DiagrammingDiagramming

Diagramming is the representation of a sentence and its parts of speech in

graphical form

Where to beginWhere to beginAny time you need to diagram a sentence, you always start with the basics and

work your way down. The basics would include your subject, verb, and any complements that you have. Let’s just start with a simple sentence that does not have any complements.

Example: I drove around the school.

Begin by drawing your baseline. This is the formation you always begin with.

Then, put your subject on the left side and your verb on the right.

I drove

Once you have the basics covered, you then add in your modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases. The only modifier we have here is a prepositional phrase. We put this in an “L” formation underneath what it modifies. Put the preposition on the slanted line and the object of the preposition on the straight line. Modifiers are placed on a slanted line underneath what they modify.

around

school

the

PN and PAPN and PAWhenever we begin to diagram, we first want to break down the sentence

into its various parts: subjects, verbs, complement, prep phrases, etc.Example:The man in the blue suit is my father.

We begin to diagram by starting with the subject and verb. We draw the baseline like this:

Subject Verb/verb phrase

man is

Next stepsNext stepsNext we add in the complements. PN and PA are placed behind a slanted line,

while DOs are placed behind a straight line.

man is father

Now we have the basic meaning of our sentence on the baseline. Now we start adding in the modifiers. Adjectives and adverbs are placed on a slanted line underneath what they modify.

the

in

suitthe

blue

my

Benefits of diagrammingBenefits of diagramming

Once you understand how to diagram, you’ll notice that all structures have a set and predictable form. For example, prepositional phrases appear in the “L” formation. Modifiers like adjectives and adverbs slant underneath what they modify. This is useful because we can see at a glance what each word’s function is, as well as what those words modify. This can make grammatical functions clearer to see.

Diagramming is also useful because it forces you to look at each and every word In the sentence and recognize its function.

Diagramming other types of complements

Diagramming other types of complements

In the last sentence, we had a PN. DOs and IOs also have predictable places where they are placed in diagramming.

Example: I asked Karen a question.

I asked

1) Diagram the subject and verb first.

2) The DO goes behind a straight line after the verb. Note that the line does NOT bisect the baseline. Only the sub/verb divide bisects the baseline.

question

3) Add IO on the straight line of an L structure underneath the verb

Karen

4) Add in modifiers

a

PracticePracticeDetermine where the words in the following sentences would go on the

structure provided

1. The dog ran around the yard.

dog ran

the

around yardthe

More practiceMore practiceThis time, you determine the structure needed for the sentence.

The students in the school celebrated.

students celebrated

The in

schoolthe

More PracticeMore PracticeThis time, let’s add in those complements!

I saw my grandmother at the parade.

I saw grandmother

myat

parade

the

Independent PracticeIndependent PracticeDraw the baseline and add in modifiers for these sentences

1. I saw that movie in the theater.2. My aunt is a teacher.3. Tara sent Nina a letter.4. I made travel plans for Hawaii.5. I am excited about the Halloween party.

How to diagram modifiers that modify other words as well

How to diagram modifiers that modify other words as well

We already learned to diagram modifiers on a slanted line underneath what they modify. However, in order to show that a word modifies another word, we will “piggyback” it to the word being modified.

Example: The very fast car drove too dangerously.

car drove

The fastvery

dangerouslytoo

Diagramming compound elementsDiagramming compound elementsWe use a multi-tiered structure to show compound elements. If we have a

compound subject, we are going to make a two (or more)-tiered structure to show the subjects.

Example: Rick and Jane studied for their science quiz.

Rick

Jane and studied

forquiz

their

science

Compound VerbsCompound VerbsTo diagram compound verbs, we create the same structure as we did with the

compound subjects, but it’s reversed to show the compound verbs.Example: The bratty child screamed and cried.

child

screamed

cried

and

thebratty