Tree Diagrams /
Labelling Phrases
Example with brackets
How would you divide this sentence into phrases?
The children put the toys in the box
[The children] [put [the toys] [in [the box] ] ]
The Main Phrase Structure Rules
1. S NP VP
2. NP (Det) (AP) N (PP)
3. VP (Aux) V (NP)
4. PP (Deg) P (NP)
Up Side Down Trees
Sentence
(+ Infl)
Phrases
(Phrases)
Syntactic
Categories
Words
O’Grady, p. 181-183
How to build trees structures:
(…)
Drawing the tree diagram
THE PHRASE
How to Build a Tree (O’Grady, p. 181)
Example - Phrase Tree (1)
play with the toy VP
VP
V PP
P NP
Det N
play with the toy
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
1. repair the telephone
2. the success of the program
3. a film about pollution
4. move towards the window
5. The end of the road
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
VP
NP
V Det N
repair the telephone
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
NP
PP
NP
Det N Prep Det N
the success of the program
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
NP
PP
NP
Det N Prep N
a film about pollution
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
VP
PP
NP
V Prep Det N
move towards the window
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
NP
PP
NP
Det N Prep Det N
the end of the road
Drawing the tree diagram
THE PHRASE
How to Build a Tree (O’Grady, p. 181)
Example – Sentence Tree (2)
He likes the toy.
S
NP VP
Pronoun (N) V NP
Det N
He likes the toy
How to Build a Tree (O’Grady, p. 181)
Example – Sentence Tree (2)
The children like the toy.
S
NP VP
Det N V NP PP
Det N P NP
Det N
The children put the toy in the box
Draw the structure trees for the following
sentences
Draw the tree structure of the following
sentences:
a) Those guests should leave.
b) Maria never ate a brownie.
c) That shelf will fall.
d) The glass broke.
e) The student lost the debate.
f) The manager may offer a raise.
Question # 5 (a–f) p. 187 (O’Grady)
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
NP VP
Det N Aux V
Those guests should leave.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
VP
NP NP
N Adv V Det N
Maria never ate a brownie.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
NP VP
Det N Aux V
That shelf will fall.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
NP VP
Det N V
The glass broke.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
NP NP
Det N V Det N
The student lost the debate.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
VP
NP NP
Det N Aux V Det N
The manager may offer a raise.
HOMEWORK
DRAW THE TREE DIAGRAM OF THESE PHRASES.
1. repair the telephone
2. he success of the program
3. a fat ladies man
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
VP
NP
V Det N
repair the telephone
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
NP
PP
NP
Det N Prep Det N
the success of the program
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
NP
Det Adj N N
a fat ladies man
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
NP
NP
Det Adj N N
a fat ladies man
PRACTICE DIAGRAMS
DRAW THE TREE DIAGRAM OF THESE
AMBIGUOUS PHRASES.
1. Jane hid the letter from Dan.
2. He likes raw vegetables and meat.
3. The teacher spoke to the boy with a
smile.
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
S
VP
PP
NP
NP NP
N V Det N Prep N
Jane hid the letter from Dan.
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
S
VP
NP
PP
NP
NP
N V Det N Prep N
Jane hid the letter from Dan.
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
NP VP
NP
N V Adj N Conj N
He likes raw vegetables and meat.
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
NP VP
NP NP
N V Adj N Conj N
He likes raw vegetables and meat.
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
S
VP
NP
PP PP
NP NP
Det N V Prep Det N PrepDet N
The teacher spoke to the boy with a smile.
Draw the tree Structure of phrase
S
NP VP
PP
NP
PP
NP
Det N V Prep Det N PrepDet N
The teacher spoke to the boy with a smile.
PRACTICE DIAGRAMS
DRAW THE TREE DIAGRAM OF THESE PHRASES.
1. My boss was very happy about her
promotion.
2. He put the car into the garage.
3. Her children have gone to the
movies.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
NP VP
PP
NP
Det N Aux Adv Adj Prep Det N
My boss was very happy about her promotion.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
PP
NP NP NP
N V Det N Prep Det N
He put the car into the garage.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
PP
NP NP
Det N Aux V Prep Det N
Her children have gone to the movies.
PRACTICE DIAGRAMS
DRAW THE TREE DIAGRAM OF THESE PHRASES.
1. You can use your credit card at the
movies.
2. The police examined a photograph
of the accident.
3. They arrested the suspect in the
hotel.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
NP PP
NP NP
N Aux V Det N N Prep Det N
You can use your credit card at the movies.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
NP
NP PP
NP
Det N V Det N Prep Det N
The police examined a photograph of the accident.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
PP
NP NP NP
N V Det N Prep Det N
They arrested the suspect in the hotel.
PRACTICE DIAGRAMS
DRAW THE TREE DIAGRAM OF THESE PHRASES.
1. Ralph has found the key to the
cabinet.
2. My cat is very sick.
3. My sister is signing in the festival.
4. My mother is baking a cake for my
sister.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
PP
NP NP NP
N Aux V Det N Prep Det N
Ralph has found the key to the cabinet
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
NP AdjP
Det N V Adv Adj
My cat is very sick.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
PP
NP NP
Det N Aux V Prep Det N
My sister is signing in the festival.
Draw the tree Structure of Sentence
S
VP
PP
NP NP NP
Det N Aux V Det N Prep Det N
My mother is baking a cake for my sister.
