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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.
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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.
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
© Capital Community College
Modifiers (including articles) go under the words they modify on slanted lines.
The glacier is melting slowly.
glacier is meltingThe
slowly
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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.
The glacier is slowly destroying the forest.
glacier is destroyingThe
slowly
forestthe
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
© Capital Community College
Predicate nouns and predicate adjectives follow the verb and are separated from the verb by a slanted line.
The glacier is not really dangerous.
glacier isThe
dangerousnot
really
Josiah Budnick is professora brilliant
Josiah Budnick is a brilliant professor.
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
© Capital Community College
With compound subjects and predicates, the sentence diagram begins to branch out.
The professor and her colleagues are studying glaciers and avalanches.
professorThe
colleaguesher
are studying
and
glaciers
avalanches
and
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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.
professorThe
colleaguesher
and
are studying
classifyingan
d glaciers
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
© Capital Community College
Indirect objects are arranged under the main sentence line.
Professor Higgins gave her students two projects.
Professor Higgins gave projectstwo
students
her
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
© Capital Community College
Prepositional phrases are arranged on branches below the words they modify.
Professor Higgins studied glaciers in Antarctica during the 1950s.
Professor Higgins studied glaciers
Antarcticain
1950sthe
during
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
© Capital Community College
Gerund and infinitive phrases are displayed on standards — except when the infinitive is a modifier.
Jorge likes to study glaciers.
Jorge likes
tostudy glaciers
Studying glaciers is fun.Studying glaciers
is fun
His decision to study glaciers
was fortunate.decision was fortunate
His to
study glaciers
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
© Capital Community College
The relationship between clauses in compound and complex sentences is shown with a dotted line.
Glaciers are powerful forces, but they move very slowly.
Glaciers are forcespowerful
they moveslowlyvery
but
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
© Capital Community College
One last diagram: a complex sentence.
Professor Higgins invited Jorge to the conference because he had written the best research paper.
Professor Higgins invited Jorgeto
conferencethe
he had written paper
the
bestresearch
beca
use
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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.
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
© 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
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DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES
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