Download Basic Diagramming Dialogue

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Copyright by Theresa Feighny, 2007. All rights reserved.
NOTE: Before attempting to diagram, study (and practice) the following
diagramming TUTORIAL. Memorize the step-by-step procedure and
dialogue—and use them consistently—to experience success
in diagramming a variety of simple, compound, and complex sentences.
Diagramming Tutorial: A Step-by-Step
Procedure and “Dialogue”
1. Always write the sentence above its diagram. Leave a blank line between the sentence and
the diagram and between the diagram and the next sentence. Do not continue a diagram from
one page to the next.
2. Place ( ) around each prepositional phrase; place brackets [ ] around each
verbal/verbal phrase.
3. If the sentence is a compound sentence, place a vertical line before the coordinating
conjunction to divide the sentence into its two (or more) independent clauses.
4. To locate the verb, ask: What’s happening? Write all helping and main verbs side-by-side
on the base line of the diagram.
5. To locate the subject, ask: Who / what is __________? (say the verb where the blank
appears).
6. Not every sentence has a direct object, but many do. To locate the direct object,
say the subject, then say the verb, and then ask: What or whom?
7. Note: Some sentences have a linking verb which can be difficult to distinguish from a
direct object. You know if the noun or pronoun is a direct object if it receives the action of
the subject and an action verb. If the word renames or describes the subject, the word is a
subject complement (predicate adjective, predicate nominative, or predicate pronoun), not a
direct object. If the sentence has a linking verb, place its complement after the verb,
separated by a line that slants toward the subject.
8. After writing the subject, verb, and any direct object(s) or subject complements on the base
diagram line, add adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, etc. (below the base line).
9. All parts of a prepositional phrase are diagrammed together. The first word of a
prepositional phrase is the preposition. The last word of a prepositional phrase is the object of
the preposition. The other words in a phrase are usually adjectives and/or adverbs.
11. Verbals (gerunds, participles, and infinitives) will be added to your diagramming skills as
the year progresses. Instructions for diagramming verbals will be added to your notes as
needed.
12. Proofread your work. Check that you have included every word in the sentence.
Remember, neatness helps your grade!
40 Common Prepositions
about, above, across, after, against, along, around, at, before, behind,
below, beneath, beside, beyond, by, down, during, for, from, in, inside,
into, near, of, off, on, out, outside, over, past, through, throughout,
to, toward, under, until, up, upon, with, without.
Prepositional Phrases - Adverbial or Adjectival?
Some ADVERB questions: When? Where? Why? How? In what way?
In what manner? To what degree? Yes? No?
Some ADJECTIVE questions: What? What kind? What type? How many?
18 Most Common Linking Verbs
What are linking verbs? Linking verbs are verbs that link the subject to another
word in the sentence. The other word either renames the subject (predicate
nominative or predicate pronoun) or describes the subject (predicate adjective).
The following list has the most common linking verbs; however, other verbs can
be linking in certain situations. Memorize the following verbs in the order listed.
am, is, are, was, were
be, being, been, become, became
seem, appear, remain, look
feel, taste, smell, sound