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Diagraming Basic Sentence Parts

Subjects and Verbs In a sentence diagram, the subject and verb are placed on a horizontal line,
separated by a vertical line. The subject is on the left and the verb is on the right.

SUBJECT AND VERB

Roger is dancing.

Roger is dancing

Adjectives, Adverbs, and Conjunctions An adjective is placed on a slanted line directly below the
noun or pronoun it describes. Adverbs are placed on slanted lines directly under the verbs, adjectives, or
adverbs they modify. Conjunctions are placed on dotted lines drawn between the words they connect.

ADDING ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS ADDING CONJUNCTIONS

The tall, dark stranger entered very quietly. The lost and lonely boy cried softly.

stranger entered boy cried

Th
and
da
Th

tal

so
e
qu
e

rk

ftly
l

iet

lon
los
ve

ly

ely
ry

Exercise 1 Diagraming Sentences. Diagram each sentence. Refer to the examples for any help
you need.
1. The old and battered steam kettle whistled loudly.

2. That tiny woodpecker hammers constantly.

Exercise 2 More Work with Diagraming. Diagram the following sentences.

1. Battered but victorious, the frigate sailed away.

2. The sleek horse jumped smoothly and effortlessly.

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Diagraming Basic Sentence Parts

Exercise 1 Diagraming Subjects and Verbs. Each of the following sentences contains a
subject and a verb. Diagram each sentence.
1. Judy wrote.

2. Snow was falling.

3. Ann Frederick has departed.

Exercise 2 Diagraming Sentences with Modifiers and Conjunctions. Diagram each sentence.

1. The large truck moved slowly.

2. A strong and dangerous storm approached.

3. The elderly man walked surprisingly fast.

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Diagraming Basic Sentence Parts

Compound Subjects and Verbs Each part of a compound subject is diagramed on a separate
horizontal line, and the conjunction that connects them is placed on a dotted vertical line. Compound verbs
are diagramed in a similar way.

COMPOUND SUBJECT COMPOUND VERB

Parents and children worked together. His car screeched loudly and stopped.

Parents screeched

lou
and
car
and
worked

dly
stopped

His
to
children

ge
the
r
Orders Orders are diagramed with the understood subject you placed in the regular subject position, but
in parentheses.

ORDERS
Listen closely.

(you) Listen
cl
os
el
y

Exercise 1 Diagraming Compound Subjects and Verbs. Diagram each sentence below.

1. The tulips and the daffodils bloomed very early.

2. Mark blocked well and tackled brilliantly.

Exercise 2 Diagraming Orders. Diagram each sentence below.

1. Come here.

2. Turn very slowly.

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Diagraming Basic Sentence Parts

Exercise 1 Diagraming Compound Subjects and Compound Verbs. Diagram the following
sentences.
1. Bricks and mortar were used.

2. Susan walks often but jogs infrequently.

3. Some yellow marigolds and three beautiful pink roses were blooming.

Exercise 2 Diagraming Orders. Diagram the following sentences, placing the understood
subjects correctly.
1. Work quickly.

2. Speak softly.

3. Draw especially freely.

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Diagraming Basic Sentence Parts

Complements The three kinds of complements—direct objects, indirect objects, and subject
complements—are diagramed in different ways. A direct object is placed on the same horizontal line as the
subject and the verb. It follows the verb and is separated from it by a vertical line. An indirect object is
placed on a short horizontal line extending from a slanted line directly below the verb. Subject
complements follow linking verbs and are placed on the same line as the subject verb. They are placed after
the verb and separated from it by a slanted line that points to the subject.

DIRECT OBJECT INDIRECT OBJECT

Sarah read the book. I gave Lou the money.

I gave money
Sarah read book

the
Lou

the
SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS
Lincoln was our sixteenth President. Harold seems very nervous.

Lincoln was President Harold seems nervous

ou

six

ve
r

ry
tee
nth

Exercise 1 Diagraming Direct Objects and Indirect Objects. Diagram these sentences.
1. I sent Uncle Jim a birthday card.

2. Mary gave him some help.

Exercise 2 Diagraming Subject Complements. Diagram these sentences.

1. That pool looks very deep.

2. Bob is the class speaker.

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Diagraming Basic Sentence Parts

Exercise 1 Diagraming Direct Objects and Indirect Objects. Diagram the following
sentences.
1. The ushers opened the doors.

2. Frank sold them the house.

3. She showed us many valuable coins.

Exercise 2 Diagraming Subject Complements. Diagram the following sentences.

1. Peter is an excellent student.

2. The cellar is damp.

3. The room is now a dull color.

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Diagraming Prepositional Phrases and

Appositives
Prepositional Phrases Place a prepositional phrase used as an adjective directly under the noun it
modifies. Place a prepositional phrase used as an adverb under the verb it modifies.

ADJECTIVE PHRASE ADVERBIAL PHRASE

The photographs on the wall are lovely. We drove into the city.

photographs are lovely We drove

int
Th

on

o
e

wall city

th e
th e

Appositives Place an appositive in parentheses next to the noun or pronoun it renames. Any words that
modify the appositive should be placed below it.

APPOSITIVE
We are entering Ohio, the Buckeye state.

We are entering Ohio (state)

Buc
the
Exercise 1 k eye
Diagraming Prepositional Phrases. Diagram each sentence below.
1. The leopard swam across the broad river.

2. We picked the red roses in our garden.

Exercise 2 Diagraming Appositive Phrases. Diagram each of these sentences.

1. The house down the street, an old colonial, was sold recently.

2. Hannibal, the famous general, fought against Rome.

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Diagraming Prepositional Phrases and

Appositives
Exercise 1 Diagraming Prepositional Phrases. Each of the following sentences contains one
prepositional phrase. Diagram the sentences.
1. This is a valley of extraordinary beauty.

2. The ship in the harbor is very large.

3. This is the beginning of the longest trail.

Exercise 2 Diagraming Appositive Phrases. Diagram these sentences, each having an

appositive phrase.
1. Betty, a lawyer of the firm, will arrive today.

2. Michael showed me a picture of Pikes Peak, a mountain in Colorado.

3. You can take the Congressional, a train to Washington, D.C.

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Diagraming Clauses
Compound Sentences A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses which are
diagramed on separate horizontal lines. The clauses are joined at the verbs with a dotted line in the shape
of a step, and the conjunction is placed on the horizontal part of the step.

COMPOUND SENTENCE
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Kathy went to the supermarket, and she bought some fruit.

Kathy went

to
and supermarket

th e
she bought fruit

som
e
Exercise 1 Diagraming Compound Sentences. Diagram each compound sentence.

1. Mom went to her office, and she worked for nine hours.

2. Bill washed his face, and then he went to bed.

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Diagraming Clauses
Complex Sentences An adjective clause in a complex sentence is diagramed on a separate line under
the independent clause. A dotted line connects the clauses. An adverb clause in a complex sentence is also
diagramed on a separate line under the independent clause, and a dotted line connects the clause.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE ADVERB CLAUSE

Rod is the person who will lead the band. I left after my last class was finished.

Rod is person I left

af

the
te
r

who will lead band class was finished

las
the

m
y

t
Exercise 1 Diagraming Complex Sentences. Diagram each complex sentence.

1. I have a map which shows all the trails on this mountain.

2. We washed the dishes after supper was over.

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Diagraming Clauses
Exercise 1 Diagraming Compound Sentences. Diagram each of the following compound
sentences.

1. Fortunately, the fever passed and his condition improved.

2. Ed collects stamps; many of them are quite valuable.

3. The George Washington Bridge is a suspension bridge; it contains two levels for automobile traffic.

Exercise 2 Diagraming Subordinate Clauses. Each of the following complex sentences

contains either an adjective clause or an adverb clause. Diagram each sentence.

1. Gulls, which have distinctive calls, often fly along the beach.

2. If you hurry to the platform, you will catch the express train.

3. There is the flower that you admired.

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