He and his associates weren't operating at the level of metaphor.
( ( ( He and ) ( his associates ) ) ( ( ( were n't ) ( operating ( at ( ( the level ) ( of metaphor ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP He)) (CC and) (NP (PRP$ his) (NNS associates))) (VP (VBD were) (RB n't) (VP (VBG operating) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN level)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN metaphor))))))) (. .)))
The associates were not at level at the metaphor.
( ( The associates ) ( ( ( were not ) ( at ( level ( at ( the metaphor ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NNS associates)) (VP (VBD were) (RB not) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (NN level)) (PP (IN at) (NP (DT the) (NN metaphor)))))) (. .)))