A snowboard --.
( A ( ( snowboard -- ) . ) )
(ROOT (NP (NNP A) (NNPS snowboard) (: --) (. .)))
The snowboard was a gift.
( ( The snowboard ) ( ( was ( a gift ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN snowboard)) (VP (VBD was) (NP (DT a) (NN gift))) (. .)))