Download WORD FUNCTIONS AND SENTENCE DIAGRAMMING

WORD FUNCTIONS AND SENTENCE DIAGRAMMING
Students of writing must understand the basic order of sentence construction and
the functions of words in sentences. A brief review of these now may save us from
problems later. If you already know all the material in this review packet, then you will
just breeze right through it and count yourself lucky that you did not have harder
homework. If some of this material is still difficult for you, let’s define those difficulties
now and dispense with them.
The quintessential factor in any sentence is the verb. We always begin to
understand a sentence by analyzing the verb.
Commit to memory the two charts below. The “order of analysis” gives you a
pattern to follow so that your understanding of a sentence is methodical and thorough. The
“word function test equations” helps you in determining the use of tricky words and
phrases.
I. Order of sentence analyses
A. Verb
B. Subject
C. Decide which type of verb
1. Action (physical/mental)
a. Direct object
b. Indirect object
2. State of being
a. Predicate nominative
b. Predicate adjective
D. Modifiers
1. Adjective
a. Simple adjectives
b. Prepositional phrases
2. Adverb
a. Simple adverbs
b. Prepositional phrases
E. Conjunctions
F. Interjections
G. Direct Address
H. Appositives
II. Word function test equations
Who
A. What + verb? = subject
action
B. verb +
what
whom? = direct object
action
C. verb +
to whom
for whom? = indirect object
being
D. verb +
who
predicate
noun what? = nominative
being
E. verb +
predicate
adj. what? = adjective
Now that you see that the second page of this packet contains sentence
diagramming, we will take a short break for griping and groaning.
There! Isn’t that better? Now we’re ready to work.
You are going to diagram the saga of John and Mary, a purely imaginary couple.
Any resemblance to actual people is the result of your own creativity.
III. Diagramming
A. Action verbs and subjects
John meets Mary.
They shake hands.
John likes Mary.
Mary winks and smiles at John.
John runs and chases Mary.
Joe and Larry watch the action.
You, Joe, Larry, & I giggle and laugh.
B. Direct Objects
John still wants Mary.
John tries a new approach.
John grabs her.
Mary slaps John.
John buys candy and sends flowers.
C. Indirect Objects
Mary gives John another chance.
She bakes a cake for John.
Mary serves him a piece of cake.
John gives her a smile.
She likes them.
D. Being verbs and predicate nominatives
Mary is a girl.
John is a boy.
That is she in the classroom.
Both John and Mary are students.
John is that boy in the classroom.
E. Being verbs and predicate adjectives
Mary is gorgeous.
John is tall and cute.
They look handsome together.
John seems eager.
Mary appears not only reluctant, but also hostile.
F. Adjective-type modifiers
Mary has blonde hair.
Blondes do have more fun.
Mary sometimes wears her ugly, brown wig.
In her wig, Mary is less of a fox.
John likes blonde-haired girls.
She seems a nice and sensible girl.
John, ignorant, overlooks her.
G. Adverb-type modifiers
Modifying a verb:
John finally recognizes Mary.
He catches her behind a bush.
He speedily renews the chase.
She again slaps him on the face.
Modifying an adj.:
Adv. modifying an adv.:
John is very persistent.
Mary remains quite firm.
Mary just barely escapes his grasp.
Mary is pursued through every single room of the house.
Mary likes John, but would prefer somewhat less running through the house.
H. Interjections
Oh! He caught her!
Uh, oh, she’s in trouble now.
No, that resourceful girl has eluded his grasp for the third time.
I. Expletives
There is only one problem.
J. Appositives
That dedicated hunter, John, continues the pursuit of his prey, Mary.
IV, The tale continues . . .
1. John begins anew.
2. Mary really does like John.
3. John calls Mary each evening at nine o’clock.
4. Mary gladly answers the phone and talks at length with him.
5. Whistling, John rings the door bell at Mary’s house.
6. Mary cheerfully opens the wide door and permits his entrance.
7. Whoops! Mary is fooled again!
8. John still hasn’t learned any manners at all.
9. That cad, John, lunges toward our sweet heroine.
10. Mary, desperate and distraught, heads for the stairs and finally reaches the safety of her
room with its lockable door.
11.John, undaunted, forcefully breaks down the door.
12. Mary leaps from the window and achieves safety.
13. John leaps after her and lands in a rose bush.
14. John quite prudently ponders the situation and gives up.
15. John meets Madeline.