2. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College 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 ramify 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. This presentation touches upon only the basics of diagramming. Use the hyperlinks back to the Guide to Grammar and Writing (this color) for additional information.

3. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College 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.

4. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College Modifiers (including articles) go under the words they modify on slanted lines. The glacier is melting slowly. glacier is melting The slowly

5. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College A direct object follows the verb on the horizontal line; it is separated from the verb by a vertical line that does not go through the horizontal line.direct object The glacier is slowly destroying the forest. glacier is destroying The slowly forest the

6. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College Predicate nouns and predicate adjectivesPredicate nouns and predicate adjectives follow the verb and are separated from the verb by a slanted line. The glacier is not really dangerous. glacier is The dangerous not really Josiah Budnick is professor a b r i l l i a n t Josiah Budnick is a brilliant professor.

7. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College With compound subjects and predicates, the sentence diagram begins to branch out.subjectspredicates The professor and her colleagues are studying glaciers and avalanches. professor T h e colleagues h e r are studying a n d glaciers avalanches a n d

8. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College Compound verbs are put on branches in a similar fashion. The professor and her colleagues are studying and classifying glaciers. professor T h e colleagues h e r a n d are studying classifying a n d glaciers

9. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College Indirect objectsIndirect objects are arranged under the main sentence line. Professor Higgins gave her students two projects. Professor Higgins gave projects t w o students h e r

10. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College Prepositional phrasesPrepositional phrases are arranged on branches below the words they modify. Professor Higgins studied glaciers in Antarctica during the 1950s. Professor Higgins studied glaciers Antarctica i n 1950s t h e d u r i n g

11. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College Gerund and infinitive phrasesGerund and infinitive phrases are displayed on standards — except when the infinitive is a modifier. Jorge likes to study glaciers. Jorge likes t o study glaciers Studying glaciers is fun. S t u d y ing glaciers is fun His decision to study glaciers was fortunate. decision was fortunate H i s t o study glaciers

12. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College The relationship between clauses in compound and complex sentences is shown with a dotted line.compound and complex sentences Glaciers are powerful forces, but they move very slowly. Glaciers are forces p o w e r f u l they move s l o w l y v e r y but

13. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College One last diagram: a complex sentence.complex sentence Professor Higgins invited Jorge to the conference because he had written the best research paper. Professor Higgins invited Jorge t o conference t h e he had written paper t h e b e s t r e s e a r c h b e c a u s e

14. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College Be sure to review the rest of the material on DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES in the Guide to Grammar and Writing. Soon, you will be diagramming sentences in your sleep and be the envy of the entire neighborhood! As a writer, you will be surprised at the additional confidence you gain by mastering these visual renderings of sentence patterns. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

15. © Capital Community College This PowerPoint presentation was created by Charles Darling, PhD Professor of English and Webmaster Capital Community College Hartford, Connecticut copyright November 1999

16. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #1 8/17/10 1. She moves with elegant grace to the witness stand. The owner Mr. Nesbitt came to the restaurant after school. I want the truth from the witness, and I need a short answer. I have trouble testifying against my brother today.

17. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #2 8/20/10 The capital of Wisconsin is Madison. My car works well in the rainy months. I love Spam on my toast. The sun hovers over the sea during the day, and the moon rises soon. The Saints play Saturday night at Ford Field in Detroit.

18. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #3 8/20/12 The four men near the parade disliked the music. I have been watching and recording the same comedy show all night. The fireman walked the spotted dog to the park. Mrs. Woodson won a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Some fans took cameras to the outdoor concert.

19. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #4 8/22/12 1. I write sentences in my English class. 2. Lunch and dinner are very delicious. 3. Walk to the store in three hours. 4. You are my best friend. 5. The man is happy because he won the lottery.

20. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #5 8/23/12 1. The Saints won the big, championship ring. Brett Favre did not retire last Sunday. The Smokey Mountains is the largest range in North Carolina. Who has the key to the door?

21. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #6 8/23/12 He is inspired by the 9/11 tragedy. Everyone expects Dexter to love her. The fierce storm washed out my flower beds and bushes. LSU starts playing football in September. Junior draws cartoons, and his sister writes the captions.

22. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #7 8/24/12 Stop forwarding me this junk email. Joe and I are wearing red to school tomorrow. He received a detention for too many tardies. The chicken crossed the road, and he made it there safely.

23. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #8 8/26/10 1. The numbers keep increasing because the bank made an error. The count for tomorrow’s lunch is thirty. The truck skidded off the road yesterday. Keep the door shut. Crayola is conserving energy and making products for the environment.

24. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College Sentence Diagramming DOL #9 8/30/10 I am taking my money and savings to the bank. The credit card is not working today. Buy me some blue and green bracelets. The car parked in my spot, and they crossed the lines. My dad and mom have a large stack of junk mail.

25. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #10 8/31/10 1. Hold on to your hats. 2. Is it raining or snowing outside? 3. The answers and sentences to the questions are easy. 4. The boy walked and fed his dog because he was bored. 5. I went home last night, and my mom cooked pizza.

26. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #11 9/1/10 What are the rules? She wrote me a long letter and mailed it. She studied criminology for a long time. The public and voters did not believe her. I gave my friend Calvin a magnet from my trip yesterday.

27. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #12 My new hiking boots are brown and black. Hiking and kayaking are my favorite sports. The Model T is remembered and observed as the first inexpensive car. Today’s cars and trucks are much sturdier. They are planning the restoration, and she is holding the party.

28. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #12 I have enjoyed it more every year because I watch the plays. The museum has shown, with small working parts, the transportation system in the lakes region. The twins, Emma and Ben, were watching their brother. Jason was cleaning out the garage.

29. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #13 I had two ponies and three tractors to ride at the farm. We swam nearly everyday in the farm pond. She throws me the rope, and I catch it. The police chief told them the story. They also bought and issued him an official uniform. He started a big riot, and the teacher sent him home.

30. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #14 Addis fought really hard and won the teeth war. He tied them together in small bunches, and the store sold them. Addis made the first toothbrush and toothpaste. He drilled small holes in the cone, and he attached miniature bristles. He asked his brother for some bristles and string.

31. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #15 Both of those are classics. Geena and Larry are walking to the store after school. Four quarts are equal one gallon. Kate rode the horse and herded up the sheep. The painting won numerous prizes and it was very beautiful.

32. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #16 The coach seems to march with a lot of energy. Mom wanted a picture of her. Peter pressed a button, and the ship shuddered violently. Peter grinned at me kindly. The child in her arms is my sister.

33. DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES © Capital Community College DOL #17 That dog is ruining my life. Get him off my property. A thirteen-year-old boy found the stamp in his parents’ attic. I sing a sweet song to myself very softly. I like playing many types of music.

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