DIAGRAMMING SENTENCES

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.
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.
Modifiers (including articles) go under the words they modify on slanted lines.
The glacier is melting slowly.
glacier is melting
The
slowly
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 destroying
The
slowly
forest
the
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 is
The
dangerous
not
really
Josiah Budnick is professor
a
brilliant
Josiah Budnick is a brilliant professor.
With compound subjects and predicates, the sentence diagram begins to branch out.
The professor and her colleagues are studying glaciers and avalanches.
professor
The
colleagues
her
are studying
and
glaciers
avalanches
and
Compound verbs are put on branches in a similar fashion.
The professor and her colleagues are studying and classifying glaciers.
professor
The
colleagues
her
and
are studying
classifying
and
glaciers
Indirect objects are arranged under the main sentence line.
Professor Higgins gave her students two projects.
Professor Higgins gave projects
two
students
her
Prepositional phrases are arranged on branches below the words they modify.
Professor Higgins studied glaciers in Antarctica during the 1950s.
Professor Higgins studied glaciers
Antarctica
in
1950s
the
during
Gerund and infinitive phrases are displayed on standards — except when the infinitive is a modifier.
Jorge likes to study glaciers.
Jorge likes
to
study glaciers
Studying glaciers is fun.
Study
ing glaciers
is fun
His decision to study glaciers
was fortunate.
decision was fortunate
His
to
study glaciers
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 forces
powerful
they move
slowly
very
but
One last diagram: a complex sentence.
Professor Higgins invited Jorge to the conference because he had written the best research paper.
Professor Higgins invited Jorge
to
conference
the
he had written paper
the
best
research
because
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.
Congratulations!
This PowerPoint presentation was created by
Charles Darling, PhD
Professor of English and Webmaster
Capital Community College
Hartford, Connecticut
copyright November 1999