2. A crash-course in linguistic syntax and word function
Syntax & Shakespeare
A crash-course in linguistic syntax and word function

3. Word Geography: Nouns To expand your thinking; nouns…
located after adjectives,
but before a verb.
To expand your thinking; nouns…
are often found after determinants (the, a, an, my, his, her, our, their, your) [yes, some of these are also called articles],
and demonstratives (this, that, those, these) [which can act as a noun in a prepositional phrase],
and quantifiers (few, several, three…)
Suffixes that apply to nouns: -ment, -ness, -tion, -ism, -ist (etc.)
Find the nouns (despite the nonsense words):
The very fleebish gnaves were flooging those gerbins in my sherf.

4. Word Geography: Verbs located after first noun,
and after auxiliary verbs (am, is, be, do, does, have, has…).
To expand your thinking:
May follow modals (can, could, shall, should, may, might, will, would, must), which…
Show mood (real or not—think subjunctive).
Verbs also…
Show tense (location on a timeline) [past, present, future]
Show aspect (whether the action is completed or ongoing) [Spanish students, this is preterit vs. imperfect]
Suffixes that apply to verbs: -s, -en, -(i)fy, -ize, -ate

5. Word Geography: Descriptors
Adjectives & adverbs are found after intensifiers (very, really, somewhat, quite, etc.)
Comparative forms: _x_-er; more _x__
Superlative forms: _x_-est; most _x_
Adjectives are found:
inside noun phrases
after linking verbs
Suffixes that apply to adjectives: -ish, -ous, -ful, -less, -y, -ive, -al
Adverbs are found:
inside verb phrases

6. Key abbreviations S = sentence N= noun NP= noun phrase
Det= determinant
Q= quantifier
Int= intensifier
Adj= adjective
AdjP= adjective phrase
V= verb
VG= verb group
May contain linking/auxiliary verbs
VP= verb phrase
Adv= adverb
AdvP= adverb phrase
Prep= preposition
PrepP= prepositional phrase
Dem= demonstrative

7. Step One: Label parts of speech
What are the parts of speech for each of these words?
Label above the words using the abbreviations we just covered:
The very fleebish gnaves were flooging those gerbins in my sherf.
Det Int Adj N V V Dem N Prep Det N

8. Try a new one…
Again, use the abbreviations and label above the words:
Several extremely salty pirates casually sauntered across the docks looking to avoid arrest.
Q Int Adj N Adv V Prep Det N V V V N

9. Sentence Math…more or less
S = NP + VP
NP = (Det) + (Q) + (AdjP) + N
AdjP = (Int)n + Adj
VP = VG + (NP) + (AdvP) + (PrepP) ...or…
VP = VG + (NP) + (AdjP) + (PrepP)
AdvP = (Int)n + Adv + (PrepP)
PrepP = Prep + (Det) + NP
*Items in parenthesis are not essential, but may be part of the given phrase.
**(Det) is interchangeable with (Dem) in this context

10. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings
NP = (Det) + (Q) + (AdjP) + N
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

11. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupingsNP
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

12. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings
PrepP = Prep + NP
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

13. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings
PrepP
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

14. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings
AdjP = (Int)n + Adj
PrepP
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

15. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings
PrepP
AdjP
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

16. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings
PrepP
AdjP VG
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

17. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings
VP = {VG + (NP) + (AdjP)}
PrepP
AdjP VG
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

18. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupingsVP
PrepP
AdjP VG
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

19. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings
S= NP + VP
PrepP
AdjP VG VP
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

20. Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings
PrepP
AdjP VG VP
Q N V Adj Prep N
Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

21. More complex: S VP NP NP VG
AdjP
PrepP NP
Det Int Adj N V V Dem N Prep Det N
The very fleebish gnaves were flooging those gerbins in my sherf.

22. Once more: S VP
Several extremely salty pirates casually sauntered across the docks looking to avoid arrest.
AdvP VP NP VG
PrepP
AdjP

23. On your own…
Diagram the following sentences (pro-tip: turn your paper landscape-style):
Those several really huge frenetic hyenas devoured our crooked politicians quite enthusiastically during the night.
An extremely offended uninvited guest has been making very unfriendly plans at her sinister castle over the weekend.