be an attempt at hardass american 
(ROOT (S (VP (VB be) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN attempt)) (PP (IN at) (NP (NN hardass) (JJ american)))))))
(ROOT (S (VP (VB ) (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (NN ) (JJ )))))))