJ identical) (NNS twins)) (VP (VBP have) (NP (NP (JJ different) (NNS sets)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS fingerprints))))) (. .)))
Even identical twins have different sets of fingerprints.
advmod
even
Even
ADV
RB
amod
Degree=Pos
identical
identical
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
twin
twins
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
VERB
VBP
amod
Degree=Pos
different
different
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
set
sets
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
fingerprint
fingerprints
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN As) (NP (DT a) (NN result))) (, ,) (NP (NNS fingerprints)) (VP (VBP offer) (NP (NP (DT a) (ADJP (RBS most) (JJ useful) (CC and) (JJ foolproof)) (NN way)) (PP (IN of) (S (VP (VBG identifying) (NP (NNS people))))))) (. .)))
As a result, fingerprints offer a most useful and foolproof way of identifying people.
case
as
As
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
result
result
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Plur
fingerprint
fingerprints
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
offer
offer
VERB
VBP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
advmod
Degree=Sup
most
most
ADV
RBS
amod
Degree=Pos
useful
useful
ADJ
JJ
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Pos
foolproof
foolproof
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
way
way
NOUN
NN
mark
of
of
SCONJ
IN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
identify
identifying
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (NP (NP (DT Any) (JJ ridged) (NN part)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN hand)))) (CC and) (NP (DT the) (NN foot))) (VP (MD may) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN used) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN means)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN identification))))))))) (, ,) (CC but) (S (NP (NN finger) (NNS impressions)) (VP (VBP are) (ADVP (RB usually)) (VP (VBN preferred) (SBAR (IN since) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN taken) (ADVP (RB easily) (CC and) (RB quickly)))))))))) (. .)))
Any ridged part of the hand and the foot may be used as a means of identification, but finger impressions are usually preferred since they can be taken easily and quickly.
det
any
Any
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
ridged
ridged
ADJ
JJ
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
part
part
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
hand
hand
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
conj
Number=Sing
foot
foot
NOUN
NN
aux
VerbForm=Fin
may
may
AUX
MD
aux:pass
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
use
used
VERB
VBN
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
means
means
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
identification
identification
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
compound
Number=Sing
finger
finger
NOUN
NN
nsubj:pass
Number=Plur
impression
impressions
NOUN
NNS
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advmod
usually
usually
ADV
RB
conj
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
prefer
preferred
VERB
VBN
mark
since
since
SCONJ
IN
nsubj:pass
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
aux:pass
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
advcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
take
taken
VERB
VBN
advmod
easily
easily
ADV
RB
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
quickly
quickly
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Fingerprints)) (VP (VBP are) (VP (VBN classified) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NNS ways))) (: :) (PP (IN by) (NP (JJ general) (NNS shapes) (CC and) (NNS contours))) (, ,) (PP (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN finger) (NNS positions)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NNS pattern-types))))) (, ,) (CC and) (PP (IN by) (NP (NN size))) (-LRB- -LRB-) (S (ADVP (RB often)) (VP (VBN measured) (PP (IN by) (S (VP (VBG counting) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS ridges)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NNS loops))))))))) (-RRB- -RRB-)))) (. .)))
Fingerprints are classified in the ways: by general shapes and contours, by the finger positions of the pattern-types, and by size (often measured by counting the ridges in the loops).
nsubj:pass
Number=Plur
fingerprint
Fingerprints
NOUN
NNS
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
classify
classified
VERB
VBN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Plur
way
ways
NOUN
NNS
punct
:
:
PUNCT
:
case
by
by
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
general
general
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
shape
shapes
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Plur
contour
contours
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
by
by
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
finger
finger
NOUN
NN
conj
Number=Plur
position
positions
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Plur
pattern-type
pattern-types
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
case
by
by
ADP
IN
conj
Number=Sing
size
size
NOUN
NN
punct
(
(
PUNCT
-LRB-
advmod
often
often
ADV
RB
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
measure
measured
VERB
VBN
mark
by
by
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
count
counting
VERB
VBG
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
ridge
ridges
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Plur
loop
loops
NOUN
NNS
punct
)
)
PUNCT
-RRB-
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT Every) (NN set)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS fingerprints)))) (VP (VBZ has) (NP (NP (NP (JJ different) (`` ``) (NN ridge) (NNS characteristics) ('' '')) (-LRB- -LRB-) (LS i.) (RB e.) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN print)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT each) (JJ separate) (NN finger)))) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (JJ different) (PP (IN from) (NP (NP (DT that)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PDT all) (DT the) (JJ other) (NNS fingers))))))) (-RRB- -RRB-)) (, ,) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT which)) (S (VP (VBP belong) (PP (IN to) (NP (NP (NP (CD one)) (PP (IN of) (NP (CD four) (JJ basic) (NNS groups)))) (: :) (NP (NNS arches) (, ,) (NNS loops) (, ,) (NNS whorls) (CC and) (NNS composites))))))))) (. .)))
Every set of fingerprints has different "ridge characteristics" (i. e. the print of each separate finger is different from that of all the other fingers), which belong to one of four basic groups: arches, loops, whorls and composites.
det
every
Every
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
set
set
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
fingerprint
fingerprints
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
amod
Degree=Pos
different
different
ADJ
JJ
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
compound
Number=Sing
ridge
ridge
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Plur
characteristic
characteristics
NOUN
NNS
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
punct
(
(
PUNCT
-LRB-
dep
i.
i.
X
LS
discourse
e.
e.
ADV
RB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
print
print
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
each
each
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
separate
separate
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
finger
finger
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
parataxis
Degree=Pos
different
different
ADJ
JJ
case
from
from
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
that
PRON
DT
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det:predet
all
all
DET
PDT
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
other
other
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
finger
fingers
NOUN
NNS
punct
)
)
PUNCT
-RRB-
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
PronType=Rel
which
which
PRON
WDT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
belong
belong
VERB
VBP
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
four
four
NUM
CD
amod
Degree=Pos
basic
basic
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
group
groups
NOUN
NNS
punct
:
:
PUNCT
:
appos
Number=Plur
arch
arches
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Plur
loop
loops
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Plur
whorl
whorls
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Plur
composite
composites
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT All) (NNS fingerprints)) (VP (MD can) (ADVP (RB then)) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN divided) (PP (IN into) (NP (CD 1) (, ,) (CD 024) (NNS groups)))))) (. .)))
All fingerprints can then be divided into 1, 024 groups.
det
all
All
DET
DT
nsubj:pass
Number=Plur
fingerprint
fingerprints
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
advmod
PronType=Dem
then
then
ADV
RB
aux:pass
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
divide
divided
VERB
VBN
case
into
into
ADP
IN
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
1
1
NUM
CD
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nmod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
024
024
NUM
CD
obl
Number=Plur
group
groups
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN By) (S (VP (VBG using) (NP (NP (NNS details)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS patterns)) (ADVP (RB above)))))))) (, ,) (NP (DT these) (CD 1) (, ,) (CD 024) (NNS groups)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB be) (ADVP (RB further)) (VP (VBN divided) (PP (IN into) (NP (NP (NNS thousands)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJR smaller) (NNS groups))))) (, ,) (S (ADVP (RB thus)) (VP (VBG making) (S (NP (NP (PRP it))) (ADJP (JJ possible)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB find) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ particular) (NN set)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS fingerprints)))) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT a) (JJ few) (NNS minutes)))))))))))) (. .)))
By using details in the patterns above, these 1, 024 groups can be further divided into thousands of smaller groups, thus making it possible to find a particular set of fingerprints in a few minutes.
mark
by
By
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
use
using
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
detail
details
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Plur
pattern
patterns
NOUN
NNS
advmod
above
above
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Number=Plur|PronType=Dem
this
these
DET
DT
compound
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
1
1
NUM
CD
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
024
024
NUM
CD
nsubj:pass
Number=Plur
group
groups
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
aux:pass
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
advmod
further
further
ADV
RB
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
divide
divided
VERB
VBN
case
into
into
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
thousand
thousands
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Cmp
small
smaller
ADJ
JJR
nmod
Number=Plur
group
groups
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
thus
thus
ADV
RB
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
make
making
VERB
VBG
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
xcomp
Degree=Pos
possible
possible
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
find
find
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
particular
particular
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
set
set
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
fingerprint
fingerprints
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
few
few
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
minute
minutes
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
The skin which covers the tips of the fingers and thumbs is crossed by numerous ridges arranged in different patterns. These patterns are permanent from birth and remain exactly the same throughout a person's life, even when the skin becomes wrinkled and cracked as a result of old age. Such patterns are never passed on from parents to children, and no one in the world has the same patterns as anyone else. Even identical twins have different sets of fingerprints. As a result, fingerprints offer a most useful and foolproof way of identifying people. Any ridged part of the hand and the foot may be used as a means of identification, but finger impressions are usually preferred since they can be taken easily and quickly.  Fingerprints are classified in the ways: by general shapes and contours, by the finger positions of the pattern-types, and by size (often measured by counting the ridges in the loops). Every set of fingerprints has different "ridge characteristics" (i. e. the print of each separate finger is different from that of all the other fingers), which belong to one of four basic groups: arches, loops, whorls and composites. All fingerprints can then be divided into 1, 024 groups. By using details in the patterns above, these 1, 024 groups can be further divided into thousands of smaller groups, thus making it possible to find a particular set of fingerprints in a few minutes.