HOW TO DIAGRAM A SENTENCE ~~~. Although diagramming sentences has faded out of many schools over the years, it can be a great aid to understand sentence structure (1). The process of diagramming helps English users think about the function of each word and the work that it does in a sentence. Subject and Verb In order for a sentence to stand on its own, it SUBJECT Aca needs to have a subject and verb. A diagram displays this in its most basic form. Draw a horizontal line (called the spine) with a vertical line in the middle which will separate the subject (on the left) and verb (on the right) Direct DIRECT Object SUBJECT | = ———‘ |: OBJECT. If the verb is transitive (performs an action) it may have a direct object that receives the action. This will be come after the verb, separated by a vertical line coming up from the spine. Predicate Adjective PREDICATE SUBJECT ADJECTIVE If the verb is intransitive (describes a state of being) there may be predicate adjective that describes or modifies the noun, It is diagrammed identically to a direct object, but the vertical line slants toward the subject, Bae Adjectives SUBJECT VERB OBJECT Because adjectives describe nouns, they are placed under the nouns they are describing on diagonal line. This example of logical placement can be seen in many other areas when diagramming a sentence Adverbs Rae SUBJECT VERB. OBJECT Because adverbs can describe _ verbs, % >, on adjectives, and other adverbs, they can be BY : ° laced und irts of speech. , % eee 7 oy Prepositional DIRECT Phrases SUBJECT OBJECT ‘A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and the object of the preposition, so when diagrammed it will always have at OBJECT OF PREP. least two parts. Prepositional phrases usually modify nouns or verbs (2), so they will often be diagrammed under them. Compound Subject SUB. VERB and Verb In order to diagram a compound subject (two subjects joined by a conjunction) both subjects are place on parallel lines, joined at the end two diagonal lines holding the conjunction, The structure is the same for a compound verb, but itis flipped. Diagramming in Action This is what a sentence diagram would look like with the sentence, "My brother and I quickly climbed trees at school." or powered by ® PIKTOCHART