Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region V
Division of Camarines Sur
Freedom Sports Complex, San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur
DOÑA BASILIA S. QUILON MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
SY 2023-2024

Using Parallel Structures

Objectives:
Specifically, you are to:
1. define parallel structures;
2. familiarize the rules on
parallel structures;
3. express appreciation on the
rules of parallel structures;
4. differentiate coordinating
conjunction from correlating
conjunction;
5. identify errors in parallel
structures; and
6. write sentences using
parallel structures correctly.
Objectives:
Specifically, you are to:
1. define parallel structures;
2. familiarize the rules on
parallel structures;
3. express appreciation on the
rules of parallel structures;
4. differentiate coordinating
conjunction from correlating
conjunction;
5. identify errors in parallel
structures; and
6. write sentences using
parallel structures correctly.
Objectives:
Specifically, you are to:
1. define parallel structures;
2. familiarize the rules on parallel structures;
3. express appreciation on the rules of parallel structures;
4. differentiate coordinating conjunction from correlating conjunction;
5. identify errors in parallel structures; and
6. write sentences using parallel structures correctly.

What is It

To improve the clarity of your

writing, it is important to
remember the equality of
your sentence structure. This
module was designed to help
you better understand
the importance of Using Parallel
Structures.
Parallel Structure means using
the same construction for
sentence elements
that are the same in function.
Below are three rules to
consider when checking for
Parallel Structure in your
writing:
1. Parallel Structure should be
used when elements are joined
by coordinating
conjunctions:
Incorrect: I am allergic to the
dog’s hair and how it smells.
Correct: I am allergic to the
dog’s hair and smell.
2. Parallel Structure should be
used when writing elements in
the form of a
list or a series:
 Incorrect: The class valued
respect, honesty, and being on
time in a
teacher.
Correct: The class valued
respect, honesty, and
promptness in a
teacher.
To improve the clarity of your writing, it is important to remember the equality of your sentence structure. This
module was designed to help you better understand the importance of Using Parallel Structures.

Parallel Structure means using the same construction for sentence elements that are the same in function.

Below are three rules to consider when checking for Parallel Structure in your writing:

1. Parallel Structure should be used when elements are joined by coordinating conjunctions:
Incorrect: I am allergic to the dog’s hair and how it smells.
Correct: I am allergic to the dog’s hair and smell.

2. Parallel Structure should be used when writing elements in the form of a list or a series:
Incorrect: The class valued respect, honesty, and being on time in a teacher.
Correct: The class valued respect, honesty, and promptness in a teacher.

3. Parallel Structure should be used when comparing or contrasting elements (A is better than B or X is less than Y):
Incorrect: James enjoys reading more than to write.
Correct: James enjoys reading more than writing.

Note: If the sentence includes time signals that indicate the action happening at different time or will happen in the
future, disregard this rule.

Example:
Edna is an industrious student, an obedient daughter, and a loyal friend.

In the use of parallel structure, grammatical balance should be observed. If parallel structure is not observed there will
be a disruption of rhythm, thus there will be grammatical unbalance.

More Examples:
1. Toni Gonzaga is a multi-talented celebrity. Singing, acting, and being a host are some of her talents. No error
What do you think is the error in the sentence?

You are correct! The answer is “being a host”, it is the error in the sentence.

Explanation:
In the list of talents that Toni Gonzaga has, two items are gerunds, or verbs being used as nouns ("singing"
and "acting"), whereas "being a host" is a phrase. Thus, "being a host" does not fit with the parallel structure, and
should be changed to "hosting.”

2. I live in a condominium on a higher floor than my boss. No error

 What do you think is the error in the sentence?

You are correct! The answer is “boss”, it is the error in the sentence.

Explanation:
Only like things can be compared. "My apartment" can be compared to "that of my boss" or my "boss”

Correct: I live in a condominium on a higher floor than my boss’apartment.

Correlative Conjunctions and Parallel Structure

Correlative Conjunctions
either/or neither/nor not/but
not only/but(also) both/and

To use parallel structure in a sentence, words/phrases joined together by correlative conjunctions should be of the same
grammatical level or structure.

Wrong: The mall requires not only wearing face masks but also face shields.
Right: The mall requires wearing not only face masks but also face shields.

In the example above the first part of the sentence, not only, joins the verb wanted. While the second part, but also,
joins the direct object face masks. To achieve parallel structure, you must join two elements of the same grammatical
level.

Neither - Nor Mistakes

The elements joined together by correlative conjunctions should be equal to achieve parallel structure.

An example:
Wrong: For the talent contest, she neither wanted to sing nor to dance.
Right: For the talent contest, she wanted neither to sing nor to dance.

Either - Or Mistakes
Some examples:
Wrong: Either you answer your modules or attending online classes.
Right: Either you answer your modules or attend online classes.

WHAT’S MORE

Activity 1
Directions: Make a sentence out
of the following pairs of words
or phrases.
Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
Example: laughed and cried
Possible Answer: She laughed
at her jokes and cried at her
misfortunes.
1. cooked and cleaned
________________________________
_______________________________
2. cleaning, cooking, and
washing
________________________________
_______________________________
3. studying but playing
________________________________
_______________________________
4. to study, to work, and to
marry
________________________________
_______________________________
5. not only sings but also plays
________________________________
________________________________
_____
Assessment 1
Directions: Choose the letter
that contains the phrases/
words that make it
parallel. Write your answers on
a separate sheet of paper.
1. During the lockdown, people
were either baking, dancing, or
____________.
A. garden C. planted
B. gardening D. planting
2. In my free time, I enjoy
reading books more than
____________________.
A. watch movies C.
watching movies
B. watched movies
D. will watch movies
3. The mangoes that my
mother bought from the market
are fresh and
__________.
A. sweet C. sweetest
B. sweeter D. getting
sweet
4. Learning a new language is
not only inspiring but also
_____________.
A. challenge C. challenged
B. challenging D. will
challenge
5. There are a lot of activities
you can do on the beach. You
can build a
sandcastle, swim in the sea or
_________________.
A. chill in the cottage C.
chilled in the cottage
B. chilling in the cottage D.
will chill in the cottage
Activity 1
Directions: Make a sentence out of the following pairs of words or phrases.

Example: laughed and cried

Possible Answer: She laughed at her jokes and cried at her misfortunes.

1. cooked and cleaned

_______________________________________________________________
2. cleaning, cooking, and washing
_______________________________________________________________
3. studying but playing
_______________________________________________________________
4. to study, to work, and to marry
_______________________________________________________________
5. not only sings but also plays
______________________________________________________________

Assessment 1
Directions: Choose the letter that contains the phrases/ words that make it parallel.

1. During the lockdown, people were either baking, dancing, or ____________.

A. garden C. planted
B. gardening D. planting
2. In my free time, I enjoy reading books more than ____________________.
A. watch movies C. watching movies
B. watched movies D. will watch movies
3. The mangoes that my mother bought from the market are fresh and __________.
A. sweet C. sweetest
B. sweeter D. getting sweet
4. Learning a new language is not only inspiring but also _____________.
A. challenge C. challenged
B. challenging D. will challenge
5. There are a lot of activities you can do on the beach. You can build a sandcastle, swim in the sea or
_________________.
A. chill in the cottage C. chilled in the cottage
B. chilling in the cottage D. will chill in the cottage

Activity 2
Directions: Read the sentences below. Write P if the sentence is parallel and write NP if not parallel.

____1. These mangoes are ripe, juicy and sweet.

____2. A lot of tourists are expected to visit the beach and the museum.
____3. Voters should not only be wise but also vigilant.
____4. Organic vegetables are being sold in the market like eggplant, potato, carrots and a lot of cabbage.
____5. The beach is famous for its fine and white sand.

Assessment 2
Directions: From your answers in Activity 2, copy the sentences that are NOT PARALLEL and rewrite them to form
coherent sentences.
Example:
NP The shampoo advertisement promises long, shiny, and fragrance hair.
P The shampoo advertisement promises long, shiny, and fragrant hair.

Ready Begin:
1. NP ____________________________________________________________
P_______________________________________________________________
2. NP ____________________________________________________________
P _____________________________________________________________
3. NP ____________________________________________________________
P ______________________________________________________________
4. NP ____________________________________________________________
P _____________________________________________________________
5. NP ____________________________________________________________
P _____________________________________________________________

Activity 3
Directions: Read the following sentences. Then, decide whether or not it contains an error in parallel structure. If the
sentence has No Error write NE, if the sentence has an Error, write E then underline the word or phrase that ruins the
sentence.
Example:
a. The children sweep the floor, wash the dishes, and water the plants every morning before they answer their modules.
NE (No Error)
b. After answering their modules, Sheila likes watching Tiktok videos while Diego likes to play mobile legends. E (Error)

1. The house is not only warm but also cozy. ____

2. She met with her friends and talked to them. ____
3. Her mother noticed not only her lack of enthusiasm but also her lack of self-confidence. ____
4. Do you like milk, tea, or coffee? ____
5. A lot for students have raised their questions and a lot of concerns. ____
6. My grandmother is a great cook. She can either make you delectable dessert or a sumptuous meal. ____
7. At the farm, my grandfather raises a lot of animals like chickens, cows, pigs, and several ducks. ____
8. For our class we bought several school supplies including pen, fastener, stapler and a lot of paper. ____
9. During summer vacation we not only visited the farm but also the pond. ____
10. Her garden is full of blooming flowers and colorful butterflies. ____