Dick and Jane

Posted by Bruce Kahl on February 29, 2004

In Reply to: Diagraming sentence posted by Bruce Kahl on February 29, 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?

: The mid to late 50s here in the US saw an elementary reading primer entitled "The Dick and Jane Series".
: It was a series of very simple reading exercises with sentences such as " See Dick run" or "I see Jane".
: Dick and Jane were the parents and they had kids (I think )and a dog named Spot.
: So the cartoon is an illustrated example of that reading series.
: The animal is a dog on a leash and he is running, hence "See spot run".

Great shot of Spot and Sally.

• Dick and Jane Smokey Stover 01/March/04