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 SC S S AV LV DO ADV ADJ ADJ or ADV This horizontal line is called the baseline. Vertical line separating S and V goes THROUGH baseline. Vertical line between verb and DO does NOT go through baseline. line before SC slants toward the subj. SC can be noun or adj.

Let’s Practice 1.The red car drove away. 2.Sandy is my friend. 3.Were they laughing? 4.Stop laughing! 5.The silliest people will be laughing. 6.We don’t have a math quiz tomorrow. 7.He is extremely courteous. 8.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 DO ADJ Prep. ADJ OP Prep. OP A prep. phrase can even modify an OP (as an adjective of the OP.) This prep. phrase is acting as an adverb modifying the verb.

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 AV DO conj. S Compound Subject

Diagramming Compound Elements S AV DO conj. AV Compound Action Verb *Verbs share a DO

Diagramming Compound Elements S LV SC conj. LV Compound Linking Verb *Verbs share a SC

Diagramming Compound Elements S SC DO conj. AV Compound DO or SC DO S LV conj. SC

Diagramming Compound Elements S AV SC conj. LV Compound Predicate *Each verb has its own object/complement DO

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.

Diagramming Compound Sentences S S AV DO ADJ Coord. Conj. 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.