1. Diagramming the Subject, Verb, Adverb, and Direct Object
Purple half-line, non bisecting, separates verb from direct object.
Bisecting vertical line separates subject from verb.
Horizontal line in red starts off the diagram.
direct object
subject
verb
modifier
modifier
modifier
Diagramming the Subject, Verb, Adverb, and Direct Object
Notes
1. Subjects, verbs, and direct objects go on the horizontal line. Everything that falls below the horizontal line is a modifier.
2. Modifiers include adjectives, adverbs, articles, and prepositional phrases.

2. Diagramming the Subject, Verb, Adverb, and Direct Object
Odyssey
boy
read
The
young
happily
the
The young boy happily read the Odyssey.

3. Diagramming the Prepositional Phrase
sofa
Object of preposition
car
the
brown
the
modifier
Notes
The diagramming of prepositional phrases begins with a slanted “L” shape. The slanted purple line holds the preposition and the straight green line holds the object of the preposition. Objects are nouns or pronouns.
Prepositional phrases go under a subject, verb, or an object. Prepositional phrases are modifiers, functioning as adjectives or adverbs.
A prepositional phrase may take a modifier.

4. Diagramming the Subject, Verb, Adverb, and Direct Object
pail
Jack
fetched
quickly a of
water
Jack quickly fetched a pail of water.

5. Diagramming the Subject, Verb, and Predicate Adjective
Jill is
thirsty
for
water
some
Jill is thirsty for some water.