{"id":253,"date":"2024-02-12T16:32:58","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T21:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/grammarbasics\/?post_type=chapter&p=253"},"modified":"2026-01-26T16:11:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T21:11:24","slug":"parallel-structure","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/grammarbasics\/chapter\/parallel-structure\/","title":{"raw":"Parallel Structure","rendered":"Parallel Structure"},"content":{"raw":"I'm going to present you with two sentences, each containing a list. Read both and decide which one was easier<\/span> to read.\r\n\r\n \r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. At the Hawaiian resort you can go dancing all night, eating great food is fun, and you can even lie around the pool.<\/em><\/em><\/li>\r\n \t
  2. At the Hawaiian resort you can dance all night, eat great food, and lie around the pool.\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n \r\n\r\nDid you say #2? I bet you did. Re-read the sentences again, out loud, and focus on the rhythms of the sentences. The second sentence should have a much smoother, more regular rhythm than the first one.\r\n\r\nThat rhythm is created by establishing something called parallel structure<\/strong>. Parallel structure is a pattern in which things that are equally important have the same form<\/em>. But what do I mean by \"things that are equally important\"? Most often, I'm talking about parts of a list.\r\n\r\nFor example, if I list the items on my desk right now, I'd say that I see my keys<\/span>, a bottle of Diet Coke<\/span>, and my phone<\/span>. None of the three things in the list is more important to the sentence than the others; the meaning of the sentence wouldn't change if I rearranged the list.\r\n\r\nSo, in a sentence that includes a list, we create parallel structure when all the parts of the list follow the same pattern (which we will call a form). Check out some patterns in the table below:\r\n\r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    Forms - Some Examples<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

    \r\n
    Words:<\/h5>\r\n
      \r\n \t
    • Geraldo enjoys fishing<\/span>, swimming<\/span>, and reading<\/span>.<\/em>\r\n
        \r\n \t
      • these are all -ing<\/em> verbs<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
      • King Lear is vengeful<\/span>, sad<\/span>, naive<\/span>, and petty<\/span>.<\/em>\r\n
          \r\n \t
        • these are all adjectives<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
        • On my pizza I prefer ham<\/span>, pineapple<\/span>, and pepperoni<\/span>.<\/em>\r\n
            \r\n \t
          • these are all nouns<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
            Phrases:<\/h5>\r\n
              \r\n \t
            • Carmine planned to leave town<\/span>, change careers<\/span>, and lose weight<\/span>.<\/em>\r\n
                \r\n \t
              • these are all phrases starting with a verb (VERB + NOUN)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Darlene looked for her ring under the sink<\/span>, in the garbage can<\/span>, and behind the stove<\/span>.<\/em>\r\n
                  \r\n \t
                • these are all prepositional phrases<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
                  When making phrases parallel, focus on the first word in each phrase. The first word in the phrase determines what type it will be.<\/div>\r\n
                  Clauses:<\/h5>\r\n
                    \r\n \t
                  • I don't know who you are<\/span> or why you are calling me<\/span><\/em>!<\/li>\r\n \t
                  • They hired me before I graduated<\/span> and after I turned twenty-two<\/span><\/em>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\nThere are a million patterns\/forms, so your job isn't to memorize them. Instead, read sentences out loud to get a feel for the rhythm that parallel structure creates. Try it with the sentences in the table above. Can you \"hear\" the consistent rhythm of the lists? If you don't hear it yet, that's okay -- the more you read, the easier it will get (and the more a lack of parallel structure will stand out as weird).\r\n

                    Correlative Conjunctions<\/h3>\r\nParallel structure isn't entirely about lists. In fact, the more you write, the more you'll see opportunities to create balanced structures in your writing (I did it just a moment ago!). One of those opportunities revolves around correlative conjunctions<\/strong>, pairs of words that help express the relationship between two words or phrases in a sentence.\r\n\r\nCorrelative conjunctions always work in pairs, and these are the most common ones:\r\n
                    either \/ or\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0neither \/ nor\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 not only \/ but also\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\nTo create parallel structure, you just need to make sure the same pattern appears after each part of the pair. If there's a verb after\u00a0either<\/em>, then there should be a verb after\u00a0or.<\/em> If a prepositional phrase follows\u00a0not only<\/em>, then a prepositional phrase should follow\u00a0but also<\/em>.\r\n
                    \r\n

                    Examples<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

                    \r\n\r\nThe giraffe uses either<\/span> its hard head<\/span> or<\/span> its long neck<\/span> in combat.<\/i>\r\n\r\nAdult giraffes fear neither<\/span> leopards<\/span> nor<\/span> hyenas<\/span>.<\/em>\r\n\r\nGiraffes not only<\/span> suffer from skin diseases<\/span> but also<\/span> deal with internal parasites<\/span>.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n
                    \r\n

                    PRACTICE: Fix Faulty Parallel Structure<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

                    \r\n\r\nEach of the sentences below has non-parallel structure. Fix each sentence and check your answers with the answer key. If your answers are different to the ones in the answer key, show me your answers or email me. I'll be happy to provide feedback!\r\n
                      \r\n \t
                    1. She enjoys reading books, hiking, and to play golf.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    2. He is not only intelligent but also he plays many sports very well.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    3. The new software is expected to increase productivity, reduce costs, and for improving communication.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    4. Sarah either likes to run marathons or going for long walks.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    5. The company's goals include expanding internationally, to increase profits, and improving customer service.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    6. The project requires not only creativity but also you need to handle responsibility.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    7. Jane is both a talented singer and enjoys playing the guitar.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    8. The team needs to work efficiently, to collaborate effectively, and communicating with kindness.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    9. Learning a new language can not only be challenging but also fun.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n[h5p id=\"19\"]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n ","rendered":"

                      I’m going to present you with two sentences, each containing a list. Read both and decide which one was easier<\/span> to read.<\/p>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                        \n
                      1. At the Hawaiian resort you can go dancing all night, eating great food is fun, and you can even lie around the pool.<\/em><\/em><\/li>\n
                      2. At the Hawaiian resort you can dance all night, eat great food, and lie around the pool.\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                         <\/p>\n

                        Did you say #2? I bet you did. Re-read the sentences again, out loud, and focus on the rhythms of the sentences. The second sentence should have a much smoother, more regular rhythm than the first one.<\/p>\n

                        That rhythm is created by establishing something called parallel structure<\/strong>. Parallel structure is a pattern in which things that are equally important have the same form<\/em>. But what do I mean by “things that are equally important”? Most often, I’m talking about parts of a list.<\/p>\n

                        For example, if I list the items on my desk right now, I’d say that I see my keys<\/span>, a bottle of Diet Coke<\/span>, and my phone<\/span>. None of the three things in the list is more important to the sentence than the others; the meaning of the sentence wouldn’t change if I rearranged the list.<\/p>\n

                        So, in a sentence that includes a list, we create parallel structure when all the parts of the list follow the same pattern (which we will call a form). Check out some patterns in the table below:<\/p>\n

                         <\/p>\n

                        \n
                        \n

                        Forms – Some Examples<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

                        \n
                        Words:<\/h5>\n
                          \n
                        • Geraldo enjoys fishing<\/span>, swimming<\/span>, and reading<\/span>.<\/em>\n
                            \n
                          • these are all -ing<\/em> verbs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                          • King Lear is vengeful<\/span>, sad<\/span>, naive<\/span>, and petty<\/span>.<\/em>\n
                              \n
                            • these are all adjectives<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                            • On my pizza I prefer ham<\/span>, pineapple<\/span>, and pepperoni<\/span>.<\/em>\n
                                \n
                              • these are all nouns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                Phrases:<\/h5>\n
                                  \n
                                • Carmine planned to leave town<\/span>, change careers<\/span>, and lose weight<\/span>.<\/em>\n
                                    \n
                                  • these are all phrases starting with a verb (VERB + NOUN)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                  • Darlene looked for her ring under the sink<\/span>, in the garbage can<\/span>, and behind the stove<\/span>.<\/em>\n
                                      \n
                                    • these are all prepositional phrases<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                      When making phrases parallel, focus on the first word in each phrase. The first word in the phrase determines what type it will be.<\/div>\n
                                      Clauses:<\/h5>\n
                                        \n
                                      • I don’t know who you are<\/span> or why you are calling me<\/span><\/em>!<\/li>\n
                                      • They hired me before I graduated<\/span> and after I turned twenty-two<\/span><\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                                         <\/p>\n

                                        There are a million patterns\/forms, so your job isn’t to memorize them. Instead, read sentences out loud to get a feel for the rhythm that parallel structure creates. Try it with the sentences in the table above. Can you “hear” the consistent rhythm of the lists? If you don’t hear it yet, that’s okay — the more you read, the easier it will get (and the more a lack of parallel structure will stand out as weird).<\/p>\n

                                        Correlative Conjunctions<\/h3>\n

                                        Parallel structure isn’t entirely about lists. In fact, the more you write, the more you’ll see opportunities to create balanced structures in your writing (I did it just a moment ago!). One of those opportunities revolves around correlative conjunctions<\/strong>, pairs of words that help express the relationship between two words or phrases in a sentence.<\/p>\n

                                        Correlative conjunctions always work in pairs, and these are the most common ones:<\/p>\n

                                        either \/ or\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0neither \/ nor\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 not only \/ but also\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n

                                         <\/p>\n

                                        To create parallel structure, you just need to make sure the same pattern appears after each part of the pair. If there’s a verb after\u00a0either<\/em>, then there should be a verb after\u00a0or.<\/em> If a prepositional phrase follows\u00a0not only<\/em>, then a prepositional phrase should follow\u00a0but also<\/em>.<\/p>\n

                                        \n
                                        \n

                                        Examples<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

                                        \n

                                        The giraffe uses either<\/span> its hard head<\/span> or<\/span> its long neck<\/span> in combat.<\/i><\/p>\n

                                        Adult giraffes fear neither<\/span> leopards<\/span> nor<\/span> hyenas<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n

                                        Giraffes not only<\/span> suffer from skin diseases<\/span> but also<\/span> deal with internal parasites<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                                         <\/p>\n

                                        \n
                                        \n

                                        PRACTICE: Fix Faulty Parallel Structure<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

                                        \n

                                        Each of the sentences below has non-parallel structure. Fix each sentence and check your answers with the answer key. If your answers are different to the ones in the answer key, show me your answers or email me. I’ll be happy to provide feedback!<\/p>\n

                                          \n
                                        1. She enjoys reading books, hiking, and to play golf.<\/li>\n
                                        2. He is not only intelligent but also he plays many sports very well.<\/li>\n
                                        3. The new software is expected to increase productivity, reduce costs, and for improving communication.<\/li>\n
                                        4. Sarah either likes to run marathons or going for long walks.<\/li>\n
                                        5. The company’s goals include expanding internationally, to increase profits, and improving customer service.<\/li>\n
                                        6. The project requires not only creativity but also you need to handle responsibility.<\/li>\n
                                        7. Jane is both a talented singer and enjoys playing the guitar.<\/li>\n
                                        8. The team needs to work efficiently, to collaborate effectively, and communicating with kindness.<\/li>\n
                                        9. Learning a new language can not only be challenging but also fun.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                          \n