( Breakwaters ( ( are ( ( wave ( energy barriers ) ) ( designed ( to ( ( protect ( ( the ( land ( or ( nearshore area ) ) ) ) ( behind them ) ) ) ( from ( ( the ( direct assault ) ) ( of waves ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Breakwaters)) (VP (VBP are) (NP (NP (NN wave) (NN energy) (NNS barriers)) (VP (VBN designed) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB protect) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN land) (CC or) (NN nearshore) (NN area)) (PP (IN behind) (NP (PRP them)))) (PP (IN from) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ direct) (NN assault)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS waves))))))))))) (. .)))
Breakwaters are wave energy barriers designed to protect the land or nearshore area behind them from the direct assault of waves.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNS Structures)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VB protect) (NP (DT the) (NN coast)) (PP (IN like) (NP (NN barrier) (NNS islands))))))) (VP (VBP are) (VP (VBN called) (NP (NNS breakwaters)))) (. .)))