Help me diagram this sentence please

[HollyDay]

Peter was most dreadfully frightened.

Subj - Peter
Verb - was
adv - most, dredfully
Predicate Adjective - frightened

OR

Subj - Peter
Verb phrase - was frightened
adv - most, dreadfully

[Sophia]

When I get stuck I substitute a word.
Peter was most dreadfully thin demonstrates thin is an adjective, hence frightened is also a predicate adjective.

[Milseain]

.

[Julie in GA]

for example, "Peter was frightened by a screech owl." :eek:

In that case, Peter would be a passive subject, and "was frightened" would be the verb phrase showing the action that the owl took upon Peter. Does that make sense?

[mcconnellboys]

Okay, well I'm confused.... How can most and dreadfully be modifying the word "was"? Was most? Was dreadfully? I thought they modified frightened, telling how frightened......

Regena

[nmoira]

Okay, well I'm confused.... How can most and dreadfully be modifying the word "was"? Was most? Was dreadfully? I thought they modified frightened, telling how frightened......They do modify frightened; adverbs modify adjectives, adverbs and verbs.

[mcconnellboys]

Oh, duh, of course they do, LOL! I need to go to bed,

Regena