Q&A for How to Diagram Sentences

Use the instructions in this article to try it yourself! Hint: "am correcting" is a verb phrase (see Tips) and "secretly" is an adverb modifying the verb phrase; and "your" is a possessive pronoun (see step 3 for an example of a possessive pronoun).

"Which" may be either an adjective or a pronoun depending on how it's used. For example, in the sentence "I couldn't decide which cat I like more." which is a relative pronoun denoting a noun clause. In this sentence, "which cat I like more" is acting as a direct object. However, it functions as a clause. When used as a pronoun "which" is often seen in questions where it shows a lack of particular direction, and the predicate is what shows the asker asking for that direction. For example, in the sentence "Which is it?" which is acting as the subject itself. However, it doesn't have to be in a question format, as seen in the phrase "which it is."

See step 7 for conjunction examples. Each subject would get its own line and would be connected by verticle dashed lines, one of which probably has a conjunction written on it. It depends on the specific sentence, but these lines would then be joined to the remainder of the sentence.

Diagram it as if it were a statement: The sandwich was for me.

From The New Oxford American Dictionary, 3rd ed.: "participle /ˈpɑrdəˌsɪp(ə)l/ "noun "a word formed from a verb (e.g., going, gone, being, been) and used as an adjective (e.g., working woman, burned toast) or a noun (e.g., good breeding). In English, participles are also used to make compound verb forms (e.g., is going, has been)." Its function in a specific sentence will affect its placement within that sentence. When acting as adjectives, they are diagrammed similarly. Draw a participle on a slanted, bent line beneath the word the participle modifies.

Try it on your own using the instructions above! Hint: "Yesterday" is an adverb modifying the verb "bought"; "Matthew" is the subject; "book" is the object; and "a" is an article.

"Quite a bit" has two parts. "A bit" is a colloquial noun phrase being used as an adverb describing a verb (e.g. I enjoyed the show quite a bit.), which is called an adverbial objective. "Quite" is an adverb describing "a bit." To diagram this, you would draw a diagonal line with a horizontal line coming off of it. On the horizontal line, you would write "bit." From "bit," draw two diagonal lines: one for the article "a" and one for the adverb "quite."

"Not" is an adverb modifying a verb.

Pronouns take the place of nouns, so they go wherever the antecedent noun would go. It depends on the function of the pronoun within the sentence. There are several examples of pronouns in various positions in this article.

It's an indirect object. See Part 2, Step 3 above.

The subject is "you, understood". Although the word "you" is not actually in the sentence, it is understood that "You" is the subject. To diagram it, put "(you)" on the line where the subject goes.

The sentence has two subjects, "John" and "Mary." They are shown on parallel subject lines connected by a vertical, dashed line with "and" on it. "Both" modifies both subjects, and is shown on a diagonal line coming off the horizontal line which feeds from the two subject lines.

Place each verb on its own horizontal line, then funnel those lines to a single line having the small vertical line and the direct object.

If you want to classify by form (structure) google these four types: simple sentence; compound sentence; complex sentence; compound-complex sentence. If you want to classify by function (purpose) google these four types: declarative sentence; imperative sentence; interrogative sentence; exclamatory sentence. You will find a wealth of clear examples.

That's an adverbial clause. It modifies both "runs" and "skips." Place "Sam runs" and "Ann skips" on parallel, horizontal lines joined together by a dashed, vertical line with "yet" on it. Bring dashed, diagonal lines off "runs" and "skips," then join those lines together as a solid, horizontal line with the adverbial clause on it.

You can't really diagram single words.

I (subject)... had (verb)... to sell (direct object), draw a pedestal. On that pedestal, games (direct object) and 'my' and 'videos' modifies games, so they should be drawn on a slanted line below 'games.'

The compound subjects are placed on separate, parallel lines that funnel to a single, horizontal line for the complement.

"Sink" is the subject; "the" is an article modifying "sink"; "was" is the verb; "unclogged" is a predicate adjective; "by the plumber" is a prepositional phrase modifying "unclogged"; "the" modifies "plumber."

"Last year" is a noun phrase treated as an adverb modifying "won."

There can be two meanings of this sentence. If it means that "you" definitely performs work, then "do work" is a verb phrase with "do" an auxiliary verb. If it means that "you" is doing something, and the "something" is "work," then "do" is the verb, and "work" is a noun which is the direct object of "do."

List all of them on the direct object line.

Because "occasionally" modifies the verb "have," it's an adverb. Most (but not all) words that end in "ly" are adverbs.

The understood "you" is the subject, "give" is the verb, "envelope" is the direct object, and "me" is the indirect object. Put "please" on a separate, unconnected line above and slightly to the left of the main line to indicate that it opens the sentence.

Three subjects on three parallel lines converging on a single line for the verb ("were throwing") and direct object ("toys").

You would not diagram a one-word "sentence."

"To order" modifies "amount." It tells what kind of amount is being discussed.

"Goes jogging" is a verb phrase that is treated as a single verb (as if it were one word).

It's a verb phrase, part of the predicate.

Use a diagonal line descending from the word the clause is modifying. Then off the diagonal line, use the same horizontal format you would use in diagramming a regular sentence. The relative pronoun introducing the clause (whether the pronoun is actually used or simply implied) is the subject of the clause.