Diagramming is a way to show the relationships between the various parts of a sentence. It shows the structure of a sentence, and it can sometimes help the writer recognize a grammatical error in a sentence. The basic diagrams used in one system of diagramming are shown below. Consult a grammar text for more detailed explanations and other samples.

(1) Diagram for a simple sentence with a simple subject (noun or pronoun) and simple predicate (verb):

(2) Diagram for a simple sentence with adjectives or adverbs:

(3) Diagram for a simple sentence with prepositional phrases (adjective or adverb):

(4) Diagram for a simple sentence with a compound subject:

(5) Diagram for a simple sentence with a compound predicate:

(6) Diagram for a simple sentence with a direct object:

(7) Diagram for a simple sentence with a direct object and an indirect object:

(8) Diagram for a simple sentence with a predicate noun:

(9) Diagram for a simple sentence with a predicate adjective:

(10) Diagram for a compound sentence:

(11) Diagram for a complex sentence with a noun clause:

(12) Diagram for a complex sentence with a relative or adjective clause:

(13) Diagram for a complex sentence with an adverb clause: