About Sentence Diagrams

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Preliminaries
About Sentence Diagrams

Description and examples of the diagrams which this module turns sentences into.

§1. First, an acknowledgement: the sentence diagrams in this section are generated automatically by linguistics-test. (This means they are always up to date.) If you are interested in using linguistics in some context other than Inform, linguistics-test may be a good starting point.

§2. Every example sentence in this section was passed in turn to the <sentence> nonterminal, and the trees displayed below were the result. For example:

linguistics-test: sentence has no primary verb
(1) arfle barfle gloop

SENTENCE_NT'arfle barfle gloop'

(2) beth is not a sailor

SENTENCE_NT'beth is not a sailor'
    VERB_NT'is not' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE -ve}
    UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'beth'
    UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'sailor' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s}

Sentence (1) here made no sense: there was no verb. It was therefore left as a single SENTENCE_NT node with no children. In all other cases, as in (2), there are three children: verb, subject phrase, and object phrase.¹

In this tree notation, indentation shows which nodes are children of which others. The node types, such as SENTENCE_NT, are in capitals and all end in _NT. The text leading to the creation of the node then appears in quotes. After that are "annotations", written in braces.² In sentence (2), we see:

(a) The VERB_NT node is annotated with its grammatical form — it is "to be", in third person singular, active voice, present tense, and a negative sense — and also its semantic meaning — the equality relationship "is".
(b) The second UNPARSED_NOUN_NT node is annotated with the article used to introduce it — the indefinite article, "a", which could be any of masculine, feminine or neuter, could be either nominative or accusative, but is certainly singular.

¹ Since "to be" is a copular verb, in sentence (2) we really mean "the phrase in the object position". ↩
² Since the 1850s a variety of tree-diagram schemes for sentence structure has been proposed: see Wikipedia. These tend to be quite large, with many optional features — no bad thing when the aim is to explain. But our aim is to process, not to illustrate, and whereas a typical dependency tree would have nodes for both "not" and "a", we use annotations instead. We want fairly flat sentence trees with a simple, predictable shape. ↩

§3. Using <sentence> alone tends to result in a lot of UNPARSED_NOUN_NT nodes. This is unsatisfying, but useful, because sometimes the meaning of a verb affects how those nodes should be parsed further. The idea is that the user will traverse the tree and parse the UNPARSED_NOUN_NT nodes as needed. Calling the function Nouns::recognise on such a node will test to see if it's a known common or proper noun, and amend it accordingly.

The linguistics-test program does this automatically, so from here on, all examples shown will have that operation done. For example:

(1) beth is not a sailor

SENTENCE_NT'beth is not a sailor'
    VERB_NT'is not' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE -ve}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'beth' {proper nom/acc f s}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc m s}

Here the two UNPARSED_NOUN_NT nodes have been recognised as usages of a proper noun, Beth, and a common noun, sailor, respectively, and they are annotated with their grammatical usages — in so far as we can tell. These two nouns do not inflect with case in English, but they are both singular.

§4. Clearly the linguistics module needs to know some vocabulary in order to do this, and in the test runs displayed in this section, it is using a very limited stock of nouns, verbs and prepositions as follows:

Anna = feminine proper noun.
Beth = feminine proper noun.
Charles = masculine proper noun.

man = masculine common noun.
woman = feminine common noun.
person = masculine common noun.
sailor = masculine common noun.
table = neuter common noun.
Ming vase = neuter common noun.

IS = relationship.
HAS = relationship.
CARRIES = relationship.
KNOWS = relationship.
COMBINES = special meaning.
COMBINESUP = special meaning.
GREETS = special meaning.

be = copular verb with priority 2.
have = verb with priority 1.
carry = verb with priority 3.
greet = verb with priority 3.
know = verb with priority 3.
combine = verb with priority 3.

-- be --              = IS.
-- have --            = HAS.
-- carry --           = CARRIES.
-- know --            = KNOWS.
-- be on --           = CARRIES-reversed.
-- be under --        = CARRIES.
combine -- with --    = COMBINES.
combine up -- with -- = COMBINESUP.
greet --              = GREETS.

We only know that Beth is feminine-gendered and sailor masculine-gendered³ because the vocabulary being used by linguistics-test says so. It's important to appreciate that although an English reader might twig that Beth is a common girl's name, we can't do that.

³ In the grammatical sense that "she" can refer to Beth and "he" to a generic identity-unknown sailor. Pronouns in English are a source of real sensitivity and if linguistics were a module to generate text, rather than recognise it, we would take much more care over this. Our interest is in grammatical gender, not the assignment of sexes to people. ↩

§5. So, then, let us start with simple copular sentences — that is, sentences involving the verb "to be", which equate two subjects rather than having a subject act upon an object. This is why one "ought to" say "The traitor is I" instead of "The traitor is me", although nobody does.

(1) anna is a woman

SENTENCE_NT'anna is a woman'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'anna' {proper nom/acc f s}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'woman' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc f s}

(2) anna is not charles

SENTENCE_NT'anna is not charles'
    VERB_NT'is not' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE -ve}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'anna' {proper nom/acc f s}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'charles' {proper nom/acc m s}

§6. Next, regular sentences, that is, those where the verb is not copular but instead expresses some relationship between a subject and an object which play different roles.

(1) beth carries the ming vase

SENTENCE_NT'beth carries the ming vase'
    VERB_NT'carries' {verb 'carry' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'beth' {proper nom/acc f s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'carries' {meaning: carries-reversed}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

(2) the sailors carry the table

SENTENCE_NT'the sailors carry the table'
    VERB_NT'carry' {verb 'carry' 1p/2p s/p act IS_TENSE +ve + 3p p act IS_TENSE +ve}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailors' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc m p}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'carry' {meaning: carries-reversed}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

(3) the ming vase is carried by beth

SENTENCE_NT'the ming vase is carried by beth'
    VERB_NT'is carried by' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep1: carried by}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'is carried by' {meaning: carries}
        PROPER_NOUN_NT'beth' {proper nom/acc f s}

(4) a woman is on the table

SENTENCE_NT'a woman is on the table'
    VERB_NT'is on' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep1: on}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'woman' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc f s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'is on' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

Each RELATIONSHIP_NT node expresses that it, and the other term, are in some non-copular relation to each other. The annotation gives that relation from the point of view of the node, not from the point of view of the subject of the sentence. For example, in (4), the subject of the sentence (woman) is carried by the object (table), but the RELATIONSHIP_NT node is for the table, and so the meaning is "carries", not "carried-by".

§7. Possessive verbs need careful handling because of the wide range of meanings they can carry which may not involve ownership as such (cf. French "j'ai trente ans", or English "I have mumps"). But syntactically they are just like other non-copular verbs, and we parse them as such.

(1) beth has a ming vase

SENTENCE_NT'beth has a ming vase'
    VERB_NT'has' {verb 'have' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'beth' {proper nom/acc f s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'has' {meaning: has-reversed}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc n s}

(2) sailors have a drink called rum

SENTENCE_NT'sailors have a drink called rum'
    VERB_NT'have' {verb 'have' 1p/2p s/p act IS_TENSE +ve + 3p p act IS_TENSE +ve}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailors' {common nom/acc m p}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'have' {meaning: has-reversed}
        CALLED_NT'called'
            UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'drink' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s}
            UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'rum'

§8. An unusual feature of English is its use of subject-verb inversion:

(1) on the table is the ming vase

SENTENCE_NT'on the table is the ming vase'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'on the table' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

(2) on the table is under the ming vase

SENTENCE_NT'on the table is under the ming vase'
    VERB_NT'is under' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep1: under}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'on the table' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'is under' {meaning: carries-reversed}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

It would be easy to auto-fix the inversion in sentence (1), by simply swapping the "on the table" and "Ming vase" subtrees over, but we want to preserve the distinction because Inform will make some use of it.

Sentence (2) here is arguably just plain wrong, but we do very occasionally allow that sort of thing in Inform (for e.g. "east of X is south of Y").

§9. Existential sentences, using the defective subject nounphrase "there", are marked with an additional annotation.

(1) there is a table

SENTENCE_NT'there is a table'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {existential}
    DEFECTIVE_NOUN_NT'there'
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc n s}

(2) some sailors are there

SENTENCE_NT'some sailors are there'
    VERB_NT'are' {verb 'be' s/p 2p act IS_TENSE +ve + 1p/3p p act IS_TENSE +ve}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailors' {indefinite 'some' n/m/f nom/acc p} {common nom/acc m p}
    UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'there'

(3) there is a ming vase on the table

SENTENCE_NT'there is a ming vase on the table'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep1: on} {existential}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc n s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'is' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

(4) a ming vase is on the table

SENTENCE_NT'a ming vase is on the table'
    VERB_NT'is on' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep1: on}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc n s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'is on' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

In sentences (3) and (4) here, the resulting trees are essentially identical except for the existential annotation.

Note that "there" as an object phrase is also defective, but not considered existential (it is more likely an anaphora — "A woman is there" implies a reference to a location already being discussed, whereas "There is a woman" does not).

§10. Two sorts of adverbs are recognised, for certainty and occurrence, and they are handled by making additional annotations to the verb node, not by adding fresh nodes:

(1) beth always carries the ming vase

SENTENCE_NT'beth always carries the ming vase'
    VERB_NT'carries' {certainty:certain} {verb 'carry' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'beth' {proper nom/acc f s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'carries' {meaning: carries-reversed}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

(2) anna carries the ming vase for the third time

SENTENCE_NT'anna carries the ming vase for the third time'
    VERB_NT'carries' {verb 'carry' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {occurrence: <3 times>}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'anna' {proper nom/acc f s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'carries' {meaning: carries-reversed}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

§11. We can also support imperative verbs, with "special meanings" which are not necessarily relational, and do not always lead to RELATIONSHIP_NT subtrees. See Special Meanings.

(1) greet beth

SENTENCE_NT'greet beth'
    VERB_NT'greet' {verb 'greet' 1p/2p s/p act IS_TENSE +ve + 3p p act IS_TENSE +ve} {special meaning: greets}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'beth' {proper nom/acc f s}

(2) combine the ming vase with the table

SENTENCE_NT'combine the ming vase with the table'
    VERB_NT'combine' {verb 'combine' 1p/2p s/p act IS_TENSE +ve + 3p p act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep2: with} {special meaning: combines}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'the table' {common nom/acc n s}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'the ming vase' {common nom/acc n s}

(3) combine up the ming vase with the table

SENTENCE_NT'combine up the ming vase with the table'
    VERB_NT'combine up' {verb 'combine' 1p/2p s/p act IS_TENSE +ve + 3p p act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep1: up} {prep2: with} {special meaning: combinesup}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'the table' {common nom/acc n s}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'the ming vase' {common nom/acc n s}

§12. That shows the full range of what happens with verb nodes. Turning back to noun phrases, we can have serial lists:

(1) anna and beth are women

SENTENCE_NT'anna and beth are women'
    VERB_NT'are' {verb 'be' s/p 2p act IS_TENSE +ve + 1p/3p p act IS_TENSE +ve}
    AND_NT'and'
        PROPER_NOUN_NT'anna' {proper nom/acc f s}
        PROPER_NOUN_NT'beth' {proper nom/acc f s}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'women' {common nom/acc f p}

(2) anna , beth and charles are sailors

SENTENCE_NT'anna , beth and charles are sailors'
    VERB_NT'are' {verb 'be' s/p 2p act IS_TENSE +ve + 1p/3p p act IS_TENSE +ve}
    AND_NT','
        PROPER_NOUN_NT'anna' {proper nom/acc f s}
        AND_NT'and'
            PROPER_NOUN_NT'beth' {proper nom/acc f s}
            PROPER_NOUN_NT'charles' {proper nom/acc m s}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailors' {common nom/acc m p}

(3) anna , beth , and charles are sailors

SENTENCE_NT'anna , beth , and charles are sailors'
    VERB_NT'are' {verb 'be' s/p 2p act IS_TENSE +ve + 1p/3p p act IS_TENSE +ve}
    AND_NT','
        PROPER_NOUN_NT'anna' {proper nom/acc f s}
        AND_NT','
            PROPER_NOUN_NT'beth' {proper nom/acc f s}
            PROPER_NOUN_NT'charles' {proper nom/acc m s}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailors' {common nom/acc m p}

(4) anna carries the table and the ming vase

SENTENCE_NT'anna carries the table and the ming vase'
    VERB_NT'carries' {verb 'carry' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'anna' {proper nom/acc f s}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'carries' {meaning: carries-reversed}
        AND_NT'and'
            COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}
            COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

(5) anna is on the table and under the ming vase

SENTENCE_NT'anna is on the table and under the ming vase'
    VERB_NT'is on' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep1: on}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'anna' {proper nom/acc f s}
    AND_NT'and'
        RELATIONSHIP_NT'is on' {meaning: carries}
            COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}
        RELATIONSHIP_NT'under the ming vase' {meaning: carries-reversed}
            COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

Note that AND_NT nodes always have exactly two children, and that the serial comma is allowed but not required.

AND_NT in conjunction with RELATIONSHIP_NT can allow for zeugmas. Zeugma is sometimes thought to be rare in English and to be basically a comedy effect, as in the famous Flanders and Swann lyric:

She made no reply, up her mind, and a dash for the door.

in which three completely different senses of the same verb are used, but in which the verb appears only once. It might seem reasonable just to disallow this. Unfortunately, less extreme zeugmas occur all the time:

The red door is west of the Dining Room and east of the Ballroom.

§13. Now we introduce pronouns to the mix. These are detected automatically by linguistics, and exist in nominative and accusative cases in English. Note the difference in annotations between "them" and "you", for example.

(1) he knows her

SENTENCE_NT'he knows her'
    VERB_NT'knows' {verb 'know' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PRONOUN_NT'he' {third person pronoun m 3p s nom}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'knows' {meaning: knows-reversed}
        PRONOUN_NT'her' {third person pronoun f 3p s acc}

(2) she knows him

SENTENCE_NT'she knows him'
    VERB_NT'knows' {verb 'know' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PRONOUN_NT'she' {third person pronoun f 3p s nom}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'knows' {meaning: knows-reversed}
        PRONOUN_NT'him' {third person pronoun m 3p s acc}

(3) i carry the ming vase

SENTENCE_NT'i carry the ming vase'
    VERB_NT'carry' {verb 'carry' 1p/2p s/p act IS_TENSE +ve + 3p p act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PRONOUN_NT'i' {first person pronoun n/m/f 1p s nom}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'carry' {meaning: carries-reversed}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'ming vase' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

(4) the sailors know them

SENTENCE_NT'the sailors know them'
    VERB_NT'know' {verb 'know' 1p/2p s/p act IS_TENSE +ve + 3p p act IS_TENSE +ve}
    COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailors' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc m p}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'know' {meaning: knows-reversed}
        PRONOUN_NT'them' {third person pronoun n/m/f 3p p acc}

(5) you know us

SENTENCE_NT'you know us'
    VERB_NT'know' {verb 'know' 1p/2p s/p act IS_TENSE +ve + 3p p act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PRONOUN_NT'you' {second person pronoun n/m/f s/p nom/acc 2p}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'know' {meaning: knows-reversed}
        PRONOUN_NT'us' {first person pronoun n/m/f 1p p acc}

(6) anna is here

SENTENCE_NT'anna is here'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    PROPER_NOUN_NT'anna' {proper nom/acc f s}
    PRONOUN_NT'here' {location pronoun n/m/f s/p nom/acc 3p}

§14. "Callings" use the special syntax "X called Y", which has to be handled here in the linguistics module so that Y can safely wording which would otherwise have a structural meaning. ("Called" is to Inform as the backslash character, making letters literal, is to C.)

(1) a sailor called jack silver is on the table

SENTENCE_NT'a sailor called jack silver is on the table'
    VERB_NT'is on' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep1: on}
    CALLED_NT'called'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'a sailor' {common nom/acc m s}
        UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'jack silver'
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'is on' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

(2) on the table is a sailor called ben gunn

SENTENCE_NT'on the table is a sailor called ben gunn'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'on the table' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}
    CALLED_NT'called'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc m s}
        UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'ben gunn'

(3) there is a sailor called captain flint

SENTENCE_NT'there is a sailor called captain flint'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {existential}
    DEFECTIVE_NOUN_NT'there'
    CALLED_NT'called'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc m s}
        UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'captain flint'

(4) there is a table called the billiards and snooker table

SENTENCE_NT'there is a table called the billiards and snooker table'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {existential}
    DEFECTIVE_NOUN_NT'there'
    CALLED_NT'called'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc n s}
        UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'billiards and snooker table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc}

(5) there is a table called the billiards table with deep pockets

SENTENCE_NT'there is a table called the billiards table with deep pocket'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {existential}
    DEFECTIVE_NOUN_NT'there'
    CALLED_NT'called'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc n s}
        UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'billiards table with deep pockets' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc}

§15. The word "with", often but not always used in conjunction with "kind of":

(1) on the table is a sailor with carrying capacity 10

SENTENCE_NT'on the table is a sailor with carrying capacity 10'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'on the table' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}
    WITH_NT'with'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc m s}
        PROPERTY_LIST_NT'carrying capacity 10'

(2) a sailor with carrying capacity 10 is on the table

SENTENCE_NT'a sailor with carrying capacity 10 is on the table'
    VERB_NT'is on' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {prep1: on}
    WITH_NT'with'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc m s}
        PROPERTY_LIST_NT'carrying capacity 10'
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'is on' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}

(3) on the table is a sailor with carrying capacity 10 and wealth 12

SENTENCE_NT'on the table is a sailor with carrying capacity 10 and wealt'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'on the table' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}
    WITH_NT'with'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc m s}
        AND_NT'and'
            PROPERTY_LIST_NT'carrying capacity 10'
            PROPERTY_LIST_NT'wealth 12'

(4) on the table is a sailor with carrying capacity 10 , wealth 12 , and sea count 7

SENTENCE_NT'on the table is a sailor with carrying capacity 10 , wealth '
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    RELATIONSHIP_NT'on the table' {meaning: carries}
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'table' {definite 'the' n/m/f s/p nom/acc} {common nom/acc n s}
    WITH_NT'with'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {indefinite 'a' n/m/f nom/acc s} {common nom/acc m s}
        AND_NT','
            PROPERTY_LIST_NT'carrying capacity 10'
            AND_NT','
                PROPERTY_LIST_NT'wealth 12'
                PROPERTY_LIST_NT'sea count 7'

(5) there is a kind of sailor called an admiral

SENTENCE_NT'there is a kind of sailor called an admiral'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve} {existential}
    DEFECTIVE_NOUN_NT'there'
    CALLED_NT'called'
        KIND_NT'kind of sailor'
            COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {common nom/acc m s}
        UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'admiral' {indefinite 'an' n/m/f nom/acc s}

(6) an admiral is a kind of sailor

SENTENCE_NT'an admiral is a kind of sailor'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'admiral' {indefinite 'an' n/m/f nom/acc s}
    KIND_NT'kind of sailor'
        COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {common nom/acc m s}

(7) an admiral is a kind of sailor with wealth 50

SENTENCE_NT'an admiral is a kind of sailor with wealth 50'
    VERB_NT'is' {verb 'be' 3p s act IS_TENSE +ve}
    UNPARSED_NOUN_NT'admiral' {indefinite 'an' n/m/f nom/acc s}
    WITH_NT'with'
        KIND_NT'kind of sailor'
            COMMON_NOUN_NT'sailor' {common nom/acc m s}
        PROPERTY_LIST_NT'wealth 50'