Parallel Structure in Grammar
Which sentence maintains a parallel structure throughout?
a) Rachel went running, hiking, and biking over the weekend.
b) Rachel went out to run, went hiking, and biked over the weekend.
c) Rachel went running, hiked, and biked over the weekend.
What is a) Rachel went running, hiking, and biking over the weekend.
How would you correct this list so that it correctly conveys parallelism?
The French, the Italians, Spanish, and Portuguese.
What is: "The French, the Italians, the Spanish, and the Portuguese."
What is parallelism?
What is
- a device in which parts of the sentence are grammatically the same or similar in construction
Identify the parallelism in this quote:
“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” - John F. Kennedy
What is:
- the use of "ask not what" and "ask what"
- the use of "your country"
Which sentence does NOT maintain a parallel structure throughout?
a) For dinner, we like eating chicken and to grill steak.
b) For dinner, we eat chicken and grill steak.
c) Eating chicken and grilling steak for dinner is great.
What is a) For dinner, we like eating chicken and to grill steak.
How would you correct this sentence so that it correctly conveys parallelism?
It was both a long ceremony and very tedious.
What is: "The ceremony was both long and tedious."
Which would be considered the best usage of parallelism?
a) He ate, read, and slept.
b) She's the meanest person I've ever met, ever.
c) I really like people who talk a lot and girls with dyed hair.
d) We prefer that you resign rather than quit.
What is a) He ate, read, and slept.
True or False: Does this sentence contain parallel structure?
"I came, I saw, I conquered." - Julius Caesar
What is "True."
Which sentence maintains a parallel structure throughout?
a) Alcohol used in excess can damage the brain, affect memory, and learning disabilities.
b) Alcohol used in excess can damage the brain, affect memory, and cause learning disabilities.
c) Alcohol used in excess can damage the brain, affect memory, and can lead to learning disabilities.
What is b) Alcohol used in excess can damage the brain, affect memory, and cause learning disabilities.
How would you correct this sentence so that it correctly conveys parallelism?
The college has space for a new computer lab but not a faculty lounge.
What is: "The college has space for a new computer lab but not FOR a faculty lounge."
Where parallelism can be applied.
1.) Items in a series
2.) Clauses
3.) Verb tenses
Note: you don't have to have all of these.
True or False: Does this sentence have parallel structure?
"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." - Mother Teresa
What is "True."
Parallel structure is used to list the effects of a smile. Each effect follows the structure of an indefinite article, noun, preposition, and noun.
Which sentence maintains a parallel structure throughout?
a) The writer effectively portrays the nature of social hierarchies and their relation to economic inequality.
b) The writer effectively portrays the nature of social hierarchies and how they relate to economic inequality.
c) The writer effectively portrays the nature of social hierarchies and relating them to economic inequality.
What is a) The writer effectively portrays the nature of social hierarchies and their relation to economic inequality.
How would you correct this sentence so that it correctly conveys parallelism?
Raoul's motivation to succeed in this program seems to be greater than his sister.
What is: "Raoul's motivation to succeed in this program seems to be greater than his sister's."
(Compare Raoul's motivation to his sister's motivation, not to his sister.)
When using bullet points, what is the correct format?
They all have to be in the same structure, whether that be a verb, adjective, or noun.
Choose the quote that uses parallelism correctly:
1.) In for a penny, in for a pound.
2.) When there is smoke, there is fire.
They are both correct.
Which of the following sentences is grammatically nonparallel?
a) I was repulsed but interested in his disgusting story.
b) He is as employable, if not more employable than, an English major.
c) They were interested, but my girlfriend completely uninterested.
d) all of the above
e) none of the above
What is d) all of the above.
How would you correct this sentence so that it correctly conveys parallelism?
Carlos wasted his first year at college by not studying enough and spending too much time at parties.
What is: "Carlos wasted his first year at college by studying too little and partying too much."
What are the rules of parallelism?
1. When providing a list of items make sure they are all in the same format.
2. When listing out points, make sure they are in the same structure.
3. When mentioning a series of actions in a sentence, see to it that all of them are written in the same verb forms.
4. If two or more phrases or clauses mentioning similar or contrasting ideas are used in the same sentence, see to it that they have the same syntactic structure.
Correct or Incorrect:
"You're off to great to great places. Today is my first day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!" - Dr. Suess
Incorrect