Diagramming Thanksgiving Facts

Here in the United States, we're gearing up for Thanksgiving. But before we stuff ourselves with turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie, let's diagram some sentences!

Directions
Diagram the following three sentences. After you've diagrammed them, identify the function of each word, phrase, and clause. You'll find the answers below.

You can diagram your sentences on a sheet of blank paper or you can use this free online sentence diagramming tool.

A Note to Beginners

If you're just beginning to learn about grammar and sentence diagramming, welcome!

Read over the sentences that we'll be diagramming, then scroll down and look at each sentence diagram. Use the links in the key boxes below each diagram to learn about each word in the diagram. You can start learning how to diagram sentences here if you'd like.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began in the 1920s	simple sentence
Macy's* Thanksgiving Day Parade	subject (proper noun)
began	verb (intransitive complete)
in the 1920s	prepositional phrase (adverbial)
in	preposition
1920s	object of the preposition (noun)
the	adjective

* You may have diagrammed Macy's as a possessive adjective. I diagrammed it as part of the subject because it's part of the name of the parade.

Male turkeys gobble, but female turkeys do not.	compound sentence
Male turkeys gobble	independent clause
turkeys	subject (noun)
gobble	verb (intransitive complete)
Male	adjective
but	coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses
female turkeys do not	independent clause
turkeys	subject (noun)
do (gobble)	verb phrase
do	helping verb
(gobble)	implied main verb (intransitive complete)
not	adverb

Use the chart below to learn about each word in this sentence.

Click on the links on the right side of the chart if you'd like to learn more.

The American colonists used pumpkin in pie crusts, but they did not use it in the filling.	compound sentence
The American colonists used pumpkin in pie crusts	independent clause
colonists	subject (noun)
used	verb (transitive active)
pumpkin	direct object (noun)
The, American	adjectives
in pie crusts	prepositional phrase (adverbial)
in	preposition
crusts	object of the preposition (noun)
pie	adjective
but	coordinating conjunction connecting independent clauses
they did not use it in the filling	independent clause
they	subject (pronoun)
did use	verb phrase
did	helping verb
use	main verb (transitive active)
it	direct object (pronoun)
not	adverb
in the filling	prepositional phrase (adverbial)
in	preposition
filling	object of the preposition (noun)
the	adjective