Grammar: Parallel Structure

Parallel Structure

Parallel Structure Definition

Parallel structure (also called parallelism) is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence.

By making each compared item or idea in your sentence follow the same grammatical pattern, you create a parallel construction.
Another way to think about this is that things need to match or sound the same

For example, using the same preposition, pronouns, verbs within the sentence. 

Examples of Parallelism:

• Ashley likes to ski, to swim and to jump.

• The following activities can be done at the mall: buying groceries, eating lunch and paying bills.

• The teacher told them that they need to study and that they should practice their words every night.

Multiple Choice

Parallel Structure or Parallelism is...

• a repeated grammatical pattern

• joins two complete sentences together

• when two things happen at the same time

• how you write the Declaration of Independence

Multiple Choice

Parallel structure creates patterns that are easy to follow so the reader understand the main idea.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Replace the underlined portion of the sentence with a choice that creates a parallel structure.

Learning a new language as an adult is more difficult than to learn one as a child.

• learning

• to learning

• learned

• no change

Multiple Choice

Read this sentence.

The customer service representative was asked to deal with customers kindly, professionally, and in a helpful manner.

In this sentence, how is kindly, professionally, and in a helpful correctly written?

• as it is

• kindly, professionally, and helpfully.

• kindly, to be professional, and helpful.

• customers kindly, to be professional, and to be helpful.

Multiple Choice

Which example shows correct parallel structure?

• Recommended exercise includes to run, to swim, and cycling.

• Recommended exercise includes running, swimming, and cycling.

• Recommended exercise includes running, swimming, and to cycle.

• Recommended exercise includes running, to swim, and cycling.

Multiple Choice

Correct this sentence: Like father, similar son.

• Like father, like son.

• Fathers and like son.

• Fathers and sons are alike.

Multiple Choice

Correct this sentence: Martha likes to swim, skiing, and to dance.

• Martha likes to swim, to ski, and to dance.

• Martha likes to swimming, to skiing, and to dancing.

• Martha likes to swim, skiing, and to sing.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences exhibits proper parallelism?

• The job requires someone with interpersonal skills, a degree in psychology,

  and who has experience in social work.

• The job requires someone with interpersonal skills, degree in psychology, and

  has experience in social work.

• The job requires someone with interpersonal skills, a degree in psychology,

  and experience in social work.

• The job requires someone with interpersonal skills, who has a degree in

  psychology and experience in social work.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that uses proper parallel structure.

• In her book, Nguyen discusses how she escaped from the Viet Cong, coming to

  America, and her adjustment to American life.

• In her book, Nguyen discusses how she escaped from the Viet Cong, how she

  came to America, and she adjusted to American life.

• In her book, Nguyen discusses how she escaped from the Viet Cong, coming to

  America, and that she adjusted to American life.

• In her book, Nguyen discusses how she escaped from the Viet Cong, how she

  came to America, and how she adjusted to American life.

Multiple Choice

Emily Dickinson: A Puzzle of a Poet

     Few American writers have had as much influence on the literary canon as Emily Dickinson.

Dickinson spent most of her life writing in seclusion. Though she had a brief stay at Mount Holyoke

Seminary and a stay in Boston for eye treatment, she almost never left her home.

Only two of her 1800 poems were published when she was alive. In fact, none of her

contemporaries even knew who she was. Dickinson's poems tended to be short, she punctuates them

with dashes, and feature quirky innovations of word order.

   

  For as much as her work has been praised, far less is known about her privately. Dickinson's

sister found over 900 poems after Dickinson passed away. These pieces were collected and edited

by Thomas Higginson, a former mentor of Dickinson's. He was one of the few who actually knew her

both as a poet and a person.

Which sentence from the article above features improper parallelism?

• "Dickinson's poems tended to be short, she punctuates them with dashes, and

  feature quirky innovations of word order."

• "These pieces were collected and edited by Thomas Higginson, a former

  mentor of Dickinson's"

• "Though she had a brief stay at Mount Holyoke Seminary and a stay in Boston

  for eye treatment, she almost never left her home."

• "Few American writers have had as much influence on the literary canon as

  Emily Dickinson."

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has a correct parallel structure?

• The financial reports need to be completed accurately, thoroughly, and

  promptly.

• The financial reports need to be completed in an accurate and thorough

  manner and promptly.

• The financial reports need to be completed accurately, in a thorough manner,

  and promptly.

• The financial reports need to be completed accurately, thoroughly, and with

  promptness.

Multiple Choice

Select the Correct Way to Fix This Sentence:

Picasso lived in France much of his life painting, he sculpted, making ceramics, and did

graphic artwork.

• Picasso lived in France much of his life painting, he sculpted, making ceramics,

  and doing graphic artwork.

• Picasso lived in France much of his life painting, sculpting, making ceramics,

  and graphic artwork.

• Picasso lived in France much of his life painting, he sculpted, makes ceramics,

  and did graphic artwork.

• Picasso lived in France much of his life painting, sculpting, making ceramics,

  and doing graphic artwork.

Multiple Choice

Antonio Vivaldi

     (1) Antonio Vivaldi was a priest in the 17th and 18th century whose Baroque compositions are

held in high regard. (2) Vivaldi was considered a remarkable violinist, and his talents became

apparent early in his life. (3) He was appointed to the level of master violinist during his stay at the

Ospedale della Pieta. (4) The Ospedale della Pieta was an orphanage with a well-known orchestra

and choir. (5) Among other achievements, Vivaldi developed the fast-slow-fast rhythm of the three-

movement concerto and writing "The Four Seasons." (6) Echoing nature's sounds, "The Four

Seasons" has influenced many European composers.

Which sentence in the paragraph above lacks proper parallelism?

• sentence 5

• sentence 4

• sentence 1

• sentence 2