Sentence Diagrams

by Eugene R. Moutoux

~ One Way of Learning English Grammar ~

The Anatomy of a Sentence




Can you diagram this 100-word sentence?

Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks to find the perfect presents for Mom, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe, but since you know in your heart of hearts that Uncle Joe will appreciate nothing you give him and that you will capitulate to necessity and buy Grandpa a fifth of Seagram’s, you concentrate on Mom, as you move into the aisle that you hope to be able to call the final stop of this holiday season.

If you take it step by step, it's not so hard.

When you're ready to see the diagrams, click below.
Part 1: you walk, but you concentrate
Part 2: you walk from store to store, but you concentrate on Mom
Part 3: you, a Christmas procrastinator, walk from store to store, but you concentrate on Mom
Part 4: you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, but you concentrate on Mom
Part 5: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, but you concentrate on Mom .
Part 6: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, but you concentrate on Mom.
Part 7: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks, but you concentrate on Mom.
Part 8: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks to find the perfect presents for Mom, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe, but you concentrate on Mom.
Part 9: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks to find the perfect presents for Mom, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe, but since you know in your heart of hearts, you concentrate on Mom.
Part 10: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks to find the perfect presents for Mom, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe, but since you know in your heart of hearts that Uncle Joe will appreciate nothing, you concentrate on Mom.
Part 11: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks to find the perfect presents for Mom, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe, but since you know in your heart of hearts that Uncle Joe will appreciate nothing you give him, you concentrate on Mom.
Part 12: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks to find the perfect presents for Mom, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe, but since you know in your heart of hearts that Uncle Joe will appreciate nothing you give him and that you will capitulate to necessity, you concentrate on Mom.
Part 13: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks to find the perfect presents for Mom, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe, but since you know in your heart of hearts that Uncle Joe will appreciate nothing you give him and that you will capitulate to necessity and buy Grandpa a fifth of Seagram's, you concentrate on Mom.
Part 14: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks to find the perfect presents for Mom, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe, but since you know in your heart of hearts that Uncle Joe will appreciate nothing you give him and that you will capitulate to necessity and buy Grandpa a fifth of Seagram's, you concentrate on Mom, as you move into the aisle.
Part 15: Every year on the afternoon of December 24, you, a Christmas procrastinator, loaded down with sacks and boxes, walk from store to store, down endless aisles, your eyes scanning windows and racks to find the perfect presents for Mom, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe, but since you know in your heart of hearts that Uncle Joe will appreciate nothing you give him and that you will capitulate to necessity and buy Grandpa a fifth of Seagram's, you concentrate on Mom, as you move into the aisle that you hope to be able to call the final stop of this holiday season.

Check out my new book, Analyzing the Grammar of Literature: Diagrams of 130 Long Sentences from British and American Writers! See the description below.

*** A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming ***

A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming is now in its second edition. Its 114 pages contain the definitions of 97 grammatical terms, a page of diagramming symbols, 105 diagramming examples ranging in difficulty from very easy to very difficult, 30 exercises containing 274 sentences to be diagrammed, a separate answer section with a diagram and a verbal analysis of each sentence, and a concluding section of 30 sentences of medium length (with solutions), intended as a review of most of the diagramming concepts presented in the book.

Teachers purchasing a copy of this book may photocopy all or some of its pages for free distribution to their students.

The price of the second edition is $14 (including book-rate shipment within the United States), slightly less per book if multiple copies are ordered. If you want to buy one or more copies of this book, please email me at ermoutoux@juno.com. I will send you my address and you can then mail me a check or money order (no cash or credit card numbers, please). Don't forget to include the address to which you want the book or books sent. Please allow 10-14 days for delivery.

At long last, you may purchase student copies of A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming. The student copy contains all the material of the regular edition with the exception of the answers (diagramming solutions and explanations) to the exercises. Additional space has been provided so that students who write small and work carefully will be able to construct most of their diagrams in their books. The price of a student copy is $12.50 ($11.50 when more than one book is ordered).

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For Young Learners

*** A First Book of Sentence Diagramming ***

A First Book of Sentence Diagramming is a diagramming workbook for elementary and middle-school students. The student edition of this book contains, in addition to definitions and explanations, some 115 model diagrams and 250 sentences for students to diagram. These model diagrams and sentences are entirely new; they are not taken from A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming or from my web site. Space is provided in the book for the student's diagrams.

A separate teacher's edition of A First Book of Sentence Diagramming contains all of the pages of the student edition as well as solutions (diagrams of the 250 sentences), eight unit tests, and test solutions.

The student edition has 86 pages and costs $12.50 (less for multiple copies). The teacher's edition has 120 pages and costs $15 (less for multiple copies). These prices include book-rate postage within the United States.

Teachers, you may photocopy, for free distribution to your students, the material on pages 87-120 of the teacher's edition: unit tests and solutions for all exercises and tests; furthermore, if neither your schools nor your students can or will purchase student copies, you may photocopy pages 1-86 as well for free distribution to your students. All other rights are reserved by the author.

If you would like to view the table of contents of A First Book of Sentence Diagramming, please click here. To view the unit divider page for Unit I, click here. Each of the eight units is introduced by a similar page. To view the first page of Lesson 22, click here.

If you want to buy one or more copies of this book, please email me at ermoutoux@juno.com. I will send you my address and you can then mail me a check or money order (no cash or credit card numbers, please). Don't forget to include the address to which you want the book or books sent. Please allow 10-14 days for delivery.

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*** A Second Book of Sentence Diagramming ***

A Second Book of Sentence Diagramming is intended for middle-school and high-school students. This book begins where A First Book of Sentence Diagramming ends and has the same basic structure. The student edition of this book contains, in addition to definitions and explanations, some 82 model diagrams and 201 sentences for students to diagram. These model diagrams and sentences are entirely new; they are not taken from A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming or from my web site. Space is provided in the book for the student's diagrams.

A separate teacher's edition of A Second Book of Sentence Diagramming contains all of the pages of the student edition as well as solutions (diagrams of the 201 sentences), eight unit tests, and test solutions.

The student edition has 86 pages and costs $12.50 (less for multiple copies). The teacher's edition has 133 pages and costs $16 (less for multiple copies). These prices include book-rate postage within the United States.

Teachers, you may photocopy, for free distribution to your students, the material on pages 87-133 of the teacher's edition: unit tests and solutions for all exercises and tests; furthermore, if neither your schools nor your students can or will purchase student copies, you may photocopy pages 1-86 as well for free distribution to your students. All other rights are reserved by the author.

If you would like to view the table of contents of A Second Book of Sentence Diagramming, please click here. To view the unit divider page for Unit I, click here. Each of the eight units is introduced by a similar page. To view the first page of Lesson 22, click here.

If you want to buy one or more copies of this book, please email me at ermoutoux@juno.com. I will send you my address and you can then mail me a check or money order (no cash or credit card numbers, please). Don't forget to include the address to which you want the book or books sent. Please allow 10-14 days for delivery.

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Now in its second edition!

***Diagramming Step by Step***

~ One Hundred and Fifty-five Steps to Diagramming Excellence ~

Diagramming Step by Step: One Hundred and Fifty-five Steps to Diagramming Excellence, my fourth book of sentence diagramming, is similar to the second edition of A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming; however, there are several important differences:

1 - The examples and exercises of Diagramming Step by Step are completely new.

2 - The teacher's edition of Diagramming Step by Step has 158 pages, 44 more than A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming. Student copies are also available. They do not have answers in the back; in every other respect, they are the same as the teacher's edition.

3 - Diagramming Step by Step has 40 more diagramming examples than A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming.

4 - Diagramming Step by Step has 83 more sentences for students to diagram; moreover, ten of these sentences have more than 100 words each. A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming has no sentences of this length. Click here to see one of these 100-word sentences.

5 - The instructional section of the book is divided into 24 lessons, each with a page of grammar explanation, a page of model diagrams, and a page of sentences to be diagrammed by the student. Click here to see an entire lesson (three pages). I regret the poor quality of some images.

6 - In a section entitled "People in the Park," a storyteller (that's me) tells stories about the lives of people in the park, and the student is expected to diagram the sentences of these stories. Grammar hints are provided for those who need them. Click here to see one of the stories.

Click here to see the table of contents.

Like the second edition of A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming, the teacher's edition of Diagramming Step by Step has, in the back, "answers" (diagrams and explanations) for every sentence in every exercise, including "People in the Park" and "100-word Sentences."

Should you buy this book if you already have A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming? Not necessarily, but if you are looking for additional diagramming challenges for yourself or your students, you will find plenty in this book.

Should you buy this book instead of A Workbook of Sentence Diagramming? Again, not necessarily. This book may have more material than you need.

Diagramming Step by Step is also available in an enlarged edition. It features 24 additional pages, each entitled "Writing Correctly." These pages offer students writing tips related to the topics of the corresponding 24 lessons. Click here to view two of these pages.

I have dedicated this book to my recently deceased wife of 41 years, Joni. For that reason, I have tried to make it my best diagramming book. If I ever seek a publisher for one of my books, this will be the one. Click here to view pictures of Joni and to read about her life and death.

Teachers purchasing a copy of this book may photocopy all or some of its pages for free distribution to their students.

The price of the teacher's edition of Diagramming Step by Step is $18. A student copy sells for $12.50. The enlarged edition (the teacher's edition with 24 pages of writing tips--182 pages in all) sells for $20. The prices, which include handling and media-mail shipment within the United States, are slightly less per book if multiple copies are ordered. If you want to buy one or more copies of this book, please email me at ermoutoux@juno.com. I will send you my address and you can then mail me a check or money order (no cash or credit card numbers, please). Don't forget to include the address to which you want the book or books sent. Please allow 10-14 days for delivery.

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New in 2009!

*** Analyzing the Grammar of Literature ***

Diagrams of 130 Long Sentences from British and American Writers

This, my fifth book of sentence diagramming, is unlike any of the other four and, to the best of my knowledge, unlike any other book available. It is not for beginners. It offers 130 sentences gleaned from the works of 57 British and American writers. The shortest sentence in the collection has 70 words, the longest 472. The median length (the length of the sentence right in the middle) is 100 words; to be precise, Sentence 65 has 99 words, Sentence 66 has 100.

Diagrams of all 130 sentences are contained in in the "back" of the book, i.e., in the final five-sixths of the book. Each diagram occupies at least one page of the book; the longest covers four pages.

Degree of syntactic difficulty played no role in the selection of sentences. Sentence length and author’s literary reputation were the major criteria