1. Grammar 1.6
Diagramming Sentences: Simple Subject & Predicate; Understood Subject; Questions

2. Main Ideas A sentence diagram is a visual map of a sentence.
We place subjects, verbs (and verb phrases), questioning words and understood subjects in very specific places on a diagram.

3. Diagramming
Diagramming is a way of showing the structure of a sentence. Drawing a diagram can help you see how the parts of a sentence work together to form a complete thought.
Diagramming is the mapping of sentences. It is a visual representation of the way words in a sentence work to convey meaning.

4. Step 1: The Simple Sentence
Let’s start with the easiest type of sentence: a simple sentence with a one word subject and one word predicate.
ex.: Students learned.
→ Students (a noun) is the subject.
→ learned (a verb) is the predicate.
To diagram, draw a cross with a longer horizontal line than vertical.
Place the subject (Students) on the top left side of the cross. Place the predicate (learned) on the top right side of the cross.
Students learned
Note: Remove all punctuation when diagramming sentences.

5. You Try! Diagram the following sentences. 1. Cats meow. 2. I sleep.
3. Planes fly.
4. Campers hike.
Place all parts of the verb phrase on the predicate side of the diagram. Try these sentences.
5. You will sleep.
6. She is dancing.
7. I am eating.
8. Chickens will cluck.

6. Step 2: Understood Subjects
Remember back to the types of sentences based on function.
What are they?
1. Declarative
2. Interrogative
3. Imperative
4. Exclamatory
Imperative sentences -- or those giving commands — often have the understood subject you or you all.
How do we diagram those? Look at this sample sentence:
Sit.
The understood subject is “(You) sit.” The sentence is diagrammed like so…
(You) Sit

7. Step 3: Questions
Questions are tricky. They often have subjects in an unusual order or specific question words that change the structure of the sentence. Much of the content we discuss today will have importance later this year.
Questions are usually diagrammed in one of two ways:
1. With the questioning word as part of the verb phrase.
2. With the questioning word underneath the word(s) that answers it.
Ex. 1
May I postpone?
I May postpone
Ex. 2
Where are you going?
you are going
Where

8. You Try! Diagram the following sentences: Listen! Can I go?
Where is she?
What is happening?
* This one is a little tricky. What is the subject of the sentence.

9. Homework
For homework: on a piece of paper, diagram the following sentences.
1. Eat.
2. Answer!
3. Who cheated?
4. When are you reading?
5. I dance.
6. Speak!
7. Are they studying?
8. Do they bite?
9. Finch slobbers.
10. Does Beyonce Knowles sing?
Remember to ignore the punctuation.