diagramming sentences © capital community college diagramming sentences provides a way of picturing...

DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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 — as well as satisfaction in the pictorial rendering of sentence structure. This presentation touches upon only the basics of diagramming. Use the hyperlinks back to the Guide to Grammar and Writing (this color) for additional information.

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.

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

The glacier is melting slowly.

glacier is meltingThe

slowly

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

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.

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

glaciers

avalanches

Compound verbs are put on branches in a similar fashion.

The professor and her colleagues are studying and classifying glaciers.

professorThe

colleaguesher

are studying

classifyingan

d glaciers

Indirect objects are arranged under the main sentence line.

Professor Higgins gave her students two projects.

Professor Higgins gave projectstwo

students

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

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

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

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

bestresearch

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.

This PowerPoint presentation was created by

Charles Darling, PhD

Professor of English and Webmaster

Capital Community College

Hartford, Connecticut

copyright November 1999

• DOL #1 8/17/10• 1. She moves with elegant grace to the

witness stand. • The owner Mr. Nesbitt came to the

restaurant after school.• I want the truth from the witness, and I

need a short answer.• I have trouble testifying against my brother

today.

DOL #2 8/20/10

• The capital of Wisconsin is Madison.

• My car works well in the rainy months.

• I love Spam on my toast.

• The sun hovers over the sea during the day, and the moon rises soon.

• The Saints play Saturday night at Ford Field in Detroit.

• DOL #3 8/20/12• The four men near the parade disliked the music. • I have been watching and recording the same

comedy show all night.• The fireman walked the spotted dog to the park.• Mrs. Woodson won a bronze medal at the 1998

Winter Olympics. • Some fans took cameras to the outdoor concert.

• DOL #4 8/22/12

• 1. I write sentences in my English class.

• 2. Lunch and dinner are very delicious.

• 3. Walk to the store in three hours.

• 4. You are my best friend.

• 5. The man is happy because he won the lottery.

• DOL #5 8/23/12

• 1. The Saints won the big, championship ring.

• Brett Favre did not retire last Sunday.

• The Smokey Mountains is the largest range in North Carolina.

• Who has the key to the door?

• DOL #6 8/23/12

• He is inspired by the 9/11 tragedy.

• Everyone expects Dexter to love her.

• The fierce storm washed out my flower beds and bushes.

• LSU starts playing football in September.

• Junior draws cartoons, and his sister writes the captions.

• DOL #7 8/24/12

• Stop forwarding me this junk email.

• Joe and I are wearing red to school tomorrow.

• He received a detention for too many tardies.

• The chicken crossed the road, and he made it there safely.

• DOL #8 8/26/10

• 1. The numbers keep increasing because the bank made an error.

• The count for tomorrow’s lunch is thirty.

• The truck skidded off the road yesterday.

• Keep the door shut.

• Crayola is conserving energy and making products for the environment.

Sentence Diagramming

• DOL #9 8/30/10• I am taking my money and savings to the bank. • The credit card is not working today.• Buy me some blue and green bracelets.• The car parked in my spot, and they crossed

the lines.• My dad and mom have a large stack of junk

• DOL #10 8/31/10• 1. Hold on to your hats.• 2. Is it raining or snowing outside?• 3. The answers and sentences to the questions

are easy.• 4. The boy walked and fed his dog because he

was bored.• 5. I went home last night, and my mom cooked

pizza.

• DOL #11 9/1/10

• What are the rules?

• She wrote me a long letter and mailed it.

• She studied criminology for a long time.

• The public and voters did not believe her.

• I gave my friend Calvin a magnet from my trip yesterday.

• DOL #12

• My new hiking boots are brown and black.

• Hiking and kayaking are my favorite sports.

• The Model T is remembered and observed as the first inexpensive car.

• Today’s cars and trucks are much sturdier.

• They are planning the restoration, and she is holding the party.

• DOL #12• I have enjoyed it more every year because I

watch the plays. • The museum has shown, with small working

parts, the transportation system in the lakes region.

• The twins, Emma and Ben, were watching their brother.

• Jason was cleaning out the garage.

• DOL #13• I had two ponies and three tractors to ride at the

farm.• We swam nearly everyday in the farm pond.• She throws me the rope, and I catch it. • The police chief told them the story. • They also bought and issued him an official uniform.• He started a big riot, and the teacher sent him home.

• DOL #14• Addis fought really hard and won the teeth war. • He tied them together in small bunches, and the

store sold them. • Addis made the first toothbrush and toothpaste.• He drilled small holes in the cone, and he attached

miniature bristles. • He asked his brother for some bristles and string.

• DOL #15

• Both of those are classics.

• Geena and Larry are walking to the store after school.

• Four quarts are equal one gallon.

• Kate rode the horse and herded up the sheep.

• The painting won numerous prizes and it was very beautiful.

• DOL #16 • The coach seems to march with a lot of

energy.• Mom wanted a picture of her. • Peter pressed a button, and the ship shuddered

violently. • Peter grinned at me kindly. • The child in her arms is my sister.

• DOL #17

• That dog is ruining my life.

• Get him off my property.

• A thirteen-year-old boy found the stamp in his parents’ attic.

• I sing a sweet song to myself very softly.

• I like playing many types of music.

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