Parallel Structure
Consistent Patterns in Writing
Which of the following doesn’t belong?
Images
Words
Run
Hiking
Swim
Jump
Think about your math class…
What does it mean to be parallel?
What is parallel structure?
Creating sentences in which elements
that are alike in function are also alike
in construction.
Functions: words, infinitives, phrases, clauses
In other words… all parts of a sentence should be
equal (or parallel).
Alike in function:
Words
Infinitives
• Dancing
• Crying
• To sing
• To dance
• Doughnuts
• Coffee
Prepositional phrases
• Funny
• Athletic
• Quickly
• Quietly
• Over the river
• Through the woods
Subordinate clauses
• Since they know me
• Because I care
Which is alike in function?
Jumping
• To play
• Kidding
• Joke
Which is alike in function?
Under the desk
• Since I understand
• Because I need to know
• In the house
So a non-parallel sentence looks like
this:
The students in Miss Ondrof’s class
, and
,
.
OR
The students in Miss Ondrof’s class do their
homework, ace their tests, and are never
complaining.
And a parallel sentence looks like this:
The students in Miss Ondrof’s class
, and
,
.
OR
The students in Miss Ondrof’s class do their
homework, ace their tests, and never
complain.
Parallel Structure in the Real World
Life
Literature
“At these moments, America
has carried on not simply
because those in high office
have displayed skill or vision,
but because we the people
have remained faithful to the
ideals of our forebears and
true to our founding
documents.”
“She was dressed to play golf,
and I remember thinking
she looked like a good
illustration, her chin raised
a little, jauntily, her hair the
color of an autumn leaf, her
face the same brown tint as
the fingerless glove on her
knee.”
- Barack Obama, 2009 Inaugural
Address
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott
Fitzgerald
Different Uses of Parallel Structure
Coordinating conjunctions
Lists/Series
Comparisons
Linking verbs
Correlative conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions
• One way parallel structure is used is when
sentence elements are joined by coordinating
conjunctions.
• Coordinating conjunctions = and, but, or, etc.
Examples
Words
Infinitives
• Miss Ondrof asked us to
work quickly but quietly.
• She likes to talk but not
to listen.
• In English we always
have to read and write.
• On vacation, I like to eat
at fancy restaurants and
to visit exciting places.
Examples
Phrases
Clauses
• I’ll probably find my car
keys somewhere obvious,
like on my desk or in my
pocket.
• We wondered who he was
and what he was doing
here.
• Once they get their
grades, students’ essays
usually go in the garbage
or to the back of their
folders.
• I broke the news to the
family since they know
me and because I care.
Application
• Which is parallel?
▫ She returned to pay the rent and because she had
left some of her things.
▫ She returned to pay the rent and to pick up some
of her things.
• Revise: Cockroaches will eat anything, but they
especially like sweet foods and food that is
starchy.
Lists/Series
• A second way parallel structure is used is with
elements in a list or series.
• Series of:
▫
▫
▫
▫
Words
Infinitives
Prepositional phrases
Subordinate clauses
Examples
Words
• She wanted three things: money,
power, and cake.
• He played tennis, shot archery,
and ran in gym class.
Infinitives
• There was no opportunity for
me to do my homework, to ask
for an extension, or to make
up an excuse.
Phrases
Clauses
• After the food fight, he found
mashed potatoes in his hair,
on his shirt, and behind his
ear.
• The Backstreet Boys don’t care
who you are, where you’re
from, or what you did, as long
as you love them.
Application
• Which is parallel?
▫ The frustrated customer wanted to exchange the item,
to obtain a refund, or she wanted to speak to the
manager.
▫ The frustrated customer wanted to exchange the item,
to obtain a refund, or to speak to the manager.
• Revise: Bruce Wayne enjoys donning his Batman
costume, when the Commissioner calls him, and to
save Gotham City from cruel villains like the Joker.
Practice
A. During
Duringclass,
class,Samuel
Samuelspent
spent
hishis
time
time
flirting
flirting
with
Brittney,
with
Brittney,
eatingeating
candy,candy,
and doodling
and doodling
on the on
assignment
the
assignment
sheet.
sheet.
B. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with
Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the
assignment sheet.
C. During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with
Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the
assignment sheet.
Practice
A. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—
under the bed, on his desk, and he searched
inside the refrigerator.
B. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—
viewing under the bed, searching on his desk,
and inside the refrigerator.
C. Alex
Alex looked
lookedeverywhere
everywhereforfor
hishis
math
math
book—
book—
under the
under
thebed,
bed,on
onhis
hisdesk,
desk,
and
and
inside
inside
thethe
refrigerator.
refrigerator.
Practice
A. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia
A. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had
had to tolerate his stupid, late-night
to tolerate his stupid, late-night conversations and
conversations and his constant requests for her
his constant requests for her math homework.
math homework.
B. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had
B. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had
to tolerate his stupid, late night calls and the fact
to tolerate his stupid, late night calls and the fact
that he constantly requested her math homework.
that he constantly requested her math homework.
C. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had
C. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had
to tolerate being woken up late at night for stupid
to tolerate being woken up late at night for stupid
conversations and he constantly requested her
conversations and he constantly requested her
math homework.
math homework.
Practice
A. The manager
managerwanted
wantedstaff
staffwho
who
arrived
arrived
on on
time,
smiledsmiled
time,
at the customers,
at the customers,
and didn’t
and
snack
didn’t
on
the chicken
snack
on the
nuggets.
chicken nuggets.
B. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time,
would be smiling at the customers, and would
not be snacking on the chicken nuggets.
C. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time,
smiled at the customers, and no snacking on
the chicken nuggets.
Practice
My
My ambition
ambition is
is to
to become
become a
a doctor
doctor and
and _________
_________
in
in surgery.
surgery.
A.
A. specializing
specializing
B.
B. to
to specialize
specialize
C.
C. being
being specialized
specialized
D.
D. specialized
specialized
Practice
During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope
During our vacation
in the Bahamas,
we hope
__________
and to dance
ourselves dizzy
at
__________
reggae
clubs. and to dance ourselves dizzy at
reggae clubs.
A. that we eat delicious seafood
A. that
that eating
we eatdelicious
deliciousseafood
seafoodoccurs
B.
B. to
that
delicious
seafood occurs
C.
eateating
delicious
seafood
C. eating
to eat delicious
deliciousseafood
seafood
D.
D. eating delicious seafood
Practice
Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed,
for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a
date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________.
A. he looked good
B. being good looking
C. one handsome man to look at
D. handsome
handsome
Practice
The coach told his team ________________ but
The
coach
toldmuch.
his team __________________ but
not to
eat too
not to eat too much.
A. that they should get a lot of sleep
A.
they
should
get a lot of sleep
B. that
to get
a lot
of sleep
B.
get aa lot
lot of sleep
C. to
sleep
C.
a lotsleeping a lot
D. sleep
they are
D. they are sleeping a lot
Complete the following sentences
using parallel structure:
• Students like to sleep, relax, and ___________
during their summer vacations.
• He went to the store to pick up a carton of milk
and two _____________.
• Food, shelter, and ___________ are all I need
to survive on a deserted island.
• _____________ is much better than a visit to
dentist.
Comparing/Contrasting Elements
• A third time when we use parallel
structure is when we compare things.
• For example: ______ than, as ______
as, etc.
Examples
Words
Infinitives
• Coffee is better than tea.
• I like to play board games just
as much as I like to watch
movies.
Phrases
Clauses
• It is better to swim in the pool
than in the ocean.
• How you live your life is just as
important as how much money
you make.
Application:
• Which is parallel?
▫ This assignment was much easier for Miss Ondrof
than it was for me.
▫ This assignment was much easier for Miss Ondrof
than me.
• Revise: A good ending is more important than
a beginning that is good.
Linking Verbs
• A fourth way to use parallel structure is with
elements joined by a linking verb or a verb of
being.
• Linking verbs = become, seem, feel, means
• Forms of “to be” = is, am, being, was, has been,
etc.
Examples
Linking verbs
Forms of “to be”
• Being Miss Ondrof’s
student means having to
put up with zombie
references.
• To know her is to love
her.
• The path over the river
seems quicker than the
one through the woods.
• What you see is what you
get.
• What she said is not
what she meant.
Application:
• Which is parallel?
▫ Being Jim’s friend means being constantly alert.
▫ Being Jim’s friend means you are alert.
• Revise: To succeed is opening a new
opportunity.
Correlative Conjunctions
• The fifth and final way to use parallel structure is
when you use elements joined by a correlative
conjunction.
• Correlative conjunctions = either/or,
neither/nor, both/and, & not only/but also
Examples:
Either/Or
Neither/Nor
• Miss Ondrof told her to either
put the food away or share
with the teacher.
• The student was neither going
to class nor doing his
assignments.
Both/And
Not only/But also
• I would like both to buy a new
house and to purchase a new
car.
• I would like to buy both a new
house and a new car.
• She hopes not only to travel to
London this summer, but also to
move there later on.
• Many people not only have full
time jobs, but also have part
time jobs.
Application:
• Which sentence is correct?
▫ Bob was not only Sam’s roommate, but also he
was his best friend.
▫ Bob was not only Sam’s roommate but also his
best friend.
• Revise: My dog not only likes to play fetch, but
also chase cars.
Where is the parallel structure?
At these moments, America has carried
on not simply because those in high
office have displayed skill or vision, but
because we the people have remained
faithful to the ideals of our forebears
and true to our founding documents.
Barack Obama, 2009 Inaugural Address
Where is the parallel structure?
At these moments, America has carried
on not simply because those in high
office have displayed skill or vision, but
because we the people have remained
faithful to the ideals of our forebears
and true to our founding documents.
Barack Obama, 2009 Inaugural Address
Where is the parallel structure?
She was dressed to play golf, and I remember
thinking she looked like a good illustration, her
chin raised a little, jauntily, her hair the color of
an autumn leaf, her face the same brown tint as
the fingerless glove on her knee.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Where is the parallel structure?
She was dressed to play golf, and I remember
thinking she looked like a good illustration, her
chin raised a little, jauntily, her hair the color
of an autumn leaf, her face the same brown tint
as the fingerless glove on her knee.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Identify errors in parallel structure:
“To assess your effectiveness as a writer, consider
whether your writing does the following. It
should convey your message with clarity,
emphasis, precision, and style. It uses variety in
sentence structure for good stylistic effect. It
provides organized, coherent, logical, insightful
development of the subject. It supports your
main points with specific, detailed, compelling
examples and illustrations. You commit no
significant errors in grammar, usage, spelling, or
punctuation.”
Apply to your own writing:
• Go back and look at your thesis and any other
writing you’ve completed for your essay.
• Make sure there are no errors in parallel
structure.
• If there are, revise them accordingly.