Diagramming Sentences

Subjects and Verbs

• To diagram a sentence, first find the simple subject and the simple predicate, or verb, and write them on a horizontal line.

• Keep the capital letters but leave out the punctuation marks, except in cases such as Mr. and April 5, 2011.

• Write the following diagram example in your notes for this sentence.

Horses gallop. Horses gallop

Questions

• To diagram a question, first make the question into a statement. Then diagram the sentence.

• Remember that in a diagram, the subject always comes first, even if it does not come first in the sentence.

• Write the following diagram example in your notes for this sentence.

Are you going? you Are going

Understood Subjects

• To diagram an imperative sentence, place the understood subject you in parentheses on the horizontal line.

• Write the following diagram example in your notes for this sentence.

Clean your room. (you) Clean

Simple Diagramming Practice

• Gwendolyn Brooks has been the poet laureate of Illinois.

• My friend Angela just returned from California.

• Listen to her stories about her adventures.

• Have you ever been to California?• She really enjoyed her trip.

Compound Subjects

• To diagram a compound subject, put the subjects on parallel lines.

• Then put the connecting word (the conjunction) on a dotted line that joins the subject lines.

• Write the following diagram example in your notes for this sentence.

Sharks and eels can be dangerous.

Compound Verbs• To diagram a compound verb, put the

two verbs on parallel lines. • Then join them by a dotted line on which

you write the connecting word.• Write the following diagram examples in

your notes for the following sentences.The cowboy swung into the

saddle and rode away.

Alice Walker has written many books and received several prizes for them.

Compound Subjects and Compound Verbs

• A sentence with both a compound subject and a compound verb combines the patterns of each.

• Sometimes parts of a compound subject or compound verb are joined by correlative conjunctions, such as both…and

• Write the following diagram examples in your notes for the following sentences.

• Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., saw a problem and did something about it.

• Both Kylie and Shane can sing.

Compound Subject and Verb Practice

• Everyone knows and likes Mr. Karras.• Hurricanes and tornadoes are frequent

during the summer.• Jack and Rose were frying tortillas and

grating cheese for the tacos.• Both Jade and Amy have written

stories about their childhoods.• Elena and I grabbed our jackets and

took the bus to the mall.

Adjectives

• Adjectives are written on slanted lines connected to the word or words they modify.

• Possessive pronouns are diagrammed in the same way adjectives are.

• Write the following diagram example in your notes for the following sentence.

• A huge silver spaceship landed in the field.

Adverbs

• Adverbs are written on slanted lines connected to the word or words they modify.

• When an adverb modifies an adjective or another adverb, it is placed on a line connected to the word it modifies.

• Write the diagram example in your notes for the following sentence.

• This extremely rare record will almost certainly cost a great deal.

Conjunctions and Modifiers

• When a modifier applies to only one part of the compound subject, it is diagrammed as follows.

• Benjamin Davis, Sr., and his son worked hard and rose quickly through the military.

• When a conjunction joins two modifiers, it is diagrammed as follows.

• The English and American musicians played slowly and quite beautifully.

Adjective and Adverb Practice

• The determined young Frederick Douglas certainly worked hard.

• The talented actress spoke loudly and clearly.

• Susan and her sister will arrive early tomorrow.

• The best musicians always play here.• Generally that glue does not work very

well.

Direct Objects• A direct object is diagrammed on the

horizontal line with the subject and verb.

• A vertical line separated the direct object from the verb.

• This line does not cross the horizontal line.

• Write the diagram examples in your notes for the following sentences.

• We like pizza.• Lizards eat flies and earthworms.

Indirect Objects

• An indirect object is diagrammed on a horizontal line beneath the verb.

• The verb and the indirect object are joined by a slanting line.

• Write the diagram example in your notes for the following sentences.

• Maria bought me a present.• Tanya gave the singer and dancer

cues.

Direct and Indirect Object Practice

• Several businesses bought our school computer equipment.

• He sent the American Red Cross and Good Will industries his extra clothes.

• My aunt knitted Violet and me sweaters.

• Kim drew us a quick sketch.• Jerry and Wendie are organizing the

play and the refreshments.

Subject Complements• A subject complement is diagrammed on

the horizontal line with the subject and the verb.

• It follows the linking verb.• A line slanting toward the subject separated

the subject complement from the verb.• Write the diagram examples for the

following sentences in your notes.• Celine Dionne is a famous singer.• Clara is a student and a volunteer

nurse.• She was extremely nice.• We were tired but very happy.

Subject Complement Practice

• Turtles are reptiles.• Their tough bills look sharp and

strong.• Turtles may grow very old.• The alligator snapper is the largest

freshwater turtle.• Few turtles are dangerous.

Prepositional Phrases

• A prepositional phrase is diagrammed below the word it modifies.

• Write the preposition on a slanting line below the modified word.

• Then write the object of the preposition on a horizontal line connected to the slanting line.

Prepositional Phrase Examples

• The tour extends across the country and around the world.

• Richard Wright wrote one of the books on that subject.

Prepositional Phrase Practice

• The director of that movie about the Civil War was chosen for an Academy Award.

• A play about Cleopatra will be performed tonight.

• Leroy practices with his band and by himself.

• Stevie Wonder has written songs about love and freedom.

• The scientist worked late into the night.

Subordinate Clauses: Adjective Clauses

• Diagram an adjective clause by connecting it with a broken line to the word it modifies.

• Draw the broken line between the relative pronoun and the word it relates to.

• Write the following diagram example in your notes for the this sentence.

• The students whose projects are selected will attend the regional contest.

Subordinate Clauses: Adverb Clauses

• Diagram an adverb clause by using a broken line to connect the adverb clause to the word it modifies.

• Place the subordinating conjunction that introduces the adverb clause on the broken line.

• Write the following diagram example in your notes for this sentence.

• If I study for two more hours, I will finish my homework.

Subordinate Clause Practice

• Proverbs are sayings that usually give advice.

• Because the day was very hot, the cool water felt good.

• The problem that worries us now is the pollution of underground sources of water.

• If it does not rain tomorrow, we will visit Crater Lake.

• Janice and Linda found some empty seats as the movie started.

Diagramming Compound Sentences

• The second independent clause in a compound sentence is diagrammed below the first and is joined to it by a coordinating conjunction.

• Write the following diagram example in your notes for this sentence.

• Ossie Davis wrote the play, and Ruby Dee starred in it.

Compound Sentence Practice

• We went to the mall, and everyone had a good time.

• Miriam celebrates Hanukkah, and she told our class about the holiday.

• Luis Alvarez was an atomic scientist, but his son became a geologist.

• Do you like football, or do you prefer soccer?

• Sandy Koufax is my baseball hero, but my sister prefers Hank Aaron.