Julius Caesar's nephew Octavian took the name Augustus; Rome ceased to be a republic, and became an empire.
( ( ( ( ( ( Julius ( Caesar 's ) ) ( nephew Octavian ) ) ( took ( the ( name Augustus ) ) ) ) ; ) ( Rome ( ( ( ( ceased ( to ( be ( a republic ) ) ) ) , ) and ) ( became ( an empire ) ) ) ) ) . )
(ROOT (S (S (NP (NP (NNP Julius) (NNP Caesar) (POS 's)) (NNP nephew) (NNP Octavian)) (VP (VBD took) (NP (DT the) (NN name) (NNS Augustus)))) (: ;) (S (NP (NNP Rome)) (VP (VP (VBD ceased) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (NP (DT a) (NN republic)))))) (, ,) (CC and) (VP (VBD became) (NP (DT an) (NN empire))))) (. .)))
Rome never ceased to be a republic, and did not become an empire.
( Rome ( never ( ( ( ( ( ceased ( to ( be ( a republic ) ) ) ) , ) and ) ( ( did not ) ( become ( an empire ) ) ) ) . ) ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Rome)) (ADVP (RB never)) (VP (VP (VBD ceased) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (NP (DT a) (NN republic)))))) (, ,) (CC and) (VP (VBD did) (RB not) (VP (VB become) (NP (DT an) (NN empire))))) (. .)))