were convinced to waste their time 
(ROOT (S (VP (VBD were) (VP (VBN convinced) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB waste) (NP (PRP$ their) (NN time)))))))))
(ROOT (S (VP (VBD ) (VP (VBN ) (S (VP (TO ) (VP (VB ) (NP (PRP$ ) (NN )))))))))