Tree DIAGRAMS for Sentence Forms

From Morenbergs Doing Grammar

ALL sentences begin with a noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP). The make up the
tradition Subject and Predicate. Morenberg prefers to label the function of major constituents.

NP:subj VP:pred

The VP further expands to the Main Verb and anything else. This includes the AUX (for
auxiliary verbs) and the Verb (V) itself:

NP:subj VP:pred

AUX V

SENTENCE TYPES are determined by the VERB. The verb will be marked to indicate what
kind of verb it is. The structure of the VP:pred will be determined by the type of verb.

1. INTRANSITIVE VERB sentences:

NP:subj VP:pred

AUX VI

The professor should run

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Intransitive sentences may have additional constituents (which provide additional information),
but the basic structure remains the same. Heres an example with an ADVERB (Adv) added to
the VP:

NP:subj VP:pred

AUX VI Adv

The professor should run daily

2. TRANSITIVE VERB sentences must show action from the subject (NP:subj) to another
NP in the VP:predicate. The second NP is called the Direct Object (NP:DO). ONLY
noun phrases may be subjects or objects. [This means that if another part of speechsay
an adjective or a verbis used as a subject or an object, then that part of speech
automatically functions as a noun phrase.]

NP:subj VP:pred

AUX VT NP:DO

The professor should print the exam

Again, the sentence may become more complicated, but the basic structure remains the same.
Heres an example with an Adverb (Adv) added to the VP:

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV NP:DO Adv

AUX VT
The professor should print the exam tomorrow

3. Vg VERBS: Another kind of Transitive verb has both Direct Objects (NP:DO) and
INDIRECT Objects (IO). Morenberg calls these verbs Vg because they model after the
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 verb give. Verbs that take Indirect Objects show action from the Subject NP to the
direct object, but they also show the beneficiary (so to speak). For example, in a give
sentence, the subject gives something to Somebody. So the SomeTHING is the Direct
Obect and the SomeBODY is the Indirect Object:

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV NP:IO NP:DO

AUX Vg
The professor should give the students the exam

Again, you can add more. The same sentence with an adverb:

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV NP:IO NP:DO Adv

AUX Vg
The professor should give the students the exam tomorrow

An ALTERNATIVE form of INDIRECT OBJECT sentences uses a PREPOSITIONAL

PHRASE(PP) to show the Indirect Object:

NP: Subj VP:Pred

MV NP:DO PP

AUX Vg Prep NP:Obj of Prep/Recep

The professor should give the exam to the students

3. Vc VERBS. Still another kind of transitive verb has a Direct Object noun phrase, AND a
noun or an adjective immediately after the direct object NP which modifies it. That
second noun is called a complement (as in completing). Usually, adjectives come
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 before the noun in English, as in beautiful garden, but in these sentences the adjective
(or noun) comes after. This happens ONLY with these verbs. Its the difference between
The students should see a beautiful garden and The students should call the garden
beautiful (BTW: I put the should in so yall could see a sentence with something in
the AUX.)

Heres a sentence where the Object Complement is an ADJECTIVE:

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV NP:DO Adj:Obj Comp

AUX Vc
The students should call the garden beautiful

We get a similar structure is the Object Complement (the word or phrase describing the
Direct Object) is a NOUN instead of an adjective:

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV NP:DO NP:Obj Comp

AUX Vc
The students should call the garden a masterpiece

The remaining types of verbs create sentences with SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS in the verb
phrase. OBJECT Complements rename or describe the DIRECT OBJECT. SUBJECT
Complements rename or describe the SUBJECT.

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4. LINKING VERBS (VL). Verbs of the senses (taste, feel, etc.) or of states of being
(become, remain, etc.) take Subject complements. That is the Adjective or Noun Phrase
that appears in the verb phrase renames or describes the Subject. Some example sentences
are I feel happy. This hamburger tastes funny. Alice became a dancer.

Heres an example with an Adjective as the Subject Complement

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV Adj:Subj Comp

AUX VL
The hamburger should taste funny

Heres an example with a Noun Phrase as the Subject Complement:

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV NP:Subj Comp

AUX VL
Alice should become a dancer

5. BE Verbs (VBE) Regardless of tense, the MAIN verb BE shows a state of existence:
Something IS something. [Do not confuse it with the *auxiliary* verb be used in
Progressive and Passive.)

BE verb sentences have three forms. The first two take SUBJECT Complementsi.e., a
noun or an adjective renames or describes the Subject of the sentence.

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 So
1. Josh is happy (adjective subject complement AKA Predicate Adjective)
2. Josh is a mechanic (Noun phrase subject complement AKA Predicate Nominative)

BE Verbs can also take ADVERB complements of either Time or Place:

So
1. Josh is in the classroom (Adverb of placehere a Prepositional Phrase)
2. The test is tomorrow (Adverb of time)

Here are examples of each type of BE verb sentence:

ADJECTIVE subject complement

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV ADJ:Subj Comp

AUX VL
Josh should BE happy

NOUN PHRASE subject complement

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV NP:Subj Comp

AUX VL

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 Josh should BE a mechanic

ADVERB of Place complement

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV PP: Adv of Place

AUX VBE
Josh should BE in the classroom

ADVERB of Time complement

NP:Subj VP:Pred

MV ADV: time

AUX VBE
The test should BE tomorrow