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Problems With Parallel Structure

The document discusses parallel structure and its importance in writing clear English. It provides examples of where parallel structure is required, including with coordinate conjunctions like "and" and "but", paired conjunctions like "both...and", and in comparisons using words like "than". It also gives exercises showing correct and incorrect uses of parallel structure in different situations like with conjunctions, comparisons, and lists.

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Antin Ntin
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279 views9 pages

Problems With Parallel Structure

The document discusses parallel structure and its importance in writing clear English. It provides examples of where parallel structure is required, including with coordinate conjunctions like "and" and "but", paired conjunctions like "both...and", and in comparisons using words like "than". It also gives exercises showing correct and incorrect uses of parallel structure in different situations like with conjunctions, comparisons, and lists.

Uploaded by

Antin Ntin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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

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