Analytical

Grammar:
a systematic approach to language mastery

Sample Unit

Created by R. Robin Finley

Copyright 1996
Analytical Grammar: Teacher Book
©1996 R. Robin Finley
Published and distributed by Demme Learning

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ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) NOTES-PAGE 7

SUBJECT & VERB

The first thing we must discuss in this unit is the verb. In our language we have two kinds of verbs: action verbs and
linking verb. This unit will be about action verbs; we will learn about linking verbs in Unit #8.

DEFINITION: An action verb is a word that expresses mental or physical action.

EXAMPLES: (physical action) jump, search, carry, run, examine

(mental action) worry, think, believe, consider

A verb has a SUBJECT. The subject is the noun or pronoun that is DOING THE ACTION OF THE VERB.
art n pp art n av pp art adj n
EXAMPLE: The horse (in the lead) raced (across the finish line).

The verb is raced. Who or what "raced"? The horse, right? So horse is the subject of raced.
HANDY HINT: The subject will NEVER be inside a prepositional phrase.

NOTE: If you find a word that looks like a verb but doesn't have a subject, you call it a "verbal." We'll learn all
about verbals later on in Units #11, 12, and 13. For now, if you find a verbal just mark it "v." If it does have a
subject, then it's a real verb, so for now mark it "av."
pn av v art pn pp adj n
EXAMPLE: Joe hopes to get an A (on this test).

"To get" looks like a verb, but if you asked, "Who or what to get?" there is no stated answer in the sentence. A
subject and verb always GO TOGETHER and sound right when spoken together. So "to get" in this sentence is a
verbal. NOTE: Many verbals end in "ing" and any verb with "to" in front of it (to see, to throw) is always a verbal.

SIMPLE SUBJECT AND SIMPLE PREDICATE: These are terms that many language teachers and textbooks
use, but they will not be used in this course. Just for your information, a "simple subject" is the noun or pronoun that
is doing the action of the verb, without any of its modifiers. A "simple predicate" is just the verb by itself, without
any modifiers. (We'll learn about those verb modifiers in the next unit.)

On the next page is the beginning of a "flow chart" which will be called THE PROCESS. It represents the mental
steps you must take in order to figure out what the words in a sentence are doing, specifically the verbs.

I. DIAGRAMING THE SUBJECT & VERB:

A diagram shows the structure of a sentence by making a “picture” of it. Every diagram starts with a BASE
LINE which contains the subject and the verb.

EXAMPLE: n av
Lions roar. Lions roar

Notice that the base line is a horizontal line and that the subject and verb are separated by a vertical line which goes
ALL THE WAY THROUGH the horizontal line. In a diagram, you capitalize the first word of the sentence, but you
don’t include punctuation.

II. TO FIND THE SUBJECT AND VERB: After marking n, art, adj, pp, and putting parentheses around the
prepositional phrases, mark any word that looks like a verb "v." Then ask “Who or what (say the verb)?” The
answer, a noun or a pronoun, will be the subject of that verb.

EXAMPLE: adj n av adj n adj n

My uncle runs five miles every morning.

1. The verb is “runs.” uncle runs

2. “Who or what runs?” Answer: uncle

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 ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) NOTES-PAGE 8

III. HOW TO DIAGRAM ARTICLES AND ADJECTIVES.

A. Adjectives and articles are diagramed on diagonal lines attached to the noun or pronoun they
modify. They should be diagramed in the order in which they come in the sentence.

EXAMPLE: adj adj n av

Our special guest sang.
guest sang

sp
O

ec
ur

ia
l
B. Two or more adjectives joined by a conjunction ("and," "but," or "or" ) are diagramed like this:

EXAMPLE: adj adj adj n av

My black and white dog barked.

dog barked
and
M

w
bl
y

hi
ac

te
k

IV. HOW TO DIAGRAM PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE: From now on, if a prepositional phrase modifies the
subject, you must diagram it. Remember, if it modifies a noun, it will tell you "Which?" about that noun. In the
sentence on the other side of this page about the horse, the phrase "in the lead" tells you which horse. Look at the
diagram below.
horse raced
in
Th
e

lead
th
e

V. HOW TO DIAGRAM A COMMAND: It is a bit tricky to diagram a command or request, because it may
appear that there is no subject.

EXAMPLE: av adj n
Brush your teeth.

The verb is “brush,” but if you ask “Who or what brush?” - it doesn’t say. In the case of commands or
requests, the subject is an understood “you.” The diagram will look like this:

(you) Brush Notice that the “you” is in parentheses;

this indicates that it is “understood.”

VI. HOW TO DIAGRAM AN “INVERTED” SENTENCE. "Inverted" sentences are sentences which begin
with “here” and “there.” We use these sentences all the time in our language, but they may be a bit tricky to
diagram. Once you find the verb and ask, "Who or what comes?" in the sentence below, you'll see that the
subject is principal. It's tricky because you're used to seeing the subject in front of the verb - and these
sentences are "inverted"!

EXAMPLE: av art n principal comes

Here comes the principal.
th
e

The chart on the next page, which we call "The Process," represents the mental steps you must go through to analyze
a sentence grammatically. We will be adding steps to this chart, but at this point, as long as you understand what you
see now, you're in fine shape!

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ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) THE PROCESS

THE PROCESS

Step 1. Find and mark n all the nouns in the sentence. (pn over proper nouns)

Step 2. Find all the articles and adjectives (Ask, "Which (say the noun)?")

Step 3. Find all the pronouns.

Step 4. Find all the prepositions and put parentheses ( ) around the prepositional phrases.

Step 5. Find all words that look like verbs and mark them "v."

Step 6. Ask, "Who or what (say the verb)?"

No answer? It's a verbal. Answer? It's an action verb.

Leave it marked "v" and Draw a baseline and fill in
go on. the subject and verb.

Complete your diagram with

the modifiers that go with the
subject.

(subject) (verb)
m
od
ifi
er

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 ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) EXERCISE #1

SUBJECT AND VERB: EXERCISE #1

NAME:__________________________________________DATE:_______________________

DIRECTIONS: Mark all the parts of speech that you know in the sentences below. Put parentheses around the
prepositional phrases. In the space provided or on a separate piece of paper, diagram the subject and its modifiers
(including prepositional phrases) and the verb. Since you don’t know how to diagram anything else at this point,
don’t try.
n pp pn av pp pn pp art adj adj n
1. People (from Mexico) settled (in Texas) (in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries).
(See Notes III-B)

adj n av pp pn pp art n pp art pn

2. These people came (to Texas)(before the settlement)(of the Europeans).

pro av n n
3. They established farms and ranches there.

adj adj n av art n

4. These early settlers plowed the land.

adj n av pp art adj adj n

5. Their crops grew (in the harsh Texas climate).

adj pn av adj n pp adj n

6. These Texans bestowed Spanish names (on their towns).

pro av pro pp adj n pn

7. They called one (of these towns) San Antonio.

adj n av pp pn pp art adj pn

8. Mexican culture spread (from Texas)(throughout the southwestern United States).

(over)
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ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) EXERCISE #1 - PAGE 2

av adj adj adj n

9. There went these early Texas pioneers. (See Notes VI)

art n pp adj n av pp art n pp adj adj

10. The names (of these states) resulted (from the influence)(of these Spanish-speaking
n
settlers). (See Notes IV)

DEFINITIONS:

1. subject
A verb is not a "real" verb unless it has a _________________________________.

2. a
The articles in our language are ___________, an
______________, the
and _____________.

DIRECTIONS: Write what job the underlined words are doing. Choose your answers from among the following:

SUBJECT OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION VERB MODIFIER

SENTENCE# WORD JOB

1 People subject
______________________________________________________

1 Mexico object of the preposition

______________________________________________________

4 These modifier
______________________________________________________

6 towns object of the preposition

______________________________________________________

8 southwestern modifier
______________________________________________________

10 resulted verb
______________________________________________________

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 ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) DIAGRAM KEY: EXERCISE #1

1. People settled
fro
m
Mexico

2. people came
Th
es
e

3. They established

4. settlers plowed
Th ea
es rly
e

5. crops grew
Th
ei
r

6. Texans bestowed
Th
es
e

7. They called

8. culture spread
M
ex
ic
an

9. pioneers went
th e Te
es arly xa
e s

10. names resulted

Th
e of
states
th
es
e

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ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) EXERCISE #2

SUBJECT & VERB: EXERCISE #2

NAME: _________________________________________DATE: _______________________

DIRECTIONS: Mark all the parts of speech that you know in the sentences below. Put parentheses around the
prepositional phrases. Then, in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper, diagram the subject and its
modifiers and the verb. Do not try to diagram anything else at this point. HINT: Watch out for verbals!

pn av art n pp art adj adj n pp pn

1. Roberto Felix Salazar wrote a poem (about the early Mexican settlers)(of Texas).

adj n av art n v pp pn
2. These people settled the land known (as Texas).

adj adj n av v art n pp art n pp adj

3. This Mexican-American poet wanted to tell the story (of the contributions)(of these
adj n
Texas pioneers).

adj adj adj n av adj adj n n

4. This joyful and passionate poem describes these hard-working farmers and ranchers.
(See Notes III-B)

pro av adj adj adj n pp art adj adj n

5. They built their thick-walled adobe houses(from the dry Texas earth).

adj adj n av v adj n

6. Devout Catholic people struggled mightily to build their churches.

adj adj adj adj n av v n pp adj

7. Their strong but gentle Mexican wives willingly sacrificed to make homes (for their
n
families). (See Notes III-B)

(over)
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 ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) EXERCISE #2 - PAGE 2

av adj n pp adj adj n

8. Read this poem (at your first opportunity). (See Notes V)

adj adj adj n av art adj n

9. These brave Mexican settlers left a rich legacy.

art adj adj n pp adj n av pp adj n

10. The soft Spanish names (of their towns) survive (to this day). (See Notes IV)

DEFINITIONS:

1. modifiers
If there are any words between a preposition and its object, they are ________________________________.

2. proper noun
Only a __________________________ can consist of more than one word.

3. verbal
If a word looks like a verb but doesn't have a subject, it's a _______________________________________.

DIRECTIONS: Write what job the underlined word is doing. Choose your answers from among the following:

SUBJECT OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION MODIFIER VERB

SENTENCE # WORD JOB

1 subject
Roberto Felix Salazar _________________________________________________________

3 poet subject
____________________________________________________________

4 describes verb
____________________________________________________________

5 adobe modifier
____________________________________________________________

6 struggled verb
____________________________________________________________

7 families object of the preposition

____________________________________________________________

8 Read verb
____________________________________________________________

10 towns object of the preposition

____________________________________________________________

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ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) EXERCISE #2

1.
Roberto Felix Salazar wrote 6. people struggled
D Ca
ev th
ou ol
t ic

2. people settled 7. wives sacrificed

Th Th but
es ei str ge M
e r on nt ex
g le ic
an

3. poet wanted 8. (you) Read

Th M
is ex
i ca
n-
A
m
er
ic
an

4. poem describes 9. settlers left

Th
Th jo pa es bra M
ex
is yf ss e ve
ul io ic
an
and nate

5. They built 10. names survive

so S
Th ft pan of
e ish towns
th
ei
r

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 ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) EXERCISE #3

SUBJECT & VERB: EXERCISE #3

NAME: ______________________________________DATE:__________________________

DIRECTIONS: Mark all the parts of speech that you know in the sentences below. Put parentheses ( ) around the
prepositional phrases. Then, in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper, diagram the subject and its
modifiers and the verb. Do not try to diagram anything else at this point.
pro av art n pp adj n pp n pp adj
1. Today we study the contributions (of all sorts)(of people)(to American
n
culture).

pn av n pp adj n
2. Roberto Felix Salazar obviously took pride (in his ancestors).

pn pp pn av art
3. “The Other Pioneers” (by Roberto Felix Salazar) celebrates the
n pp adj adj n
accomplishments (of these Texas pioneers).

pn pp art adj pn av pp adj adj

4. Mexican-Americans (in the southwestern United States) identify (with these rugged
n
people).

adj adj n av adj n pp art adj n

5. Mexican and Anglo settlers left their mark (on the Texas landscape).

adj n av v pp adj art adj n pp adj n

6. American students try to learn (about all the different contributions)(to their culture).

pp art n av art n pp adj adj n

7. Here (on the land) were the marks (of these early settlers). (See Notes VI)

adj adj n av art n pp art adj pn

8. Anglo and Mexican culture really shapes the life (of the American Southwest).

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ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) EXERCISE #3 - PAGE 2

n pp adj pro av pro v pro pp adj n

9. Poems (like this one) help us to understand more (about our country).

adv av adj n n pp adj n

10. Please read these stories and poems (about your antecedents).

DEFINITIONS:

1. modifier
In a diagram, a _____________________ goes on a diagonal lines attached to another word.

2. take the place of nouns

Pronouns are words that __________________________________________________________________.

3. modify (or describe) nouns and pronouns

Adjectives are words that _________________________________________________________________.

DIRECTIONS: Write what job the underlined words is doing. Choose your answers from among the following:

SUBJECT OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION VERB MODIFIER

SENTENCE # WORD JOB

1 sorts object of the preposition

____________________________________________________________

2 took verb
___________________________________________________________

3 these modifier
____________________________________________________________

4 people object of the preposition

____________________________________________________________

5 Mexican modifier
____________________________________________________________

8 shapes verb
____________________________________________________________

10 antecedents object of the preposition

____________________________________________________________

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Academic Year 2020–2021
 ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) DIAGRAM KEY: EXERCISE #3

1. we study 6. students try

A
m
er
ic
an

2. Roberto Felix Salazar took 7. marks were

th of
e
settlers
th ea
es rly
e

3. "The Other Pioneers" celebrates 8. culture shapes

A M
by ng ex
lo ic
an
Roberto Felix Salazar and

4. Mexican-Americans identify 9. Poems help

in lik
e
United States one
th so th
e ut is
hw
es
te
rn

5. settlers left 10. (you) read

M A
ex ng
ic lo
an
and

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ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) SKILLS SUPPORT

SKILLS SUPPORT
DIRECTIONS: Below is a stanza from “The Other Pioneers” by Roberto Felix Salazar. Mark all the parts of
speech that you know. Paraphrase this stanza.

pro av art adj n av pp adj n

They saw the Texas sun rise golden-red (with promised wealth)

av art adj n av pp n
And saw the Texas sun sink golden yet, (with wealth) unspent.

pro av v v
“Here,” they said. “Here to live and here to love.”

av art n pp adj n art n pp adj n

“Here is the land (for our sons and the sons)(of our sons).”

pro av art n pp adj pn

And they sang the songs( of ancient Spain)

pro av adj n v adj n

And they made new songs to fit new needs.

pro av art n av art n

They cleared the brush and planted the corn

av adj n av pp n pp n
And saw green stalks turn black (from lack)(of rain).

pro av art n pp art n

They roamed the plains (behind the herds).

av art adj adj n

And stood the Indian’s cruel attacks.

av n av n
There was dust and there was sweat.

av n art n av
And there were tears and the women prayed.

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Academic Year 2020–2021
 ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) TEST

SUBJECT & VERB: TEST

NAME:____________________________________________DATE:_____________________
/206 GRADE: ________ )
(RAW SCORE: _________

DIRECTIONS: Mark all the nouns, proper nouns, pronouns, articles, adjectives, prepositions, and action verbs in
the sentences below. Put parentheses around the prepositional phrases. Then, on a separate sheet of paper,
diagram the subject and verb of each sentence. Add to your diagram the modifiers for the subject, including
articles, adjectives, and prepositional phrases.
___ av adj adj n pp adj adj n
9 1. Study this beautiful poem (about Texas’ early settlers).

n pp adj n av art n pp adj adj n

___ 2. Students (of American culture) read the literature (of all our poets).
13

pro av n pp adj adj n

___
3. They want information (about America's early settlers).
8

n pp adj n av n pp adj n pp n
___
4. Students (in this school) read examples( of this type)(of literature).
14

pro av adj n pp adj n

___ 5. They want more information(about their roots).
8

___ art n pp adj n av pro v pro

10 6. An understanding (of our roots) helps us to understand ourselves.

adj adj pn av art adj n pp adj adj

___
7. All patriotic Americans appreciate the many contributions (of America’s different
13
adj n
cultural groups).

___ art adj n pp pn av art adj n pp n pp adj n

17 8. The best writers (in America) created a great body( of work)(on this subject).

(over)

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 ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) TEST - PAGE 2

adj n pp adj adj n av pro n pp pro

___ 9. Great literature (about our early ancestors)gives us pride (in ourselves).
13

av adj adj n pp adj n

___ 10. Here comes that positive self-esteem (about our ancestors)!
8
===
113 DEFINITIONS:
___ 1. subject
A verb is a "real" verb when it has a ______________________________________________________.
1
___ 2. a
The articles in our language are ________, an
_____________, the
and __________________.
3
___ 3. a proper noun
Which kind of noun begins with a capital letter? _____________________________________________.
1
___ 4. a common noun
Which kind of noun consists of only one word? ______________________________________________.
1
___ 5. takes the place of one or more a nouns
A pronoun is a word that ________________________________________________________________.
1
___ 6. modify nouns and pronouns
Adjectives are words that _______________________________________________________________.
1
___ 7. verbal
If a word looks like a verb but doesn't have a subject, it's a ____________________________________.
1
===
9
DIRECTIONS: Write what job the underlined words are doing. Choose your answers from among the following:

SUBJECT MODIFIER VERB OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION

SENTENCE # WORD JOB

1 Study verb
____________________________________________________________

2 American modifier
___________________________________________________________

3 settlers object of the preposition

____________________________________________________________
Raw Score Grade %
4 Students subject 206 - 201 = A++ = 98+
____________________________________________________________
5 200 - 195 = A+ = 95
5 more modifier 194 - 185 = A = 90
____________________________________________________________
points 184 - 175 = B+ = 85
6 understanding subject 174 - 164 = B = 80
____________________________________________________________
163 - 154 = C+ = 75
each 7 groups object of the preposition 153 - 144 = C = 70
____________________________________________________________
143 - 133 = D+ = 65
8 work object of the preposition 133 - 123 = D = 60
____________________________________________________________

9 gives verb
____________________________________________________________

10 self-esteem subject
____________________________________________________________
===
50

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 ANALYTICAL GRAMMAR (UNIT #4) DIAGRAM KEY: TEST

I suggest you score the diagrams separately from the parsing. Refer to your instructions on how to grade diagrams.
Each check mark represents a point. Remember, the first word of a sentence must be capitalized in the diagram.

FROM NOW ON, COUNT PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES - CORRECTLY DIAGRAMED AND

ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT WORD - AS ONE POINT.

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
___ 1. (you) Study ___ 6. Understanding helps
2 4 A ✔ of
n ✔ roots
ou
r

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
___ 2. Students read ___ 7. Americans appreciate
of 4
3 A✔ pa
✔ culture ll
tri ✔
A ot
m ic
er
ic
an
✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
___ 3. They want 8. ___ writers created
Th in
2 5 e be
s ✔ America
✔ t
✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
___ 4. Students read ___ 9. literature gives
3 ab
in 4 ou
G t ✔
re ✔ ancestors
✔ school at
th ou ea
is r r ly

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
___ 5. They want ___ 10. self-esteem
po ab
comes
2 5 th
at sitiv ou
t ✔
✔ e ancestors
✔ ou
r

===
34

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