09. Introduction to Diagrams

Objective of this lesson

You will practice how to diagram common types of noun phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases, and prepositional phrases.

What is in a diagram?

Word

Word Form Labels

Phrase Form Labels

Phrase Function Labels

Sentence

Verb Tense/Modality, Aspect, Voice Labels

Verb Valency Labels

Exercise: Exercise 1: Identifying Phrases / Segmenting Sentences into Constituents

Diagrams of Noun Phrases, Adjective Phrases, Adverb Phrases, and Prepositional Phrases

See List of Abbreviations in Diagramming Supplement Part 1.

Noun Phrase

Simple noun phrases with noun and pronoun heads

Noun phrases with multiple determiners

Noun phrases with pre-modifiers (including single, multiple, and phrasal modifiers)

Noun phrases with post-modifiers

Exercise 2: Diagramming Noun Phrases

Draw the diagram

1. my dying house plants
2. these updated course descriptions
3. three fairly positive outcomes

Adjective Phrase

Simple adjective phrase

Adjective phrase with a pre-modifier (as a clause element)

Adjective phrase with pre-modifier (as a modifier within a phrase)

Adjective phrase with a post-modifier

Adjective phrase with a phrasal or clausal complement

Adverb Phrases

Simple adverb phrase

Adverb phrase with adverb pre-modifier

Adverb phrase with prepositional phrase complement

Exercise 3: Diagramming Adjective Phrases and Adverb Phrases

Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrase with simple preposition

Prepositional phrase with a complex preposition (i.e., a multi-word preposition)

Multiple embedded prepositional phrases

Exercise 4: Diagramming Prepositional Phrases