Diagramming Clauses

Diagramming clauses helps us to see how sentences are constructed so that we can learn to write better sentences ourselves. Every complete sentence has at least one clause. Some sentences have more than one clause. We have italicized the simple subjects and underlined the simple predicates in each clause of the sentence below. Notice that the sentence contains three clauses (three subject and predicate combinations).

  • Before I went to Nashville, but after I wrote the song, I bought the guitar.

Below, we have diagrammed the simple subjects and simple predicates of each clause from the sentence above.

1. Before I went to Nashville,

2. but after I wrote the song,

3. I bought the guitar.
  • After I ate my breakfast, but before I went to school, I brushed my teeth.

Below, we have diagrammed the simple subjects and simple predicates of each clause from the sentence above.

1. After I ate my breakfast,

2. but before I went to school,

3. I brushed my teeth.

Notice that these sentences contain four clauses (four subject and predicate combinations).

  • After I arrived at the summit, but before I descended, I left a note that I had been there.

Below, we have diagrammed the simple subjects and simple predicates of each clause from the sentence above.

1. After I arrived at the summit,

2. but before I descended,

3. I left a note

4. that I had been there.
  • After the court studied the case, but before the justices voted, one judge admitted that she felt ambivalent.

Below, we have diagrammed the simple subjects and simple predicates of each clause from the sentence above.

1. After the court studied the case,

2. but before the justices voted,

3. one judge admitted

4. that she felt ambivalent.

Examples

Let us practice diagramming clauses. Diagram the simple subjects and simple predicates of the clauses in these sentences:

  1. The star sang popular rock-and-roll songs until his untimely death ended his career.
  2. Steam remained the most important energy source until electrical energy came into widespread use.
  3. Until Ada studied geography, she had no idea that Mount Kilimanjaro was the highest mountain in Africa.
  4. After Marbury vs. Madison was decided, the Supreme Court determined if a law was within the bounds of the Constitution.

Solutions

We practice diagramming clauses in sentences.

1. We examine the sentence and find that there are two clauses:

  • 1. The star sang popular rock-and-roll songs
  • 2. until his untimely death ended his career

We diagram the first clause:

We diagram the second clause:

2. We examine the sentence and find that there are two clauses:

  • 1. Steam remained the most important energy source
  • 2. until electrical energy came into widespread use

We diagram the first clause:

We diagram the second clause:

3. We examine the sentence and find that there are three clauses:

  • 1. Until Ada studied geography,
  • 2. she had no idea
  • 3. that Mount Kilimanjaro was the highest mountain...

4. We examine the sentence and find that there are three clauses:

  • 1. After Marbury vs. Madison was decided,
  • 2. the Supreme Court determined
  • 3. if a law was within the bounds of the Constitution.