Diagramming Sentences

Why is this important.

The ability to diagram sentences demonstrates knowledge of sentence parts.

By identifying sentences, you can examine whether each sentence you write is complete.

By analyzing sentence structure, you can create more diverse and dynamic sentences in your writing.

Simple Sentences

Every sentence is composed of at least 1 subject and 1 predicate.

A subject is who or what is doing the action. A predicate is what action is taking place. Example

She sang She= Subject sang= predicate

Simple Sentences. Subject Predicate

She sang He laughed They worked LOOK!

(you) Look

Articles

Articles are the words “the” and “a” or “an” They go on a slanted line under the word

they modify

ladies gossipThe

Your turn!

1) We walked2) They talked.3) The boy ate.4) Stop.

Compound sentences Sometimes a sentence can have two

subjects or predicates. Example. Jon and Alex talked and

shopped.

John talked

Alex shopped

Examples

Politiciansdebatean

d

and or

and

Men laugh

women cry

Dogs

catsplay

meet

Your turn

1) Maurice and Mandy harmonize.2) Observers watch and wait.3) Diet and exercise tones and trims.4) Either dancers or singers amaze and

entertain.

Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives describe nounsThe pink poodle

Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbsWe quickly ate.She is very beautiful.We speak more frequently.

Adjectives and adverbssenators speak

Theolder

frequently

girl isTheyoung

verycute

campers were

The

tired

happybut

Your turn

Alessandra is quietly waiting My best friend always skates well. The talented dancers will perform tonight.

Direct or Indirect Objects

Direct objects answer the questions what or whom after a verb. Experts have given advice.

Indirect objects answer the questions to what or to whom after a verb. Tom sent me a letter.

Direct objectExperts have given advice

Experts have given advice

•Indirect object

senators

Your turn.

That incident taught me a lesson. Tell us your first name. The baby cries and throws his food.

Predicate Adjectives and nouns

Predicate adjectives follow a linking verb and describe the subjectThe doctor is careful.

Predicate nouns follow the linking verb and mean the same thing as the subjectDr. Kunkle is a surgeon.

Predicate nouns and adjectivesdoctor is careful

The

Dr. Kunkle is surgeona

Your turn.

My best friend is Chiang. Jani seems quite impatient Everyone calls Guadalupe “Lupe”

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional is a word that shows relationships with another noun in sentenceAbove, across, beside, to, etc.

A prepositional phrase is a group of word that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun.We went with the boys.We went to the game.

We went to the game.

We went

to

thegame

The senators address people through television advertisements.

Senators address people

the

through advertisements

television

Your turn

Darla planted daffodils along the walkway. Seven candles on the table provided a

bright glow. Our leaders sent messages of sympathy

to the French.

Gerunds

Gerunds are verbs, usually ending in –ing, that are used as a noun.

Example. Running is his favorite sport.

Gerunds working as subject

Gerunds working as objects

Running is his favorite sport

Your Turn

Tim loves jogging. Baking and cooking are his expertise. Thinking helps Jon relax.

Infinitives

To sneeze, to smash, to cry, to shriek, to jump, to dunk, to read, to eat, to slurp—all of these are infinitives. An infinitive will almost always begin with to followed by the simple form of the verb, like this:

to + verb = infinitive

To know him is to love him.

Infinitives as nouns.

Infinitives as adjectives and adverbs are diagrammed like prepositions His decision to leave early was

unfortunate.

Your turn

We love to go shopping To vote is to express your opinion. We go to the market to get food.

Participles and Participial Phrases

A participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective.Example: Bedraggled, the quarterback rose to

his feet. A participial phrases contains a participle

plus any complements and modifiers.Barking loudly, the dog approached. I saw many ducks swimming in the lake.

Bedraggled, the quarterback rose to his feet.

quarterback rosethe to

feethis

Bed

rag gled

Barking loudly, the dog approached

dog approached

theloudly

Bar

ki ng

Your turn

Flabbergasted, he refused to believe the result.

Overwhelmed, she slouched to the floor.

Adjective clauses An adjective clause modifies a noun. It gives us

more detail about that noun. Often times, adjective clauses start with words

like who, that, which.

The carpenter whom you hired fixed the shelves. The carpenter whom you hired fixed the shelves

that were uneven.

The carpenter whom you hired fixed the shelves that were uneven.

Carpenter fixed shelves

you hired whom that were uneven

The

the

Your turn! The student who lent you her pen had left

for the day. Marla, who is a new student, made friends

easily.

Adverb clause

An adverb clause modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb.

It tells when, where, why, or how.

Before I took the test, I studied for hours. I was happy because I passed the test.

I was happy because I passed the test.

I was happy

I passed test

the

because

Your turn! Until the customers return, you may sit

here. Kelly may have the posters unless Louis

wants them.

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is two or more simple sentences joined by either a coma and a conjunction, or by a semicolon.

To vote, you must register in advance, and you need to bring a current identification card.

To vote, you must register in advance, and you must bring a drivers’ license.

You must register

to

votein

advanceand

You must bring license

a drivers’

We went skiing and we went snowboarding.

We laughed and we cried.