Diagramming Sentences

Part 1

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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Diagramming sentences provides a way of picturing the structure of a sentence. By placing the various parts of a sentence in relation to the basic subject-verb relationship, we can see how the parts fit together and how the meaning of a sentence branches out, just as the branches of a plant ramify from the stem in space and time. Most students who work at diagramming sentences derive a clearer understanding of how sentences work

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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We begin, naturally, with the representation of a very simple sentence:

Glaciers melt.

We will place the subject-verb relationship on a straight horizontal line . . .

Glaciers melt

and separate the subject from its verb with a short vertical line extending through the horizontal line.

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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Modifiers (including articles) go under the words they modify on slanted lines.

The glacier is melting slowly.

glacier is meltingThe

slowly

What is a modifier?

Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide description in sentences. Modifiers allow writers to take the picture that they have in their heads and transfer it

accurately to the heads of their readers. Essentially, modifiers breathe life into sentences.

Did

What is a modifier?

You

Modifiers can be adjectives, adjective clauses, adverbs, adverb clauses, absolute phrases, infinitive

phrases, participle phrases, and prepositional phrases. The sentence above contains at least one

example of each:

Adjective = poor.

Adjective clause = who just wanted a quick meal.

Adverb = quickly.

Recap your mind

Notice?

Diagram the sentences:

1.Tylor laughed.2.Tylor laughed loudly.3.The student laughed loudly.4.The old glacier is melting

quickly.

Recap your mind

Notice?

1.2.

3.

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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A direct object follows the verb on the horizontal line; it is separated from the verb by a vertical line that does not go through the horizontal line.

The glacier is slowly destroying the forest.

glacier is destroyingThe

slowly

forestthe

Recap your mind

Diagram the sentences:

1.Mr. Schnickel slapped the desk.2.Man is destroying the aged glacier.

3.The green turtle gave the flowers.

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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Predicate nouns and predicate adjectives follow the verb and are separated from the verb by a slanted line.

The glacier is not really dangerous.

glacier isThe

dangerousnot

really

Josiah Budnick is professora brilliant

Josiah Budnick is a brilliant professor.

Predicate Nouns

A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that appears with a linking verb and renames, identifies, or

explains the subject of the sentence.

The teacher is TALL.

Predicate Adjective

A predicate adjective is an adjective that appears with a linking verb and describes the subject of

the sentence.The pig is STINKY.

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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With compound subjects and predicates, the sentence diagram begins to branch out.

The professor and her colleagues are studying glaciers and avalanches.

professorThe

colleaguesher

are studying

and

glaciers

avalanches

and

RecapDiagram the sentences

1.The turtle and the monkey fly.2.The turtle studies math and more math.

3.The turtle and the teacher read books and cartoons.

Stop for nowDiagramming part 2 is next

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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Compound verbs are put on branches in a similar fashion.

The professor and her colleagues are studying and classifying glaciers.

professorThe

colleaguesher

and

are studying

classifyingan

d glaciers

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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Indirect objects are arranged under the main sentence line.

Professor Higgins gave her students two projects.

Professor Higgins gave projectstwo

students

her

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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Prepositional phrases are arranged on branches below the words they modify.

Professor Higgins studied glaciers in Antarctica during the 1950s.

Professor Higgins studied glaciers

Antarcticain

1950sthe

during

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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Gerund and infinitive phrases are displayed on standards — except when the infinitive is a modifier.

Jorge likes to study glaciers.

Jorge likes

tostudy glaciers

Studying glaciers is fun.Studying glaciers

is fun

His decision to study glaciers

was fortunate. decision was fortunate

His to

study glaciers

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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The relationship between clauses in compound and complex sentences is shown with a dotted line.

Glaciers are powerful forces, but they move very slowly.

Glaciers are forcespowerful

they moveslowlyvery

but

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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One last diagram: a complex sentence.

Professor Higgins invited Jorge to the conference because he had written the best research paper.

Professor Higgins invited Jorgeto

conferencethe

he had written paper

the

bestresearch

beca

use

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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Be sure to review the rest of the material on DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES in the Guide to Grammar and Writing. Soon, you will be diagramming sentences in your sleep and be the envy of the entire neighborhood! As a writer, you will be surprised at the additional confidence you gain by mastering these visual renderings of sentence patterns.

Congratulations!Congratulations!

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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This PowerPoint presentation was created by

Charles Darling, PhD

Professor of English and Webmaster

Capital Community College

Hartford, Connecticut

copyright November 1999