The Reed-Kellogg sentence diagram is a method of diagramming a sentence in the English language. Using this system, different grammatical elements are indicated in different ways. For example, an adjective is written on a line diagonally downward from the noun or pronoun it modifies. A variety of ways have been developed to represent structures such as gerunds, noun phrases, and appositives.
Basics
The base
The main parts of the sentence are placed on a horizonal line, called the base. On the base, the subject is placed on the left, the verb after that, and an optional object on the right.
The subject and verb are separated by a vertical line that extends below the baseline, and the verb and object are separated by a line that ends at the baseline. If the object is direct or indirect, the line is vertical. If the object is a predicate noun or adjective , the line runs diagonally, pointing upwards toward the subject.
Modifiers
Modifiers are drawn descending below the baseline, "hanging" off the words they modify.
An adjective is written on a line diagonally downward from the noun or pronoun it modifies. An adverb that modifies a verb is written similarly. However, an adverb that modifies an adjective or another adverb is given a line that branches off perpendicularly. (illustration coming soon)
Prepositional phrases
Compounds
- Compound subject
- Compound predicate
- Compound object
- Compound modifier
Compound sentences
Subordinate clauses
Subordinate clauses exist in complex sentences.
Infinitival clauses
Other structures
Appositives
An appositive is written in parentheses, next to the word it describes.
Participles and participial phrases
A participle is given the same type of line as an adjective (see #Modifiers, above), except that a small horizonal line branches off the end. The participle itself is written in a curved manner, so that the verb ending is written on the small horizonal line.
Any adjectives or prepositional phrases modifying the participial branch off of the small horizonal line, as if the participle were a noun.
Gerunds and gerund phrases
Disuse
In recent years, the Reed-Kellogg system has somewhat fallen out of use. While some teachers continue to use this system, many have discouraged it in favor of the tree diagram, which orders words hierarchically.
See also
External links
- Diagramming Sentences at Capital Community College
- The Pledge of Allegiance diagrammed
- The Preamble to the United States Constitution diagrammed
- SenDraw, a computer program that specializes in Reed-Kellogg diagrams
