( Evolutionists ( ( claim ( that ( ( ( the transition ) ( from invertebrate ) ) ( to ( vertebrate ( passed ( through ( a ( ( ( simple chordate ) ( -LRB- ( ( animals ( with ( a ( soft ( ( spine or ) notochord ) ) ) ) ) -RRB- ) ) ) state ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Evolutionists)) (VP (VBP claim) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (DT the) (NN transition)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NN invertebrate)))) (VP (TO to) (VP (VB vertebrate) (VP (VBN passed) (PP (IN through) (NP (DT a) (ADJP (ADJP (NN simple) (JJ chordate)) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (NP (NP (NNS animals)) (PP (IN with) (NP (DT a) (JJ soft) (NN spine) (CC or) (NN notochord)))) (-RRB- -RRB-))) (NN state))))))))) (. .)))
Evolutionists claim that the transition from invertebrate to vertebrate passed through a simple chordate (animals with a soft spine or notochord) state.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Chordates)) (VP (VBP include) (NP (NP (NNS vertebrates) (CC and) (NNS invertebrates)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBP have) (NP (DT a) (NN notochord))))))) (. .)))