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Composition I
Professor Kratz
Grammar VIII
Parallel Construction:
All words in a list must take the same form.
Incorrect:
I like swimming (gerund), running (gerund), and to play (infinitive).
Correct:
I like swimming (gerund), running (gerund), and playing (gerund).
or, I like to swim (infinitive), to run (infinitive), and to play (infinitive).
Incorrect:
My new exercise program (noun phrase) and going on a diet (verb phrase) will help me
lose weight.
Correct:
My new exercise program (noun phrase) and a diet (noun phrase) will help me lose
weight.
or Sticking to my new exercise program (verb phrase) and going on a diet (verb phrase)
will help me lose weight.
Incorrect:
I am looking for a book that is entertaining (adjective), romantic (adjective), and makes
me happy (verb phrase).
Correct:
I am looking for a book that is entertaining (adjective), romantic (adjective), and funny
(adjective).
or, I am looking for a book that entertains me (verb phrase), thrills me (verb phrase), and
makes me happy (verb phrase).
Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers:
Clauses and phrases that modify nouns must come immediately before or after the nouns
they modify.
Incorrect:
Covered with frosting, Tim likes cake. (Tim is covered with frosting.)
Correct:
Tim likes cake covered with frosting. (The cake is covered with frosting.)
Incorrect:
Having carried all of our supplies for miles, the campground was a welcomed sight. (The
campground had carried our supplies.)
Correct:
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Having carried all of our supplies for miles, we saw the campground as a welcomed
sight. (We had carried our supplies.)
Incorrect:
Knowing how much work I had to do, it was good of you to come and help. (It knew how
much work I had to do.)
Correct:
Knowing how much work I had to do, you were kind to come and help. (You knew how
much work I had to do.)