( ( Role ( of ( plate tectonic ) ) ) ( ( processes ( in ( ( the ( geologic development ) ) ( of ( the ( continents ( and ( ocean basins ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNP Role)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN plate) (NN tectonic)))) (VP (VBZ processes) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ geologic) (NN development)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN continents) (CC and) (NN ocean) (NNS basins)))))) (. .)))
Role of plate tectonic processes in the geologic development of the continents and ocean basins.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (DT This) (NN process)) (ADVP (RB usually)) (VP (VBZ takes) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJS longest) (NN amount)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN time)))))) (: :) (S (NP (DT an) (NN ocean) (NN basin)) (VP (VBZ forms) (PP (IN between) (NP (CD two) (NNS continents))))) (. .)))
This process usually takes the longest amount of time: an ocean basin forms between two continents.