4. Parallel Structure

4. Parallel Structure

Parallel Structure/Parallelism

• The matching of grammatical structure in a sentence.

• When you write in parallel structure, you use the same pattern of words (whether they're phrases, clauses, or just words)

Why do we need to be aware of Parallel Structure?

• Improves clarity in your writing

• Provides more of an impact

• Add style to your writing

Review: Gerunds

• A gerund is the -ing form of a word used as a noun

• Example: running, fishing, jumping

• Sara likes running, fishing, and hiking. (This sentence is in parallel structure because all of the words are in the same tense.)

Review: Infinitives

• A verb form when you place the word "to" in front of a verb

• Example: to run, to fish, to jump

• Sara likes to run, to fish, and to jump.

• Sara likes to run, fish, and jump.

• (This sentence is in parallel structure because all of the words are in the same tense.)

Parallel Structure:

• All of the verbs in a list are the same form and tense.

• All of the adverbs in a list are the same form and tense

• All nouns are in the same form and tense

• All adjectives are in the same form and tense

• 
  

Examples:

Wrong: Elizabeth has intelligence, honesty, and is funny.

Correct: Elizabeth has intelligence, honesty, and humor. OR Elizabeth is intelligent, honest, and funny.

Parallel Structure = Same Form/Same Tense

• Make sure of this in all formal writing!

Multiple Choice

The store manager always closes the store, sets the alarm, and

• makes sure to lock the door.

• locks the door.

• locking the door.

• lock the door.

Multiple Choice

On the weekends, she likes to read, to write, and

• sing.

• to sing.

• sings.

• singing.

Multiple Choice

Before you go to the movies, you need to do the dishes, vacuum the floor, and

• taking out the trash.

• took out the trash.

• takes out the trash.

• take out the trash.

Multiple Choice

Correct the sentence: I came; I saw; I have conquered.

• I came; I saw; I conquered.

• I came; I have seen; I have conquered.

• Come see me conquer.

Multiple Choice

Franklin brewed espresso, steamed milk, and ______ jokes as she prepared Mike's latte.

• tells

• will tell

• told

• was telling

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses parallel structure?

• Her excuses bothered me more than her absence.

• Her excuses bothered me more than her being absent.

Reminder

Parallel structure makes writing and speaking more effective by providing readers or listeners with a pattern that they can easily follow and remember. You should always try to use parallel structure for items of equal rank.