Understanding Understanding English GrammarEnglish Grammar

An Introduction An Introduction

to Diagramming to Diagramming SentencesSentences

Works CitedWorks Cited

Funk, Robert & Martha Kolln. Funk, Robert & Martha Kolln. Understanding English Grammar. Understanding English Grammar. 55thth Ed. Ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1998.1998.

Underlying StructureUnderlying Structure

Ten sentence Ten sentence patterns account patterns account for the underlying for the underlying structure of almost structure of almost all possible all possible grammatical grammatical sentences in sentences in English.English.

All sentences have All sentences have a subject and a a subject and a predicate.predicate.

Sentence

Subject Predicate

Subject PredicateSubject Predicate

TestTest: To figure out where the subject ends : To figure out where the subject ends and the predicate begins, substitute a and the predicate begins, substitute a pronoun for the subject. pronoun for the subject.

Example: The council has passed the Example: The council has passed the ordinanceordinance

It has passed the ordinance. It has passed the ordinance. This subject-predicate relationship underlies This subject-predicate relationship underlies

every sentence, even those is which the every sentence, even those is which the subject is unstated but clearly understood:subject is unstated but clearly understood:

Example: (you) Help! (you) Sit down!Example: (you) Help! (you) Sit down!

New TerminologyNew Terminology

The two basicThe two basic

constituents of every constituents of every

sentence are (1) the NP, sentence are (1) the NP,

or noun phrase, which is or noun phrase, which is

the same as the subject the same as the subject

and (2) the VP, or verb and (2) the VP, or verb

phrase, which is the phrase, which is the

same as the predicate. same as the predicate.

Sentence

NP VP

Sentence

I (NP) am upstairs (VP)

Additional TerminologyAdditional Terminology PhrasePhrase—any group of two or more words —any group of two or more words

that function as a unit within a sentence. that function as a unit within a sentence. Always includes a head, or headword, along Always includes a head, or headword, along with its modifiers and/or complements. (The with its modifiers and/or complements. (The head of a noun phrase is a noun, the head of head of a noun phrase is a noun, the head of a verb phrase, a verb).a verb phrase, a verb).

ClauseClause—also a group of words, but it must —also a group of words, but it must have a subject and predicate. There is a have a subject and predicate. There is a difference between a sentence and a clause. difference between a sentence and a clause. Not all clauses are sentences and often a Not all clauses are sentences and often a single sentence will include more than one single sentence will include more than one clause.clause.

The Sentence SlotsThe Sentence Slots

Because the variations among the Because the variations among the sentence patterns are in the sentence patterns are in the predicates, we group the ten predicates, we group the ten patterns according to their verb patterns according to their verb types: types:

1. the 1. the bebe patterns patterns

2. the linking verb patterns2. the linking verb patterns

3. the intransitive verb pattern3. the intransitive verb pattern

4. the transitive verb patterns4. the transitive verb patterns

About the patterns…About the patterns… The number of slots in the predicate varies: The number of slots in the predicate varies:

Most patterns have two, but Pattern VI has only Most patterns have two, but Pattern VI has only one slot, and three of the transitive patterns, VIII one slot, and three of the transitive patterns, VIII to X, each have three.to X, each have three.

The label in parentheses names the function, the The label in parentheses names the function, the role, that the slot performs in the sentence.role, that the slot performs in the sentence.

The subscript numbers you see in some of the The subscript numbers you see in some of the patterns show the relationship between noun patterns show the relationship between noun phrases: Identical numbers mean that the two phrases: Identical numbers mean that the two noun phrases have the same referent; different noun phrases have the same referent; different numbers denote different referents. (A referent numbers denote different referents. (A referent is the thing (or person, event, concept, and so is the thing (or person, event, concept, and so on ) that the noun or noun phrase stands for). on ) that the noun or noun phrase stands for).

The The bebe Patterns Patterns

II NPNP bebe ADV/TPADV/TP(subject)(subject) (predicating (predicating

verb)verb)(Adverbial of time or (Adverbial of time or

place)place)

The studentsThe students areare upstairsupstairs

IIII NPNP bebe ADJADJ(subj)(subj) (pred vb)(pred vb) (subj complement)(subj complement)

The studentsThe students areare diligentdiligent

IIIIII NPNP11 bebe NPNP11

(subj)(subj) (pred vb)(pred vb) (subj comp)(subj comp)

The studentsThe students areare scholarsscholars

The The bebe Patterns Explained Patterns Explained The first three formulas state that when a The first three formulas state that when a

form of form of bebe serves as the predicating verb, serves as the predicating verb, an adverbial of time or place (Pattern I), or an adverbial of time or place (Pattern I), or an adjectival (Pattern II), or a noun phrase an adjectival (Pattern II), or a noun phrase (Pattern III) will follow it. (Pattern III) will follow it.

The one exception to this rule is a The one exception to this rule is a statement simply affirming existence, such statement simply affirming existence, such as “I am.”as “I am.”

Other one-word forms of Other one-word forms of bebe are: are: am, is, are, am, is, are, was, were, being, was, were, being, andand been been; the expanded ; the expanded forms include: forms include: have been, was being, might have been, was being, might be, be, andand will be will be. .

Pattern I: NP Pattern I: NP bebe ADV/TP ADV/TP The ADV in the formula stands for The ADV in the formula stands for adverbialadverbial, a , a

modifier of the verb. modifier of the verb. The ADV that follows The ADV that follows bebe is, with certain exceptions, is, with certain exceptions,

limited to when and where information.limited to when and where information. This slot is labeled as adverbial rather than simply This slot is labeled as adverbial rather than simply

as adverb because the adverbial information is as adverb because the adverbial information is often expressed by a structure other than a simple often expressed by a structure other than a simple adverb. Adverb is the name of a word class; adverb. Adverb is the name of a word class; adverbial names the function that adverbs carry adverbial names the function that adverbs carry out. out.

One of the most common adverbial structures is One of the most common adverbial structures is the the prepositional phraseprepositional phrase, a two-part structure , a two-part structure consisting of a preposition—a word such as consisting of a preposition—a word such as in, out, in, out, up, down, under, between, for, from—up, down, under, between, for, from—and its and its object, most commonly a noun or noun phrase. object, most commonly a noun or noun phrase.

Pattern II: NP Pattern II: NP bebe ADJ ADJ In this pattern the complement that follows In this pattern the complement that follows bebe is an adjectival. This is an adjectival. This

slot is the subject complement, which both completes the verb and slot is the subject complement, which both completes the verb and modifies or describes the subject.modifies or describes the subject.

Test: If you’re not sure what an adjective is, answer this question: Test: If you’re not sure what an adjective is, answer this question: The________NOUN is very________. Only an adjective will fit. The________NOUN is very________. Only an adjective will fit.

Example: The Example: The diligentdiligent student is very student is very diligentdiligent. . Besides adjectives, we sometimes find prepositional phrases filling Besides adjectives, we sometimes find prepositional phrases filling

the subject complement slot in Pattern II sentences. These are set the subject complement slot in Pattern II sentences. These are set phrases, or idiomatic expressions, that name an attribute of the phrases, or idiomatic expressions, that name an attribute of the subject:subject:

You are You are out of your mindout of your mind. . She is She is in a bad moodin a bad mood..

To figure out that such sentences do not belong to Pattern I, you To figure out that such sentences do not belong to Pattern I, you can usually think of an adjective, a single descriptive word, that can usually think of an adjective, a single descriptive word, that could substitute for the phrase:could substitute for the phrase:

You are You are crazycrazy..She is She is cranky.cranky.

You can also rule out Pattern I because such phrases do not supply You can also rule out Pattern I because such phrases do not supply information of time or place. information of time or place.

Pattern III: NPPattern III: NP1 1 bebe NP NP11

The NP, of course, fills the subject The NP, of course, fills the subject slot in all of the patterns; in Pattern slot in all of the patterns; in Pattern III a noun phrase following III a noun phrase following be be fills fills the subject complement slot as well. the subject complement slot as well.

The subject complement renames The subject complement renames the subject; the subject; bebe, the main verb, acts , the main verb, acts as an equal sign, connecting the as an equal sign, connecting the subject with its complement. subject with its complement.

The Sentence Patterns: The Sentence Patterns: BeBe VerbsVerbs

I NP I NP bebe ADV/TP ADV/TP

II NP II NP bebe ADJ ADJ

III NPIII NP1 1 bebe NP NP11

Linking Verb PatternsLinking Verb Patterns

IVIV NPNP Linking Linking verbverb

ADJADJ

(subj)(subj) (pred vb)(pred vb) (subj comp)(subj comp)

The The studentsstudents

seemseem diligent.diligent.

VV NPNP11 Lnk verbLnk verb NPNP11

(subj)(subj) (pred vb)(pred vb) (subj comp)(subj comp)

The The studentsstudents

becamebecame scholars.scholars.

The Linking Verb PatternsThe Linking Verb Patterns

Linking verbLinking verb applies to all verbs applies to all verbs other than be complemented by a other than be complemented by a subject complementsubject complement—an adjectival —an adjectival or a noun phrase that describes, or a noun phrase that describes, characterizes, or identifies the characterizes, or identifies the subject. subject.

Pattern IV: NP V-lnk ADJPattern IV: NP V-lnk ADJ

In these sentences an adjectival fills the In these sentences an adjectival fills the subject complement slot.subject complement slot.

The adjectival describes or names an The adjectival describes or names an attribute of the subject, just as in Pattern II. attribute of the subject, just as in Pattern II.

Pattern IV is a common category for verbs of Pattern IV is a common category for verbs of the senses (taste, smell, feel, sound, & look). the senses (taste, smell, feel, sound, & look).

Just as in Pattern II, an adjectival Just as in Pattern II, an adjectival prepositional phrase (an idiom) can fill the prepositional phrase (an idiom) can fill the subject complement slot. subject complement slot.

Pattern V: NPPattern V: NP1 1 V-lnk NPV-lnk NP11

In this pattern a noun phrase fills In this pattern a noun phrase fills the subject complement slot the subject complement slot following the linking verb. following the linking verb.

Just as in Pattern III, both NPs have Just as in Pattern III, both NPs have the same referent. the same referent.

BecomeBecome and and remainremain are among the are among the most common verbs of Pattern V.most common verbs of Pattern V.

The Optional SlotsThe Optional Slots Adverbials can appear in every sentence Adverbials can appear in every sentence

pattern.pattern. Many of our sentences include information Many of our sentences include information

beyond the basic requirements—words or beyond the basic requirements—words or phrases that answer such questions as phrases that answer such questions as where, when, why, how, how oftenwhere, when, why, how, how often, and the , and the like. like.

Pattern I has the required ADV/TP, but it Pattern I has the required ADV/TP, but it can also include optional adverbials. can also include optional adverbials.

No matter where they occur, all adverbials No matter where they occur, all adverbials are diagrammed as modifiers of the verb.are diagrammed as modifiers of the verb.

Adverbs can be modified with words like Adverbs can be modified with words like veryvery, known as qualifiers. , known as qualifiers.

The Sentence Patterns: Linking The Sentence Patterns: Linking VerbsVerbs

IV NP V-lnk ADJ IV NP V-lnk ADJ

V NPV NP1 1 V-lnk NPV-lnk NP11

Pattern VI: NP V-intPattern VI: NP V-int

An An intransitive verbintransitive verb has no has no complement—no noun phrase or complement—no noun phrase or adjectival—following.adjectival—following.

Most Pattern VI sentences have Most Pattern VI sentences have other information, often adverbials. other information, often adverbials.

Pattern VI looks a lot like Pattern I, Pattern VI looks a lot like Pattern I, but in Pattern I, the adverbial but in Pattern I, the adverbial information is not optional. information is not optional.

Exceptions to Pattern VIExceptions to Pattern VI

There are thousands of intransitive verbs. There are thousands of intransitive verbs. Among them are a few verbs that require Among them are a few verbs that require an adverbial to make them complete:an adverbial to make them complete:

ResideReside: My best friend resides in Roswell.: My best friend resides in Roswell. SneakSneak: The boys sneaked past the guard.: The boys sneaked past the guard. GlanceGlance: She glanced at her watch. : She glanced at her watch. These are not given a new pattern since These are not given a new pattern since

the number is so small. the number is so small.

Intransitive Phrasal VerbsIntransitive Phrasal Verbs A A phrasal verbphrasal verb consists of a verb consists of a verb

combined with a preposition-like word, combined with a preposition-like word, known as a known as a particleparticle; together they form ; together they form an an idiomidiom..

An idiom is a set expression that acts as a An idiom is a set expression that acts as a unit (i.e. made up).unit (i.e. made up).

TestTest: adverbs can be shifted without a : adverbs can be shifted without a change in meaning, whereas a particle change in meaning, whereas a particle cannot (i.e. up we jumped vs. up we made)cannot (i.e. up we jumped vs. up we made)

TestTest: replace the phrasal with a one word : replace the phrasal with a one word synonym (i.e. gave in=capitulated, broke synonym (i.e. gave in=capitulated, broke up=ended).up=ended).

The Sentence Patterns: Intransitive The Sentence Patterns: Intransitive VerbsVerbs

VI NP V-intVI NP V-int

Pattern VII: NPPattern VII: NP1 1 V-tr NPV-tr NP22

The one method of distinguishing The one method of distinguishing transitive verbs that works almost every transitive verbs that works almost every time is the recognition that the two noun time is the recognition that the two noun phrases have different referents. phrases have different referents.

An exception occurs when the direct An exception occurs when the direct object is either a reflexive pronoun (John object is either a reflexive pronoun (John cut cut himselfhimself) or a reciprocal pronoun (John ) or a reciprocal pronoun (John and Mary love and Mary love each othereach other). ).

Don’t forget about transitive phrasal verbs Don’t forget about transitive phrasal verbs Ex. He Ex. He came bycame by his fortune in an unusual his fortune in an unusual way. way.

Pattern VIII: NPPattern VIII: NP1 1 V-tr NPV-tr NP22 NPNP33

All three NPs have different referents. All three NPs have different referents. You have the option of shifting the indirect You have the option of shifting the indirect

object to a position following the direct object, object to a position following the direct object, where it will be the object of a preposition. where it will be the object of a preposition. Ex. The students gave their professor their Ex. The students gave their professor their homework OR The students gave their homework OR The students gave their homework to the professor. homework to the professor.

The same system of identity applies in Pattern The same system of identity applies in Pattern VIII when reflexive or reciprocal pronouns fill VIII when reflexive or reciprocal pronouns fill the indirect object slot, as they sometimes do.the indirect object slot, as they sometimes do.Ex. Jill gave herself a haircut OR We gave each Ex. Jill gave herself a haircut OR We gave each other identical Christmas presents. other identical Christmas presents.

Pattern IX: NPPattern IX: NP1 1 V-Tr NPV-Tr NP22 ADJADJ

In this pattern the direct object is In this pattern the direct object is followed by a second complement, as followed by a second complement, as adjective that modifies or describes the adjective that modifies or describes the direct object; this is the direct object; this is the object object complementcomplement. .

Pattern IX is a small class, with Pattern IX is a small class, with relatively few verbs, most of which relatively few verbs, most of which appear equally often in Pattern VII, appear equally often in Pattern VII, where they take the direct object only. where they take the direct object only.

Pattern X: NPPattern X: NP11 V-tr NP V-tr NP22 NP NP22

TEST: To discern between patterns TEST: To discern between patterns IX and X, check whether you can IX and X, check whether you can insert the words insert the words to beto be between the between the direct object and the following slot.direct object and the following slot.Ex. Ex. Taro finds his job easy. (X)Taro finds his job easy. (X)Taro found his job easily. (IX)Taro found his job easily. (IX)Pam found her job the hard way. (IX)Pam found her job the hard way. (IX)Pam finds her job a challenge. (X)Pam finds her job a challenge. (X)

Pattern X: NPPattern X: NP11 V-tr NP V-tr NP22 NP NP2 2

continued…continued… Sometimes the object complement Sometimes the object complement

is signaled by as, which we call an is signaled by as, which we call an expletiveexpletive, or operator. , or operator.

Ex. We elected Tom as our Ex. We elected Tom as our secretary.secretary.

We refer to him as “Mr. We refer to him as “Mr. Secretary.”Secretary.”

I know him as a good friend.I know him as a good friend.

The Sentence Patterns: Transitive The Sentence Patterns: Transitive VerbsVerbs

VII NPVII NP1 1 V-tr NPV-tr NP22

VIII NPVIII NP1 1 V-tr NPV-tr NP2 2 NPNP3 3

IX NPIX NP1 1 V-tr NPV-tr NP2 2 ADJADJ

X NPX NP1 1 V-tr NPV-tr NP2 2 NPNP22