Transcript Diagramming Basics: Label every word in the sentence.

Diagramming Basics:
Label every word in the sentence.
1. ALWAYS start with the verb. The verb is the
heart, the core, of every sentence. Label all
the verb(s) in the sentence. Are they action
or linking?
2. Label the subject. Find the subject by
asking, “Who/what verb?”
3. Find the direct object or subject
complement. (DO after an action verb, SC
after a linking verb.) Do this by asking,
“Subject verb whom/what?”
Label every word in the sentence.
4. Now look for the modifiers. There are 2
types of modifiers: adjectives and adverbs.
5. ADJECTIVES modify nouns or pronouns
They answer: What kind?
Articles are types of adjectives (limiting)
6. ADVERBS modify verbs, adjectives, other
adverbs.
They answer: How? When? Where? Why?
Making the Diagram
S
This horizontal line
is called
the baseline.
S
AV
Vertical line
separating S and V
goes THROUGH
baseline.
DO
Vertical line
between verb and
DO does NOT go
through baseline.
LV
line before SC slants
toward the subj.
SC
SC
can be
noun
or adj.
Let’s Practice
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The red car drove away.
Sandy is my friend.
Were they laughing?
Stop laughing!
The silliest people will be laughing.
We don’t have a math quiz tomorrow.
He is extremely courteous.
Jason seems very tired.
Prepositional Phrases
• Prepositional Phrases act as either adjectives
or adverbs.
• They modify the same parts of speech and
answer the same questions as single-word
adjectives and adverbs.
Diagramming Prepositional Phrases
S
AV
This prep.
phrase is acting
as an adverb
modifying the verb.
DO
OP
OP
A prep. phrase can even
modify an OP
(as an adjective of the OP.)
Let’s Practice
1. The first chapter of the book was
fascinating.
2. We will have a test in English class
tomorrow.
3. We walked down the street to grandma’s
house.
4. Henry drove to the end of the street.
Compound Sentence Elements
Sentences can have compound elements:
1. Compound subject
2. Compound verb
3. Compound DO/SC
4. Compound predicate
Compound elements can be found even in
simple sentences.
Use the “rocket” to diagram compound
elements.
Diagramming Compound Elements
S
conj.
S
AV
DO
Compound Subject
Diagramming Compound Elements
conj.
S
AV
AV
DO
Compound Action Verb
*Verbs share a DO
Diagramming Compound Elements
conj.
S
LV
LV
SC
Compound Linking Verb
*Verbs share a SC
Diagramming Compound Elements
S
LV
conj.
AV
conj.
S
DO
DO
SC
SC
Compound DO or SC
Diagramming Compound Elements
conj.
S
LV
AV
SC
DO
Compound Predicate
*Each verb has its own
object/complement
Let’s Practice
1. Kevin and Neil finished the assignment.
2. Sandra finished her homework and played
the piano.
3. They mixed the dough quickly, put it into
the oven, and waited.
4. They washed and dried the sticky pots and
greasy pans.
5. The solution was simple and obvious.
Compound Sentences
1. Compound sentences join 2 or more
independent clauses. It’s like joining 2 or
more simple sentences.
2. Simply diagram each clause separately, and
join them with a dashed line and
coordinate conjunction (F.A.N.B.O.Y.S.).
3. The first clause must go on top.
Coord. Conj.
Diagramming Compound Sentences
S
AV
S
AV
DO
Important:
Each clause can have action or linking verb.
Clauses can have compound elements, too.
Let’s Practice
1. Sarah baked the cookies, and Katie frosted
the cupcakes.
2. The teacher posted the directions for the
writing assignment, but many students did
not complete it correctly.
3. We could go to the movie theater, or we
could rent a movie and watch it at home.