The thing started to grow brighter.
( ( The thing ) ( ( started ( to ( grow brighter ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN thing)) (VP (VBD started) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB grow) (NP (NN brighter)))))) (. .)))
Despite growing brighter, it was difficult to make out what the thing was.
( ( Despite ( growing brighter ) ) ( , ( it ( ( was ( difficult ( to ( ( make out ) ( what ( ( the thing ) was ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN Despite) (NP (VBG growing) (NN brighter))) (, ,) (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (JJ difficult) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB make) (PRT (RP out)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (NP (DT the) (NN thing)) (VP (VBD was))))))))) (. .)))