Problems with parallel
structure
Parallel Structure
• In good English an attempt should be made to make the language as
even and balanced as possible. This balance is called “parallel
structure”.
• You can achieve parallel structure by making the forms of words as
similar as possible.
• I like to sing and dancing.
• Parallel structure are required in the following situations: with
coordinate conjunctions, such as and, but, or; with the paired
conjuctions, such as both...and, either...or, neither...nor, not
body...but also; and with comparisons.
Use parallel structure with coordinate
conjuctions
• The job of the coordinate conjuctions (and, but, or) is to join together equal expressions.
• In other words, what is no one side of these words must be parallel to what is on the
other side.
• These conjunctions can join nouns, or verbs, or adjectives, or phrases, or subordinate
clauses, or main clauses, they just must join together two of the same thing.
• (same structure) + coordinate conjuctions + (same structure)
• (same structure), (same structure), coordinate conjuctions (same structure)
• She is not a teacher but a lawyer.
• He only eats and sleeps when he takes a vacations.
• Class can be interesting or boring.
• There are students in the classroom and in front of the building.
• They are not interested in what you say or what you do.
Exercise
• She held jobs as a typist, a housekeeper, and in a restaurant.
• The report you are looking for could be in the file or on the desk.
• She works very hard but usually gets below-average grades.
• The speaker introduced himself, told several interesting anecdotes,
and finishing with an emotional plea.
• You should know when the program starts and how many units you
must complete.
• The term paper he wrote was rather short but very impressive.
Use parallel structure with paired conjuctions
• The paired conjuctions both...and, either...or, neither...nor, and not
only...but also require parallel structures.
Both And
Either (Same structure) Or (same structure)
Neither Nor
Not only But also
• He wants either to go by train or by plane.
• I want both this book or that one.
• Either Sam nor Sue is taking the course.
• I know both where you went and what you did.
Exercise
• She would like neither to see a movie or to go bowling.
• According to the syllabus, you can either write a paper or you can
take an axam.
• It would be both noticed and appreciated if you could finish the work
before you leave.
• Either the manager or her assistant can help you with your refund.
• He not only called the police department but also called fire
department.
• He could correct neither what you said nor you wrote.
Use parallel structure with comparisons
• When you make a comparison, you point out the similarities or differences
between two things, and those similarities or differences must be in
parallel form. You can recognize a comparison showing how two things
different form the –er...than or the more...than.
• To be rich is better than to be poor.
• What is written is more easily understood than what is spoken.
• A comparison showing how two things are the same might contain as..as or
expressions such as the same as or similar to.
• Their car is as big as a small house.
• Renting those apartments costs about the same as leasing them.
• The work that I did is similar ro the work that you did.
Exercise
• His research for the thesis was more useful than hers.
• Dining in a restaurant is more fun than to eat at home.
• I want a new secretary who is as efficient as the previous one.
• What you do today should be the same as did yesterday.
• This lesson is more difficult than we had before.
• Music in your country is quite similar to my country.
• Sumber: Longman Complete Course For The TOEFL Test
