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What is diagramming?
Sentence analysis
Shows relationship of each word to the rest of the
sentence
Think of frog dissection
First…
We already know:
Every sentence MUST have a subject and verb
Subject=noun
Subject Predicate
See how this basic sentence is
diagrammed:
Rex barks.
Rex Barks
Subject Predicate
Who or what? Does or is what?
Now You Try:
Rex whined.
Subject Predicate
Who or what? Does or is what?
Good. Now Try again:
Rex was panting.
(Hint: be sure to include all parts of the verb.)
Subject Predicate
Who or what? Does or is what?
Diagram these sentences.
Remember, subject on the left,
predicate on the right.
Subject Predicate
Who or what? Does or is what?
Diagram these sentences.
Remember, subject on the left,
predicate on the right.
Subject Predicate
Does or is what?
Diagram these sentences.
Remember, subject on the left,
predicate on the right.
SOMEBODY DOES or IS
Or
SOMETHING SOMETHING
Now, what if we want to make our
sentences pretty?
birds sing
birds sing
birds sing
All the underlined words connect a noun, “tree,” with the rest of
the sentence, in this case through the verb “ran.” Notice that
each propositional phrase (“phrase” means the preposition, its
object (the noun it connects) and any modifiers of the object))
answers the questions “where” or possibly “how.” These are our
old friends, the ADVERB QUESTIONS, and since the phrase
answers where and how the verb was carried out, we know
these phrases are acting as ADVERBS modifying the verb.
How to diagram a prepositional
phrase:
tree
Notice that the preposition goes on a slanting line just below the
word the phrase modified, the object goes on a horizontal line
connected to the preposition line, and any modifier of the noun
object goes under it. In these phrases the word “the” is an
adjective telling “which tree.” Even though our word order goes:
preposition, adjective, noun object, we diagram it: preposition,
noun object, adjective, because we are showing the importance
of words.
squirrel ran
It’s pretty, no? You too, can have this much linear
fun!
Let’s diagram these prepositional phrases used as
ADJECTIVES:
horse galloped
snortings
star pastures
pursuers
forehead
Study the placement of all phrases. Notice “on its forehead” modifies the
noun “star.” (“On its forehead” does NOT describe this horse!) Nor did it
“gallop” “at its pursuers.” that tells about its “snortings.” Any noun, not just
the sujbect noun, may be modified by a prepositional phrase.
Review and Practice
1. Each word in a sentence is one of the eight parts of speech, depending
on the job it does in the sentence.
2. Groups of words, called phrase, may act as single parts of speech.
3. A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, a noun object, and
perhaps some adjectives modifying the object.
4. A preposition connects the object with the rest of the sentence and show
the object is related to the sentence. Usually the relationship has to do
with direction, space, time, possession, etc.
5. Prepositional phrases usually act as ADJECTIVES or ADVERBS. The whole
phrase will answer one of the ADJECTIVE or ADVERB questions.
6. We diagram a prepositional phrase under the word it modifies. The
object goes on a horizontal line connected to the preposition. Any
modifiers of the object go under the object.
Diagram these sentences after you have found each prepositional
phrase and asked yourself,
“What question does it answer?”
RUTH
RAN
AND
ANN
LAUGHED
HE
AND
AT
CRIED
TIME
EXAMPLE SENTENCE WITH COMPOUND OBJECTS
OF PREPOSITIONS
I WAVED
JOE
AND
SAM
COMPOUND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
HE WANDERED
AND
HILL DALE
COMPOUND MAIN VERBS
CRACKING
AND
THUNDER HAD BEEN
RUMBLING
COMPOUND SENTENCES
JOE WENT
BUT
SCHOOL
I STAYED
HOME
…AND EVEN SCARIER: COMBINATIONS!
MARY SANG
AND
AND
SUE DANCED
BUT
STARED
AGONY
AND
I
AND
EMBARRASSMENT
MUMBLED
AND
UNDERSTOOD “YOU”
So far, you have always, it is hoped, found the
subject of each verb. In every sentence, the “doer”
or “be-er” of the verb has been stated. However,
what about this sentence?
Go!
If a large, fierce person says this to you, you will not stick
around looking for a subject. You are immediately
aware that the doer of the action is supposed to be
“you.” That is quickly understood.
UNDERSTOOD “YOU”, CONT.
In fact, we call the subject of a command the
“understood ‘you’” and we diagram it thus:
(YOU) GO
Other Examples:
*Let me alone.
*Give me my purse.
*March!
DIRECT ADDRESS
Until now, the only NOUN JOBS you have studied
are SUBJECT and OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION.
There are many more. Now you may add DIRECT
ADDRESS. Here are some examples:
Mary, the flowers are blooming.
Come here, John.
MARY
WOW!
BOB FELL
STAIRS
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
Like nouns of direct address and interjections,
certain INTRODUCTORY WORDS have no
grammatical connection with the sentence and are
diagrammed on a line above the subject: