modal | PWP Mentor

Heyo pwips! Let’s review diagramming for your BIG SCARY MIDTERM. With a little bit of review, it’ll be a piece of cake!

Here are the steps you should follow when diagramming.

Determine the Subj.
- The Subj will be an NP. Any phrases that modify the noun will be a part of the phrase. This includes determiners, adjective phrases, and prepositional phrases that modify the noun.
Determine the PredPhr.
- The PredPhr will always start with the VP and may have elements that follow.
Determine any non-core elements.
- Recall that non-core elements may be moved to either end of the sentence and will still make sense.
- Non-core elements come in the forms of PrepPhr and AdvPhr.
- Adjuncts introduce a topic or insert the writer’s view of the subject. Ex: In my opinion, Frankly
- Adverbials set up a time, place, or manner. Ex: On Thursday
Determine the VP in the PredPhr.
- VPs will include auxiliary verbs, and the forms of all aux verbs is Aux.
- Modals will be on the farthest left. They are words such as may, could, should. They do not carry tense and are followed by the bare form of the next verb. Their function is “Modal of____,” in which the blank is filled by the next verb that follows.
- Perfect aspect will be the next auxiliary verb, and it does carry tense. This requires a form of has (had, have) and the -en form of the next verb that follows. Its function is “Perf of ____,” in which the blank is filled by the next verb that follows.
- Progressive aspect will be the next verb. It may carry tense if it is the farthest verb to the left that can. It requires a form of be (is, am, are) and is followed by the -ing form of the next verb that follows. Its function is “Prog of ___,” in which the blank is filled by the next verb that follows.
- The final possible verb is the lexical verb. It will have a form of V and a function of Pred.
Determine any elements in the PredPhr.
- Additional elements in the PredPhr may include DOs, IOs, OCs, SCs, and ACs. Refer to Olivia’s previous post about sentence patterns to determine when to use what.

That’s it pwips! Good luck!

Forms of Verbs

Non-tensed
1. Base form —————- take
2. -ing form —————– taking
3. -en form —————– taken
Tensed
1. General present ——– take
2. -s present —————- takes
3. Past tense —————- took

Aspects

Progressive
- Action is ongoing or was ongoing
- Form of be + -ing form of next verb to the right
  - Forms of be: be, is, are, am, was, were
  - Example: Jackie Chan is starring in a new movie.
Perfect
- Suggests action is terminal
- Form of have + -en form of next verb to the right
  - Forms of have: have, has, had
  - Example: Jackie Chan has stolen Olivia’s heart.
Both Perfect and Progressive Aspects
- Sentences can have both aspects
- Form of have + been + -ing form of next verb to the right
  - Example: Olivia has been picking some crazy blog post themes.

All Together Now

Sentences can have multiple auxiliaries before reaching the lexical verb. All auxiliaries must follow this pattern:
- Modal – Perfect – Progressive – Lexical Verb
Tense must be carried on the leftmost verb.
- Examples:
  - She has been acting strange. –> Has carries the tense, so this sentence is present tense.
  - We were going there next. –> Were carries the tense, so this sentence is past tense.
- Most modals cannot carry tense. Here are examples of ones that can.
  - She used to come here. –> Used to is what’s known as a generic past.
  - She is going to exercise later. –> Going to is known as prospective tense.
  - More examples and explanations can be found on Pg. 107 of your book.

Cassie Ochowski