Once adverbs are introduced, a change is made in the form drawn for Analysis.
Now the student learns to distinguish between simple predicate and complete predicate.
The simple predicate is the main verb in the sentence. If the main verb is in a tense that requires a helping verb, then the helping verb belongs with the simple predicate.
The horses run. “run” is both the simple predicate and the complete predicate.
The horses are running. “are running” is both the simple predicate and the complete predicate. The helping verb “are” is necessary to express the present continuous tense with the present participle “running.”
The complete predicate is the main verb plus any words or phrases that add to the meaning of the main verb.
The horses run swiftly. “run” is the simple predicate. “run swiftly” is the complete predicate.
The horses are running extremely well. “are running” is the simple predicate. “are running extremely well” is the complete predicate.
Words that add meaning to the verb are called the extension of the verb. They are said to “modify” the verb.
Adverbs are words that add meaning to verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
The horse ran swiftly. “swiftly” is an adverb modifying “ran.” “swiftly” tells how or in what manner the horse ran.
An extremely fast horse won. “extremely” is an adverb modifying the adjective “fast.” It tells how fast.
That horse ran very slowly. “very” is an adverb modifying the adverb “slowly.” It tells how slowly.
Adverbs that modify the main verb of the sentence go in the Extension column.
Adverbs that modify adjectives or other adverbs go wherever the words they modify belong.
How to Analyze these Sentences
How to Parse These Sentences
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