Lesson 5: Complex Sentences
Interjections
in·ter·jec·tion an…utterance usually lacking grammatical connection: such as a word or phrase used in exclamation, [or] a cry or inarticulate utterance…expressing an emotion —Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Interjections are easy to spot and easy to parse and diagram. You’re welcome. =)
“Hey!” “Ouch!” “Oh!” “Wow!” Sudden exclamations, calls to attention, and interruptions are interjections. Interjections are not part of the grammatical structure of the sentence and therefore are placed on a floating shelf like a sentence-combining conjunction. If the interjection is together with a vocative, as in our super sentence, “Hey Carl…”, then it is placed together with the vocative.
Note: An interjection is not a diagrammable sentence. “Wait!” and “Watch out!” may be interjected into speech, however they are not grammatical interjections, but actual imperative sentences.
The Final List of Questions
And with this easy addition, we can now complete our Grand List of Questions. All that is left in Lesson 6 is to learn some additional ways that clauses connect.
The Grand List of Questions (for Sentence Parsing)
1. Are there any prepositional phrases, genitives, vocatives, or interjections?
2. What are the verbs?
For each verb, determine the sentence pattern...
3. What is the subject?
4. Is the verb “to be/become/seem,” or is there a word after the verb that renames or describes the subject?
Yes = linking verb. Find the PN/A.
5. Is there a direct object?
Yes = transitive verb. Is there an OCN/A? Is there an IO?
No = intransitive verb.
6. Are there any adjectives, adverbs, or appositives?
7. How do the clauses connect?