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Diagraming sentence

Posted by Sphinx on February 29, 2004

In Reply to: Diagraming sentence posted by Bruce Kahl on February 28, 2004

: : Would you please explain this picture? (Several words are enough, please don't trouble yourself to write an abundant answer.)

: At one time english grammar was taught in an almost mathematical sense.
: Teachers would break a sentence into parts--subject, predicate or verb and object. These pieces were placed on a line with a "|" separating the pieces from each other.
: The illustration, which I posted orginally, is not a good one since it it a bit complicated for esl.
: The sentence above is "See spot run".
: The you is understood so is put in parenthesis.

: This is better:
: I hit Jim.
: The diagram is;
: I | hit | Jim

: Hope this explains it.
: b

But what about the picture? A teacher and a running cow? (sheep?)

And what does "See spot run" mean?

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