Diagram Sentences

Diagramming sentences shows you how the parts of a sentence are related. Once you understand the essentials, diagramming a sentence can be like completing a sudoku or a crossword puzzle. That's not a bad way to learn grammar!

Steps

 * 1)  [[Image:Picture_1_81.png|thumb|Basic Sentence Diagram]]Draw a horizontal line with a short vertical line through the center. Write the simple subject on the left side of the line and the verb on the right side of the line.
 * 2)  [[Image:Picture_2_8.png|thumb|Direct Object Diagram]]If your sentence contains a direct object or a subject complement, continue the horizontal line out after the verb. If you have a direct object, draw a vertical line after the verb, and place the word here. If you have a linking verb with a complement, draw a slanted line after the verb, and write the complement here.
 * 3)  [[Image:Picture_3_452.png|thumb|Adjective Diagram]]Draw a slanted line coming from the subject. Write any adjectives that describe the subject on this line. Repeat for any additional adjectives. If you have adjectives that describe the direct object or predicate noun, draw a slanted line beneath them and put your adjective here.
 * 4)  [[Image:Picture_4_406.png|thumb|Adverb Diagram]]Draw a slanted line coming from the verb. Write any adverbs that describe the verb on this line. Repeat for any additional adverbs. If your sentence contains an adverb that modifies an adjective, draw a slanted line from the adjective that it describes and write the adverb on that line.
 * 5)  [[Image:Picture_5_931.png|thumb|Preposition Diagram]]For any prepositional phrases, first decide whether the prepositional phrase is acting like an adjective or an adverb. After you know which word the phrase is modifying, draw a slanted line under the word. On this line, write the preposition. Write the object of the preposition on a horizontal line after this.
 * 6)  [[Image:Picture_6_944.png|thumb|Compound Sentence Diagram]]If any part of your sentence is compound, you will connect each compound part with a dotted line and the conjunction that connects them. For instance, if you have a compound subject, draw two lines for the subject and write each subject on a line. Connect them with a dotted line.
 * 7)  [[Image:Picture_7_190.png|thumb|Complex Sentence Diagram]]For more complex sentences, connect the independent clause with the subordinate clause with a dotted line. Diagram both of them as you normally would.

Tips

 * If you are new to sentence diagramming, choose easy sentences to start with. (The dogs barked. The black cat meowed.)
 * Note that these are only the basics of diagramming a sentence. Remember that grammar is not an exact science!  As long as everything is logical and somewhat follows the rules, you can diagram any sentence.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Improve Your Grammar
 * How to Understand the Difference Between Passive and Active Sentences
 * How to Use "Whom" Correctly
 * How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com - Original source, shared with permission.