High School EnglishMrs. Fontana

Diagramming

Why do we diagram?

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 extend 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.

Basic Diagramming

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.

Single-Word Modifiers

Modifiers (including articles) go under the words they modify on slanted lines (i.e., adjectives and adverbs).

The glacier is melting slowly.

glacier is meltingThe

slowly

Prepositional Phrases (Adj / Adv)

Prepositional phrases are arranged on branches below the words they modify.

Professor Higgins studied glaciers in Antarctica during the 1950s.

Professor Higgins studied glaciers

Antarctica

in1950s

the

during

Compound Subjects and Predicates

With compound subjects and predicates, the sentence diagram begins to branch out.

The professor and her colleagues are studying glaciers and avalanches.

professorThe

colleagues her

are studyinga

nd

glaciers

avalanches

an

d

Compound Subjects and Predicates

Compound verbs are put on branches in a similar fashion.

The professor and her colleagues are studying and classifying glaciers.

professorThe

colleagues her

an

d

are studying

classifying

an

dglaciers

Direct Objects

A direct object follows the action 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

Indirect Objects

Indirect objects are arranged under the main sentence line.

Professor Higgins gave her students two projects.

Professor Higgins gave projects tw

ostudents her

Objective Complements

An objective complement follows the direct object on the horizontal line; it is separated from the DO by a slanted line that does not go through the horizontal line.We elected Joe president of the senior class.

We elected

of

Joe president

the

class

senio

r

Predicate Nouns and Predicate Adjectives

Predicate nouns and predicate adjectives follow a linking verb and are separated from the verb by a slanted line.The glacier is not really dangerous.

glacier isThe

dangerousnot

really

Josiah Budnick is professor a brillian

t

Josiah Budnick is a brilliant professor.

Participial and Adjective Infinitive Phrases

His decision to study glaciers was fortunate.

decision was fortunateH

is to

study glaciers

Studying glaciers, Professor Higgins was intrigued.

ing glaciers

Professor Higgins was intriguedStudy

Gerund and Infinitive Phrases

Gerund and infinitive phrases are displayed on standards — except when the infinitive is an adjective or adverb.

Jorge likes to studyglaciers. Jorge likes

tostudy glaciers

Studying glaciers is fun.

Study glaciers is

fun

ing

Noun Clauses (S, DO, PN, OP, AP)

They thought Thursday was a holiday. (DO)

They thought

Thursday was holiday

Noun Clauses are displayed on standards.

x a

The idea that he could succeed carried him through. (AP of S)

idea ( ) carried him

he could succeed

thro

ugh

that

The

Adjective and Adverb Clauses

God, who created the universe, also controls it. (ADJ)

God controls it also

who created universe the

He is certain that his request will be granted. (ADV)He is certain

his

request will be granted

that

The relationship between clauses in compound sentences is shown with a dotted line.Glaciers are powerful forces, but they move very slowly.

Glaciers are forces powerfu

l

they move slow

l

yvery

but

Compound Sentences

Complex Sentences

Professor Higgins invited Jorge to the conference because he had written the best research paper.Professor Higgins invited Jorge to conference

the

he had written paper

thebest

researc

h

beca

use

Compound-Complex Sentences

They that know God will be humble; they that know themselves cannot be proud. ~ Flavel

They will be humble

they can be proud not

that know God

that know themselves

Independent Elements

Appositives and other independent elements are not grammatically related to the sentence; therefore, they are diagrammed separately from the sentence.

• Appositives

• Interjections

• Direct address

• Parenthetical expressions

• Nominative absolutes

• Expletives (there / it)

Independent Elements

you have met teachers your

new

DavidDavid, have you met your new teachers? (DA)

There is no other answer to the problem. (EXP)

answer is

no

There

other

to problem

the

Be sure to review the rest of the material on DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES in the Grammar & Composition Handbook for any element not covered here.

As a writer, you will be surprised at the additional confidence you gain by mastering these visual renderings of sentence patterns.