AboutRosemary Lenc Expertise I am a retired Middle School teacher. I am an expert in grammar (structure of the English
language) and writing. I have been a volunteer with AOL Ask A Teacher and have
submitted many articles and special collections (one on diagramming sentences and one
with worksheets and answers so students can check their own practice on grammar skills)
to their knowledge database. I still am with them but would like other work where I can
help students with their English study. I have time to help you with this, if you want me. I
can help with grade school, middle school and high school grammar & writing and can
also look up information on literature (reading) for students and help them with it.
Please let me know if I can be of help in these areas. Thank you.
Rosemary Lenc
Experience
Past/Present clients Have helped many, many students in grade school language arts, middle school and high
school grammar and writing in both the chat rooms (live help that AOL use to have) and
message board answers plus the many students i have taught as a teacher.
Question What would be the correct way to diagram Patrick Henry's speech: ("I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
I would appreciate a quick response to this question. Thanks a million, Beth
Answer Hi, Beth,
The only way I know how to diagram on this computer is to tell you how each word is being used and refer you to several diagrams at my website that will show you the various items. If you have a question yet after I give you this info, please write back as to what word(s) you are having problems with in diagramming it.
First of all: Not every sentence can be "diagrammed" as such but you can do much of the above one. Remember that diagramming is done to help you see the relationship between the words in the sentences. Thus helping you to understand how sentences are formed and how you can improve your own sentences to make them clearer to the person reading your work.
What you have in Patrick Henry's speech is a compound complex sentence which is shown at my site. http://members.cox.net/teachro/
Click on diagramming and then scroll to right side of screen and you will find the title "Compound/complex sentences."
Then scroll down the list to "compound-complex sentence."
Here is what you need to do:
the above shows how to diagram the dependent (subordinate)
clause” course others may take”
Place “others” as subject, may take as verb, and course as direct object with a dotted line coming down from the direct object in the independent clause to the word course in the dependent clause... I know what...
I ...subject
know...verb
what...direct object
Please see the compound, complex sentence diagram also.
That will show you the first independent clause, the dependent one, and then the second independent clause.
To summarize:
Diagram the first independent clause:
I ...subject
know...verb
what...direct object
Then the dependent clause
others...subject
may take...verb
course...direct object...(put dotted line between “what” and “course”
Then:
Put conjunctions...”but...as for” on straight line between “I” and “me”
(“as for” is an idiom in our language and is a conjunction in this sentence) me - subject
“ gives “ are compound verbs...diagram as in this diagram: http://members.cox.net/teachro/grammar/compverb.htm
liberty is direct object of first give...and death is direct object of second give.
“me” after “give” is indirect object of each “give”...and should be diagrammed as the indirect object is at this site: http://members.cox.net/teachro/grammar/indiobject.htm
Always count the words you have in your diagrams and then count the ones in the sentence to make sure you have the same number of words.
Hope this helps you.
Thanks for using AllExperts.
Mrs. Lenc
