How to Diagram Sentences
Sentence diagramming is the skill of structuring the sentences. It is the fundamental step of learning to write English. It is a pictorial representation of the grammatical structure that helps people create sentences that make sense grammatically. With this technique, people can also develop a skill of creating complex sentences. It is a technique that involves visually arranging the components of a sentence structure and parts of speech. Sentence diagramming is a smart way to find the best way of creating phrases. Step 1: Two Lines - Start diagramming your sentences using two lines. Draw a horizontal line and cut it by drawing a vertical line through the horizontal line. The side on the left of the vertical line represents the subject of the sentence; the other side houses the predicate. Step 2: Subject and Predicate - For basic sentence structuring, create a subject and a verb phrase to make an independent clause. The sentence makes sense without any other words added to it. Step 3: Building on the Independent Clause - Some sentences include the 'what’ and 'whom' elements, known as the direct object. Create another vertical line to the right of the predicate, and place the direct object there. Step 4: Increase Complexity - To enhance the quality of a sentence, additional modifiers are needed. This is where we need to discuss indirect objects. Direct objects are modified using the action verbs, and indirect objects are modified with direct objects. Draw a diagonal beneath your verb and connect it with the indirect object.
Subject and Predicate
Read each sentence below. Identify the subject and the predicate. Place each word on the diagram.
Nouns and Verbs
Read each sentence below. Identify the subject and verb. Then draw a line between the subject and the verb.
Simple Sentences
When you diagram sentences, write the subject and predicate on a line, with a line between them.
Separating Subjects and Predicates
Write the subject and predicate of each sentence on the line provided. Draw a line between the subject and the predicate.
Simple Compound Sentences
Read each sentence below. Identify the verb. Identify the subject. Then draw a line between each subject and its verb. Identify the conjunction(C). Then, in the space below, diagram each sentence.
Match Sentences to Diagrams
Match each diagram with the sentence it belongs to. Then fill in the diagrams with the words from the sentences.
Appositives
An appositive is a noun or pronoun that identifies another noun or pronoun in a sentence. When diagramming a sentence with an appositive, place the appositive immediately after the word it identifies, and enclose it in parentheses.
The Predicate Adjective
A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb to describe the subject of the sentence. When diagramming a sentence with a predicate adjective, place it on the same line with the subject and linking verb. The predicate adjective is separated from the linking verb by a short diagonal line that does not break through the horizontal line.
Infinitives Used as Nouns
When diagramming a sentence in which an infinitive is used as a noun, put the infinitive in the same place that the noun would normally go.