Parallel Structure
Parallel Structure
Exercises
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Mastering Parallel Structure for Effective CommunicationParallel structure, also known as parallelism, is a grammatical and rhetorical technique used to create balance, clarity, and emphasis in sentences and structures. It involves maintaining consistent grammatical forms and patterns when expressing related ideas or elements. Understanding and applying parallel structure is essential for effective communication. In this section, we will explore the concept of parallel structure, its benefits, and provide examples to illustrate its usage.
Conclusion: Mastering parallel structure is essential for effective communication. By maintaining consistent grammatical forms and patterns in series, lists, comparisons, and sentence constructions, you can enhance clarity, readability, and the overall impact of your writing or speech. Practice applying parallel structure in your communication to create balance, emphasize key points, and convey your ideas more effectively. Developing this skill will elevate your language proficiency and make your expressions more engaging and persuasive |
Parallel Structure
Exercise-1Find and correct mistakes in parallel structures in the following sentences.
Answers :1- By obeying the speed limit, we can save energy, lives, and money.
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Parallel Structure
Exercise-2Identify the part of each sentence, which is not parallel in structure, and write the correct structure.
Answers :
1- Pauline read the book, wrote a report, and returned it to the library. |
Parallel Structure
Exercise-3Change the following sentences so that they are parallel.
Answers :
1- Jane is young, enthusiastic, and talented. |
Parallel Structure
Exercise-4Parallel StructureDefine whether the following sentences below are True (T) or False (F). Correct mistakes.
Answers :
1- When he was a college student, he learned to play tennis, to golf, and to swim. (T) |
Example Sentences
Active / Passive
Segment 1 | Segment 2 |
1a. The tall gangster hit John 1b. John was hit by the tall gangster 1c. The tall gangster hit John 1d. John was hit by the tall gangster |
and the short thug hit Sam. and Sam was hit by the short thug. and Sam was hit by the short thug. and the short thug hit Sam |
Minimal Attachment / Nonminimal Attachment
Segment 1 | Segment 2 |
2a. Jim believed all Tom’s stories 2b. Jim believed all Tom’s stories were literally true 2c. Jim Believed all Tom’s stories 2d. Jim believed all Tom’s stories were literally true |
and Sue believed Jim’s stories. and Sue believed Jim’s stories were fictitious. and Sue believed Jim’s stories were fictitious. and Sue believed Jim’s stories |
Nonshifted / Shifted Heavy NP
Segment 1 | Segment 2 |
3a. Mary wrote a long note about her predicament to her mother. 3b. Mary wrote to her mother a long note about her predicament. 3c. Mary wrote a long note about her predicament to her mother. 3d. Mary wrote to her mother a long note about her predicament. |
and Sue wired a telegram requesting more money to her father. and Sue wired to her father a telegram requesting money. and Sue wired to her father a telegram requesting money. and Sue wired a telegram requesting more money to her father. |
Agent / Theme
Segment 1 | Segment 2 |
4a. Jack rolled down the hill 4b. The rock rolled down the hill 4c. Jack rolled down the hill 4d. The rock rolled down the hill |
and George did too. and the bucket did too. and the bucket did too. and George did too. |
Animate / Inanimate
Segment 1 | Segment 2 |
5a. John telephoned the doctor 5b. John telephoned the library 5c. John telephoned the doctor 5d. John telephoned the library |
and his friend telephoned the lawyer. and his friend telephoned the museum. and his friend telephoned the museum. and his friend telephoned the lawyer |
Parallel Structure (//) |
Parallelism means that items that form a pair (two items) or items that form a series (more than two items) have the same grammatical structure (are worded the same way). |
Lack of parallel structure occurs when parts of a sentence should be in parallel grammatical structure (should be worded the same way) but are not. |
1- In the following pairs, one sentence has parallel structure, and the other sentence lacks parallel structure. Which sentence is correct?A) Before the dog show, the dogs were washed with shampoo, dried under blow dryers, and fluffed up with brushes. Answer : A) Before the dog show, the dogs were washed with shampoo, dried under blow dryers, and fluffed up with brushes.Answer B) is incorrect. |
2- In the following pairs, one sentence has parallel structure, and the other sentence lacks parallel structure. Which sentence is correct?A) In preparation for the gala, I need to buy a cocktail dress, pick out shoes, and to get my hair cut and styled. Answer B ) B) In preparation for the gala, I need to buy a cocktail dress, to pick out hoes, and to get my hair cut and styled.Answer A is incorrect. To is used in the first phrase and the third phrase, so to should also be used in the second phrase. |
3- In the following pairs, one sentence has parallel structure, and the other sentence lacks parallel structure. Which sentence is correct?A) Bob was not only Sam’s roommate, but also he was his best friend. Answer: B) Bob was not only Sam’s roommate but also his best friend.Answer A) is incorrect. Sam’s roommate is a phrase, and he was his best friend is a sentence. Answer B is correct because his best friend is also a phrase. |
4- The best way to impress a woman is to make eye contact, ask her questions about her interests, and to tell funny jokes.A) Parallel B) Not Parallelto is used before the first and third phrases, but not before the second phrase, so the sentence is not parallel. |
5- The best way to impress a woman is to make eye contact, to ask her questions about her interests, and to tell funny jokes.A) Parallel A) Parallelto is either repeated in each phrase or used only before the first. Therefore, sentence is parallel |
6-The best way to impress a woman is to make eye contact, ask her questions about her interests, and tell funny jokes.A) Parallel Answer : A) Parallelto is either repeated in each phrase or used only before the first. Therefore, sentence is parallel |
7- My dog is the best pet because she knows many tricks, she listens to me, and is pretty.A) Parallel Answer : B) Not Parallelshe knows tricks and she listens to are independent clauses, but is pretty is not; therefore, the sentence is not parallel. |
8- My dog is the best pet because she knows many tricks, she listens to me, and she is pretty.A) Parallel Answer : A) Parallelshe knows many tricks, she listens to me, and she is pretty are all independent clauses, so the overall sentence is parallel |
9- Of all desserts, I prefer cake, pie, and dipping strawberries in chocolate.A) Parallel Answer : B) Not Parallelcake and pie are nouns but dipping strawberries in chocolate is a phrase, so the sentence is not parallel. |
10- Of all desserts, I prefer cake, pie, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.A) Parallel Answer : A) Parallelthe three words cake, pie, and strawberries are all nouns, so the sentence is parallel. (Chocolate-dipped modifies the noun strawberries.) |
11-Our class discussion was engaging, informative, and interesting.A) Parallel Answer : A) Parallelengaging, informative, and interesting are all adjectives, so the sentence is parallel. |
13- Our class discussion was engaging, informative, and should have been longer.A) Parallel Answer : B) Not Parallelwhile engaging and informative are both adjectives, should have been longer is a phrase, so the sentence is not parallel. |
14- Which sentence is correct?A) Our class discussion was engaging, informative, and interesting. Answer: A) Our class discussion was engaging, informative, and interesting.In the first sentence, engaging, informative, and interesting are all adjectives, so the entence is parallel. In the second sentence, while engaging and informative are both adjectives, should have been longer is a phrase, so the sentence is not parallel. |
Review the following sentences for errors in parallel structure. Correct the sentence by rewriting it. Not all sentences are incorrect. Answers may vary. |
My dog is not only friendly but he is also playful. |
Correct. Friendly and playful are both adjectives |
We can go to the park or out dancing. |
Incorrect. We can go to the park or to a dance. |
Jeremy likes to read historical, realistic and speculative fiction. |
Correct. Historical, speculative and realistic are all adjectives. |
Tell Michael I said he can either do homework now or later. |
Correct. Now and later are both adjectives. |
Buying a car is not a decision to take lightly nor be careless about. |
Incorrect. Buying a car is not a decision to take lightly or carelessly. |
Tyler is for the legalization not criminalization of marijuana. |
Correct. |
Sally needs a new stove, dishwasher and knives for her kitchen. |
Incorrect. Sally needs a new stove, dishwasher and set of knives for her kitchen. |
My first grade teacher taught me how to write, how to read and play tic-tac-toe. |
Incorrect. My first grade teacher taught me how to read, how to write and how to play tictac-toe. |
She will not admit it nor will she be apologizing. |
Incorrect. She will not admit it nor will she apologize. |
10. The whole wheat pasta is better than enriched wheat pasta. |
Correct |
11. Literature classes teach students to analyze texts, think critically, and have better writing |
Literature classes teach students to analyze texts, think critically, and improve writing skills. |
12. Beets are just as nutrient rich as rutabagas even though they are not in season. |
Correct |
Parallel structure isn’t a set rule, but more of a stylistic choice: it helps sentence elements maintain a pattern.
Parallel structure adds both clout and clarity to your writing. When you use parallel structure, you increase the
readability of your writing by creating word patterns readers can follow easily.To improve the clarity of your writing, it is important to remember the equality of your sentence structure.
This worksheet was designed to help you better understand the importance of Parallel Structure.Parallel Structure means using the same construction for sentence elements that are the same in function.
Parallel Structure
Good writing involves not only good ideas, but you should also have strong grammar–did you notice the error in this sentence? The second part should be: … but also strong grammar. This is called parallel structure and can make the difference between a strong and a weak sentence. In this video, learn how to make your sentences balanced.