The time was 9:38.
( ( The time ) ( ( was 9:38 ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN time)) (VP (VBD was) (NP (CD 9:38))) (. .)))
The time was before 10:00
( ( The time ) ( was ( before 10:00 ) ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN time)) (VP (VBD was) (PP (IN before) (NP (CD 10:00))))))