could be a single iota worse ... 
(ROOT (S (VP (MD could) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (NP (DT a) (JJ single) (NN iota)) (JJR worse)))) (. ...)))
(ROOT (S (VP (MD ) (VP (VB ) (ADJP (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NN )) (JJR )))) (. )))