CHAPTER i \ Sentence Diagramming 1.0 Written and Oral English Language Conventions Students write and speak with a command of standard English conventions appropriate to this grade level. 1.1 Use simple, compound, and compoundcomplex sentences. The Sentence Diagram A sentence diagram is a picture of how the parts of a sentence fit together. t shows how the words in the sentence are related. l For more about subjects and verbs, see page 7. Subjects and Verbs To diagram a sentence, first find the simple subject and the simple predicate, or verb, and write them on a horizontal line. Then, separate the subject and verb with a vertical line. Keep any capital letters, but leave out sentence punctuation. S Dogs bark. Dogs bark Children were singing. Children were singing The preceding examples are easy because each sentence contains only a simple subject and a verb. Now, look at a longer sentence. 412 Sentence Diagramming
My older brother is studying Arabic in school. To diagram the simple subject and the verb of this sentence, follow these three steps: Step 1: Separate the complete subject from the complete predicate. complete subject My older brother complete predicate is studying Arabic in school. Step 2: Find the simple subject and the verb. simple subject brother verb is studying Step 3: Draw the diagram. brother is studying Exercise _ 1 Diagramming Simple Subjects and Verbs Diagram the simple subject and verb in each of the following sentences. S 1. Aunt Carmen is teaching me to cook. 1. Aunt Carmen 1 is teaching HELP Remember that simple subjects and verbs may consist of more than one word. 2. The dog sleeps in the garage. 2. dog sleeps 1. My family goes to the store together every Saturday. 2. We shop at the grocery store at the corner of our street. 3. select the red beans, rice, meat, and cheese. 4. Grandma Lopez must have written the shopping list. 5. Rosita is buying the chile peppers and cilantro. The Sentence Diagram 413
For more about compound subjects, see page 13. Compound Subjects To diagram a compound subject, put the subjects on parallel lines. Then, put the connecting word (the conjunction, such as and, but, or or) on a dotted line between the subject lines. Koalas and kangaroos are found in Australia. Koalas are found kangaroos For more about compound verbs, see page 14. Compound Verbs To diagram a compound verb, put the two verbs on parallel lines. Then, put the conjunction on a dotted line between the verbs. Callie washes and dries the dishes after dinner. washes Callie dries Compound Subjects and Compound Verbs A sentence with both a compound subject and a compound verb combines the two patterns you just learned. The cat and her kittens ate and then slept. cat ate kittens OJ ::J l o.. 1 slept H E LP Sentences in Exercise 2 may contain compound subjects, compound verbs, or both. Exercise 2 Diagramming Compound Subjects and Compound Verbs Diagram the simple subjects and verbs in the following sentences. 414 Sentence Diagramming
1. Brittany and La Tonya skated and skied last winter. 1. Brittany skated La Tonya skied. Ursula LeGuin and Nicholasa Mohr are my favorite authors. 2. Ms. Sanchez and Mr. Charles teach Spanish. 3. Bill Russell first played and later coached in the NBA. 4. My friends and hurried home and told our parents the good news. 5. The students and the teacher visited the museum but did not have time for a complete tour. Questions To diagram a question, first make the question into a statement without changing or dropping any words. Then, diagram the sentence. Can all insects fly? [question] All insects can fly. [statement] insects 1 Can fly Notice that the diagram uses the capitalization of the original sentence. Understood Subjects n an imperative sentence (a request or command) the subject is always understood to be you. Place the understood subject you in parentheses on the horizontal line. Look over there. For more information about questions, see page 18. HELP Remember that in a diagram, the subject always comes first, even if it does not come first in the sentence. For information about imperative sentences and understood subjects, see page 18. (you) Look The Sentence Diagram 415
Exercise 3 Diagramming Questions and Commands Diagram the simple subjects and verbs in the following sentences. 1. Please wash the dishes. 1. (you) 1 wash 1. Eat the rest of your jambalaya. 2. Do you know much about the Jewish holidays? 3. Where is the driver going? 4. Please help me with these cartons. 5. Why are they standing in line? For more information about adjectives, see page 38. Adjectives and Adverbs Adjectives and adverbs are written on slanted lines connected to the words they modify. Notice that possessive pronouns are diagrammed in the same way adjectives are. Also notice that the articles a, an, and the are included as adjectives. Adjectives S yellow bird bird her best blouse blouse a playful puppy puppy Exercise,... 4 Diagramming Sentences with Adjectives Diagram the subjects, verbs, and adjectives in the following sentences. 1. A strong, cold wind blew all night. 1. blew "</ 416 Sentence Diagramming
1. My favorite singer is coming to town. 2. The long, grueling hike tired us. 3. Red, ripe tomatoes grow there. 4. The two brave astronauts stepped into space. 5. s a funny movie playing downtown? Adverbs When an adverb modifies a verb, the adverb is placed on a slanted line below the verb. S wrote quickly walked there slowly For more about adverbs, see page 59. wrote 7f. walked 0 ""'J'i> (Q... (Q "(tv1-- When an adverb modifies an adjective or another adverb, it is placed on a slanted line connected to the word it modifies. S incredibly large poster runs very fast runs Exercise _ 5 Diagramming Sentences with Adverbs Diagram the subjects, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in the following sentences. 1. We almost always recycle newspapers. 1. We 1. Gloria Estefan recently recorded that song. 2. That new band plays very loudly. 3. Her two brothers visited Chinatown yesterday. The Sentence Diagram 417
4. The busy librarian almost never rests. 5. An extremely unusual program will be broadcast tonight. For more information about prepositional phrases, see page 63. Prepositional Phrases Prepositional phrases are diagrammed below the words they modify. Write the preposition on a slanting line. Then, write the object of the preposition on a horizontal line connected to the slanting line. Notice that the slanting line extends a little beyond the horizontal line. For more about adjective phrases, see page 79. Adjective Phrases S time of day time several in a row several For more about adverb phrases, see page 83. Adverb Phrases S walked on the moon walked are ready for the test are ready moves quickly for an old dog moves 418 Sentence Diagramming
Exercise 6 Diagramming Sentences with Prepositional Phrases Diagram the following sentences. 1. The freighter slowed for the first lock. 1. ; J't 1. Tamales are wrapped in corn husks. 2. The soccer team from Brazil ran onto the field. 3. My friend from ndia skis very well. 4. The students in his class went to the library. 5. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Will Smith may star in that new movie. Direct and ndirect Objects Direct Objects A direct object is diagrammed on the horizontal line with the subject and verb. A short vertical line separates the direct object from the verb. We have been playing CO's. For more about direct objects, see page 1 07. We have been playing CD's Compound Direct Objects Rachel enjoys soccer and basketball. soccer Rachel For more information about compound direct objects, see page 1 07. basketball The Sentence Diagram 419
For more about indirect objects, see page 109. ndirect Objects The indirect object is diagrammed on a horizontal line beneath the verb. The verb and the indirect object are joined by a slanting line. Dad fixed us some spaghetti. Dad For more information about compound indirect objects, see page 110. Compound ndirect Objects Marisa gave her brother and me some grapes. Marisa brother <9... me H ELP Not every sentence in Exercise 7 contains an indirect object. Exercise 7 Diagramming Direct Objects and ndirect Objects Diagram the following sentences. 1. He handed her the report. 1. He report 0<9 1. Amy Tan wrote that book. 2. Marcus made a touchdown. 3. My grandmother knitted me a sweater. 4. Marilyn won a bronze medal in the Special Olympics. 5. bought Jolene and her sister a present. 420 Sentence Diagramming
Subject Complements A subject complement is diagrammed on the horizontal line with the subject and the verb. The complement comes after the verb. A line slanting toward the subject separates the subject complement from the verb. Predicate Nominatives Mickey Leland was a famous congressman from Texas. Mickey Leland was congressman ""' 0 Texas For more information about predicate nominatives, see page 112. Compound Predicate Nominatives Suzanne is a singer and a dancer. Suzanne CJ :::J 1 0. singer For more information on compound predicate nominatives, see page 113. Predicate Adjectives The guitarist was very skillful. was "'- skillful t-. (<) For more information on predicate adjectives, see page 114. The Sentence Diagram 421
For more about compound predicate adjectives, see page 115. Compound Predicate Adjectives They were weary but patient. They were 1 0"" S. weary patient Exercise 8 Diagramming Sentences with Subject Complements Diagram the following sentences. 1. Ms. Chang is an excellent teacher and a fine lawyer. 1' teacher Ms. Chang 1. Your little brother looks quite sleepy. 2. Ossie Davis is an actor and a playwright. 3. These CD's are oldies but goodies. 4. Coyote is a trickster in American ndian mythology. 5. The library is full of interesting books. For more information about independent clauses, see page 89. For more about adjective clauses, see pages 91 and 214. For more about relative pronouns, see pages 37 and 214. Subordinate Clauses Adjective Clauses Diagram an adjective clause by connecting it with a broken line to the word it modifies. Draw the broken line between the relative pronoun and the word to which it relates. The adjective clause is diagrammed below the independent clause. 422 Sentence Diagramming
Certain land crabs that are found in Cuba can run fast. HELP The words who, whom, whose, which, and that are often used as relative pronouns. th'at Cuba Adverb Clauses Diagram an adverb clause by using a broken line to connect the adverb clause to the word it modifies. Place the subordinating conjunction that introduces the adverb clause on the broken line. The adverb clause is diagrammed below the independent clause. When Halley's Comet returns, will be a very old man. For more information about adverb clauses, see page 93. For a list of subordinating conjunctions, see page 90. HELP Halley's Comet : 1 :::; l ro :J returns The words after, because, if, since, unless, when, and while are often used as subordinating conjunctions. The Sentence Diagram 423
Exercise 9 Diagramming Sentences with Adjective Clauses and Adverb Clauses Diagram the following sentences. 1. f you go to the library, will you return this book? 1. you 1 will return, =+. you 1. Mark Twain wrote books that are famous. 2. When you visit, the park will be open. 3. After Dawn saw the pandas, she wrote a report about them. 4. The people who were invited will see the performance. 5. Replace the scissors where you found them. The Kinds of Sentence Structure For more about simple sentences, see page 96. Simple Sentences A simple sentence contains one independent clause. The coach gave Alfonso a pat on the back. [one independent clause] back 0 Compound Sentences A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses. The second independent clause in a compound sentence is diagrammed below the first and is joined to it by a coordinating conjunction. 424 Sentence Diagramming
Ostriches walk in a funny way, but they can run fast. [two independent clauses] Ostriches but 0 For more information about compound sentences, see page 97. For more about coordinating conjunctions, see page 66. they can run.r.. Ol..r(' l NOTE Th e coor d' rnatrng conjunctions are an d, b ut,.& tor, nor, or, so, and yet. y---- Exercise 10 _ Diagramming Compound Sentences Diagram the following compound sentences. 1. Genna went to the mall, but stayed home. 1. Genna 1 went but 1. Lisa likes soccer, but prefer basketball. 2. Gabriela Mistral is a poet, but she has also written essays. 3. Cactuses are desert plants, yet they can grow in milder climates. 4. can give Jewel the news tonight, or you can call her now. 5. Chinese immigrants worked on the railroad in the West, but rish immigrants built the railroad in the East. The Sentence Diagram 425
For more about complex sentences, see page 99. Complex Sentences A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause. Leon received a letter that was mailed from Germany. [one independent clause and one subordinate clause] Leon received letter cf) that Germany For more about compound-complex sentences, see page 100. Compound-Complex Sentences A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause. After we rehearse this scene, we will move to another room, and the stage crew will work on the set. [two independent clauses and one subordinate clause] we we rehearse <J!::-Q,/ / and scene 0<$- cf)l'). 00... will work o_, set 0 426 Sentence Diagramming
\.: Exercise 11 Diagramming Complex and Compound-Complex Sentences Diagram the following complex and compound-complex sentences. 1. f the Bulldogs win their last two games, they will finish in first place. 1. they place F. ::::j:, "'-. ' "'-. /' 1. Hector walked to school because his bicycle had a flat tire. 2. Rosa was the contestant who knew the correct answer. 3. Unless the rain stops soon, the umpire will cancel the game. 4. As the lights dimmed, the audience grew quiet. 5. The student that designs the best cover receives a free yearbook, so many students will be entering designs. The Sentence Diagram 427