(ROOT (S (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB When)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD was) (NP (RB about) (CD 10))))) (, ,) (NP (EX there)) (VP (VBD were) (NP (NP (NP (NNS lots)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP us)))) (ADJP (JJ bored) (, ,) (JJ bookish) (NNS children))) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NNS 1970s)))) (. .)))
When I was about 10, there were lots of us bored, bookish children in the 1970s.
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
advmod
about
about
ADV
RB
advcl
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
10
10
NUM
CD
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
expl
there
there
PRON
EX
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
were
VERB
VBD
nsubj
Number=Plur
lot
lots
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
amod
Degree=Pos
bored
bored
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
bookish
bookish
ADJ
JJ
appos
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Plur
1970
1970s
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (NN Television)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (RB largely) (JJ rubbish)))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (NP (NP (PRP$ our) (NNS parents) (POS ')) (NNS bookshelves)) (VP (VBD were) (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBN left))))))) (. .)))
Television was largely rubbish, and our parents' bookshelves were what was left.
nsubj
Number=Sing
Television
Television
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
advmod
largely
largely
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
rubbish
rubbish
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
nmod:poss
Number=Plur
parent
parents
NOUN
NNS
case
's
'
PART
POS
nsubj
Number=Plur
bookshelve
bookshelves
NOUN
NNS
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
were
AUX
VBD
conj
PronType=Rel
what
what
PRON
WP
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
acl:relcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
leave
left
VERB
VBN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD thought) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT this))) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD heard) (SBAR (S (NP (NN author) (NNP Claire) (NNP Tomalin)) (VP (VB complain) (SBAR (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NNS children)) (VP (VBP are) (VP (VBG growing) (PRT (RP up)) (PP (IN without) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS skills)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB read) (NP (NP (JJ classic) (NNS works)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (JJ English) (NN literature)) (, ,) (PP (JJ such) (IN as) (NP (NNP Charles) (NNP Dickens)))))))))))))))) (CC and) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP are) (RB not) (VP (VBG being) (VP (VBN taught) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB have) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ lengthy) (NN attention) (NNS spans)) (ADJP (JJ necessary) (PP (IN for) (NP (PRP$ his) (NNS texts))))))))))))))))))))) (. .)))
I thought of this when I heard author Claire Tomalin complain that children are growing up without the skills to read classic works of English literature, such as Charles Dickens and that they are not being taught to have the lengthy attention spans necessary for his texts.
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
case
of
of
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
PRON
DT
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=Past|VerbForm=Fin
hear
heard
VERB
VBD
nsubj
Number=Sing
author
author
NOUN
NN
flat
Number=Sing
Claire
Claire
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Tomalin
Tomalin
PROPN
NNP
ccomp
Mood=Ind|VerbForm=Fin
complain
complain
VERB
VB
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
ccomp
Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part
grow
growing
VERB
VBG
compound:prt
up
up
ADP
RP
case
without
without
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Plur
skill
skills
NOUN
NNS
mark
to
to
PART
TO
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
read
read
VERB
VB
amod
Degree=Pos
classic
classic
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
work
works
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
English
English
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
literature
literature
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
Degree=Pos
such
such
ADJ
JJ
fixed
as
as
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Charles
Charles
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Dickens
Dickens
PROPN
NNP
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj:pass
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
aux:pass
VerbForm=Ger
be
being
AUX
VBG
conj
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
teach
taught
VERB
VBN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
have
have
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
lengthy
lengthy
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
attention
attention
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Plur
span
spans
NOUN
NNS
amod
Degree=Pos
necessary
necessary
ADJ
JJ
case
for
for
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
his
his
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Plur
text
texts
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP She)) (VP (VBZ blames) (NP (DT this) (NN attention) (NN shortfall)) (PP (IN on) (NP (DT the) (JJ terrible) (NN television) (NNS programmes)))) (. .)))
She blames this attention shortfall on the terrible television programmes.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
she
She
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
blame
blames
VERB
VBZ
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
attention
attention
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Sing
shortfall
shortfall
NOUN
NN
case
on
on
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
terrible
terrible
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
television
television
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Plur
programme
programmes
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP It))) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (JJ true)) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NNS children)) (VP (VBP have) (ADVP (RB never)) (VP (VBN had) (NP (NP (NP (JJR more) (NN entertainment)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB choose) (PP (IN from))))))) (PP (IN than) (NP (NN today))))))))) (. .)))
It is true that children have never had more entertainment to choose from than today.
expl
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Degree=Pos
true
true
ADJ
JJ
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
AUX
VBP
advmod
never
never
ADV
RB
csubj
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
have
had
VERB
VBN
amod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADJ
JJR
obj
Number=Sing
entertainment
entertainment
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
choose
choose
VERB
VB
obl
from
from
ADP
IN
case
than
than
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
today
today
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (CC And) (NP (NP (PRP it))) (VP (VBZ is) (ADVP (RB probably)) (ADJP (JJ true)) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (DT this) (NN generation) (POS 's)) (NN attention) (NN span)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (JJR shorter))))))) (: ;) (S (NP (PRP$ my) (NNS children)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN dismissed) (PP (IN as) (`` ``) (ADJP (RB too) (JJ slow)) ('' '') (CC or) (`` ``) (ADJP (JJ boring)) ('' '') (NP (NP (JJS most)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN childhood) (NNS books)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD saved) (PP (IN for) (NP (PRP them))))))))))))) (. .)))
And it is probably true that this generation's attention span is shorter; my children have dismissed as "too slow" or "boring" most of the childhood books I saved for them.
cc
and
And
CCONJ
CC
expl
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
probably
probably
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
true
true
ADJ
JJ
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
DET
DT
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
generation
generation
NOUN
NN
case
's
's
PART
POS
compound
Number=Sing
attention
attention
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Number=Sing
span
span
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
csubj
Degree=Cmp
short
shorter
ADJ
JJR
punct
;
;
PUNCT
:
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
AUX
VBP
parataxis
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
dismiss
dismissed
VERB
VBN
case
as
as
ADP
IN
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
advmod
too
too
ADV
RB
obl
Degree=Pos
slow
slow
ADJ
JJ
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
cc
or
or
CCONJ
CC
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
conj
Degree=Pos
boring
boring
ADJ
JJ
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
obj
Degree=Sup
most
most
ADJ
JJS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
childhood
childhood
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Plur
book
books
NOUN
NNS
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
save
saved
VERB
VBD
case
for
for
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (RB quite) (JJ upset) (PP (IN about) (NP (DT this)))) (SBAR (IN until) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP reread) (NP (DT some)))))) (. .)))
I was quite upset about this until I reread some.
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
quite
quite
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
upset
upset
ADJ
JJ
case
about
about
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
PRON
DT
mark
until
until
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
reread
reread
VERB
VBP
obj
some
some
DET
DT
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBZ is) (RB not) (NP (RB just)) (NP (NP (NN entertainment)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBZ moves) (PP (IN at) (NP (DT a) (JJR faster) (NN rate)))))))) (. .)))
It is not just entertainment that moves at a faster rate.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
advmod
just
just
ADV
RB
root
Number=Sing
entertainment
entertainment
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
move
moves
VERB
VBZ
case
at
at
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Cmp
fast
faster
ADJ
JJR
obl
Number=Sing
rate
rate
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN world)) (VP (VBZ does) (, ,) (ADVP (RB too))) (. .)))
The world does, too.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
world
world
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
do
does
VERB
VBZ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
too
too
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (CC And) (, ,) (ADVP (RB frankly)) (, ,) (NP (NNP Dickens)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (JJ dense) (, ,) (CC and) (JJ hard) (NN work)) (, ,) (SBAR (IN as) (VP (VBP are) (NP (NP (JJ many) (NNS writers)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT that) (NN period))))))) (. .)))
And, frankly, Dickens is dense, and hard work, as are many writers of that period.
cc
and
And
CCONJ
CC
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
frankly
frankly
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Sing
Dickens
Dickens
PROPN
NNP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Degree=Pos
dense
dense
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
amod
Degree=Pos
hard
hard
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Sing
work
work
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
amod
Degree=Pos
many
many
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
writer
writers
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
that
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
period
period
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (DT Another) (NN fact)) (VP (VBZ is) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (ADJP (RB not) (JJ many)) (NNS children)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP$ my) (NN generation)))) (VP (VBP read) (NP (NNP Dickens)) (PP (IN for) (NP (NN pleasure))) (ADVP (RB either)))))) (. .)))
Another fact is that not many children of my generation read Dickens for pleasure either.
det
another
Another
DET
DT
nsubj:outer
Number=Sing
fact
fact
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
amod
Degree=Pos
many
many
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nmod
Number=Sing
generation
generation
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
read
read
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Sing
Dickens
Dickens
PROPN
NNP
case
for
for
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
pleasure
pleasure
NOUN
NN
advmod
either
either
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (NP (PRP It))) (VP (VBD took) (NP (PRP me) (NNS years)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB come) (PP (IN to) (NP (NP (NNP Great) (NNPS Expectations)) (CC and) (NP (DT The) (NNP Pickwick) (NNPS Papers))))))))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (ADVP (RB then)) (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBD was) (ADVP (RB only)) (NP (NN post-university)) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD became) (ADJP (RB independently) (JJ hungry) (PP (IN for) (NP (NN knowledge))))))))) (. .)))
It took me years to come to Great Expectations and The Pickwick Papers, and then it was only post-university when I became independently hungry for knowledge.
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
come
come
VERB
VB
case
to
to
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
great
Great
ADJ
NNP
obl
Number=Plur
expectation
Expectations
PROPN
NNPS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
Pickwick
Pickwick
PROPN
NNP
conj
Number=Plur
Papers
Papers
PROPN
NNPS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
advmod
PronType=Dem
then
then
ADV
RB
nsubj
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
only
only
ADV
RB
conj
Number=Sing
post-university
post-university
NOUN
NN
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=Past|VerbForm=Fin
become
became
VERB
VBD
advmod
independently
independently
ADV
RB
xcomp
Degree=Pos
hungry
hungry
ADJ
JJ
case
for
for
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
knowledge
knowledge
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (S (NP (NNP Dickens)) (VP (MD might) (VP (VB be) (NP (NP (CD one)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJS greatest) (NNS creators)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS characters))) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNP English)))))) (, ,) (SBAR (IN as) (S (NP (NNP Tomalin)) (VP (VBZ says))))))) (, ,) (CC but) (S (NP (NP (NN today) (POS 's)) (NNS children)) (VP (VBP see) (NP (NP (NP (NNP Greg) (NNP Heffley) (POS 's)) (NN nature)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT The) (NNP Wimpy) (NNP Kid)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNP Jeff) (NNP Kinney) (POS 's)) (NNS novels)))))))) (. .)))
Dickens might be one of the greatest creators of characters in English, as Tomalin says, but today's children see Greg Heffley's nature in The Wimpy Kid of Jeff Kinney's novels.
nsubj
Number=Sing
Dickens
Dickens
PROPN
NNP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
might
might
AUX
MD
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
root
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Sup
great
greatest
ADJ
JJS
nmod
Number=Plur
creator
creators
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
character
characters
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
English
English
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Sing
Tomalin
Tomalin
PROPN
NNP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
say
says
VERB
VBZ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
today
today
NOUN
NN
case
's
's
PART
POS
nsubj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
see
see
VERB
VBP
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
Greg
Greg
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Heffley
Heffley
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
obj
Number=Sing
nature
nature
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
wimpy
Wimpy
ADJ
NNP
obl
Number=Sing
Kid
Kid
PROPN
NNP
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
Jeff
Jeff
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Kinney
Kinney
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
nmod
Number=Plur
novel
novels
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (CC And) (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (RB so) (JJ interested) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ resourceful) (NNP Baudelaire) (NNS children)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (NP (NNP Lemony) (NNP Snicket) (POS 's)) (NNP A) (NNP Series)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ Unfortunate) (NNS Events))))))))) (. .)))
And they are so interested in the resourceful Baudelaire children in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
cc
and
And
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advmod
so
so
ADV
RB
root
Degree=Pos
interested
interested
ADJ
JJ
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
resourceful
resourceful
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
Baudelaire
Baudelaire
PROPN
NNP
obl
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
Lemony
Lemony
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Snicket
Snicket
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
compound
Number=Sing
A
A
PROPN
NNP
nmod
Number=Sing
Series
Series
PROPN
NNP
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
unfortunate
Unfortunate
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
event
Events
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB recognize) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ adolescent) (, ,) (JJ difficult) (NN situation)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNP Harry) (NNP Potter)))))) (. .)))
They can recognize the adolescent, difficult situation of Harry Potter.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
recognize
recognize
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
adolescent
adolescent
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
difficult
difficult
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
situation
situation
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Harry
Harry
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Potter
Potter
PROPN
NNP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP You)) (VP (MD ca) (RB n't) (VP (VB insist) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NN childhood) (NNS tastes)) (RB not) (VP (VB change) (PP (IN for) (NP (DT a) (JJ long) (NN time)))))))) (. .)))
You can't insist that childhood tastes not change for a long time.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
You
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
ca
AUX
MD
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
insist
insist
VERB
VB
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
compound
Number=Sing
childhood
childhood
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Number=Plur
taste
tastes
NOUN
NNS
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
change
change
VERB
VB
case
for
for
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
long
long
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
time
time
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP$ My) (NN mother)) (VP (VP (VBD encouraged) (NP (PRP me)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB read) (NP (NN anything)) (PP (IN on) (NP (DT the) (NN basis) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (DT all) (NN reading)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (JJ valuable))))))))))) (, ,) (CC and) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB act) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN gateway)) (PP (IN to) (NP (ADJP (RBR more) (JJ challenging)) (NNS works))))) (ADVP (RBR later) (RB on))))) (. .)))
My mother encouraged me to read anything on the basis that all reading was valuable, and would act as a gateway to more challenging works later on.
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
My
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
mother
mother
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
encourage
encouraged
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
read
read
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Ind
anything
anything
PRON
NN
case
on
on
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
basis
basis
NOUN
NN
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
det
all
all
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
reading
reading
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
acl
Degree=Pos
valuable
valuable
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
aux
VerbForm=Fin
would
would
AUX
MD
conj
VerbForm=Inf
act
act
VERB
VB
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
gateway
gateway
NOUN
NN
case
to
to
ADP
IN
advmod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADV
RBR
amod
Degree=Pos
challenging
challenging
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
work
works
NOUN
NNS
advmod
Degree=Cmp
late
later
ADV
RBR
advmod
on
on
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (NP (NN turn))) (, ,) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP believe) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP$ my) (NNS children)) (VP (MD will) (VP (VB come) (PP (IN to) (NP (DT the) (NNS classics))) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP 're) (ADJP (JJ ready)))))))))) (. .)))
In turn, I believe that my children will come to the classics when they're ready.
case
in
In
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
turn
turn
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=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
believe
believe
VERB
VBP
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
will
will
AUX
MD
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
come
come
VERB
VB
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Plur
classic
classics
NOUN
NNS
advmod
PronType=Int
when
when
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
're
AUX
VBP
advcl
Degree=Pos
ready
ready
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN Until) (ADVP (RB then))) (, ,) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (MD 'll) (VP (VB take) (NP (NN comfort)) (PP (IN from) (NP (DT the) (NN fact) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (DT the) (CD 1969) (NN classic)) (NP (DT The) (ADJP (NNP Very) (NNP Hungry)) (NNP Caterpillar))) (VP (VBZ is) (ADVP (RB still)) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ most-read) (NP (NNS children) (POS 's)) (NN book)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNP Britain))))))))))) (. .)))
Until then, I'll take comfort from the fact that the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar is still the most-read children's book in Britain.
case
until
Until
ADP
IN
obl
PronType=Dem
then
then
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
will
'll
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
take
take
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
comfort
comfort
NOUN
NN
case
from
from
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
fact
fact
NOUN
NN
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
1969
1969
NUM
CD
nsubj
Number=Sing
classic
classic
NOUN
NN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
amod
very
Very
ADV
NNP
amod
Degree=Pos
hungry
Hungry
ADJ
NNP
appos
Number=Sing
Caterpillar
Caterpillar
PROPN
NNP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
still
still
ADV
RB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Sup
most-read
most-read
ADJ
JJ
nmod:poss
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
case
's
's
PART
POS
acl
Number=Sing
book
book
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Britain
Britain
PROPN
NNP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (JJ underdeveloped) (NP (NP (NN characterization)) (, ,) (INTJ (UH yes)) (, ,))))) (CC and) (S (NP (DT the) (NN vocabulary)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (VBN limited)))) (. .)))
It has underdeveloped characterization, yes, and the vocabulary is limited.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
amod
Degree=Pos
underdeveloped
underdeveloped
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
characterization
characterization
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
discourse
yes
yes
INTJ
UH
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
vocabulary
vocabulary
NOUN
NN
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
conj
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
limit
limited
VERB
VBN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (CC But) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN starter)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB give) (NP (NNS children)) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN appetite)) (PP (IN for) (NP (NN reading)))))))))) (, ,) (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (JJ priceless))) (. .)))
But as a starter to give children an appetite for reading, it is priceless.
cc
but
But
CCONJ
CC
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
starter
starter
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
give
give
VERB
VB
iobj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
appetite
appetite
NOUN
NN
case
for
for
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
reading
reading
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Degree=Pos
priceless
priceless
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
When I was about 10, there were lots of us bored, bookish children in the 1970s. Television was largely rubbish, and our parents' bookshelves were what was left. I thought of this when I heard author Claire Tomalin complain that children are growing up without the skills to read classic works of English literature, such as Charles Dickens and that they are not being taught to have the lengthy attention spans necessary for his texts. She blames this attention shortfall on the terrible television programmes.  It is true that children have never had more entertainment to choose from than today. And it is probably true that this generation's attention span is shorter; my children have dismissed as "too slow" or "boring" most of the childhood books I saved for them. I was quite upset about this until I reread some. It is not just entertainment that moves at a faster rate. The world does, too. And, frankly, Dickens is dense, and hard work, as are many writers of that period.  Another fact is that not many children of my generation read Dickens for pleasure either. It took me years to come to Great Expectations and The Pickwick Papers, and then it was only post-university when I became independently hungry for knowledge.  Dickens might be one of the greatest creators of characters in English, as Tomalin says, but today's children see Greg Heffley's nature in The Wimpy Kid of Jeff Kinney's novels. And they are so interested in the resourceful Baudelaire children in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. They can recognize the adolescent, difficult situation of Harry Potter.  You can't insist that childhood tastes not change for a long time. My mother encouraged me to read anything on the basis that all reading was valuable, and would act as a gateway to more challenging works later on. In turn, I believe that my children will come to the classics when they're ready. Until then, I'll take comfort from the fact that the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar is still the most-read children's book in Britain. It has underdeveloped characterization, yes, and the vocabulary is limited. But as a starter to give children an appetite for reading, it is priceless.