PARALLEL STRUCTURE

Arranging of parallel sentences, similar

important
and
balanced.
Forming sentences using the same / similar
grammatical structure. Components of the
sentence can be a noun, adjective, verb, adverb,
phrase and others.

Attention to the following example sentences are not parallel:

I like to bicycle and climbing
The phrase "I like to bicycle and climbing" did not have the
same grammatical structure that is not considered parallel.
Sentence is false because to bicycle and climbing joined
together with and, and not have the same grammatical form.
The sentence can be converted into a parallel in two ways:
I like to bicycle and to climb
I like bicycling and climbing
Parallel structure can be used with paired conjunction (the
conjunction pairs)

PAIRED CONJUNCTION (Conjunctions pairs)

Paired conjunction can function as a clause (clause
marker) or connecting word or phrase.
Conjunctions pairs consisting of:
both ..... and
either ....... or
neither......... nor
not only.......... but also
Example sentence
I know both where you went and what you did.

The following sentence is not parallel and must be

corrected:
He wants either to go by train or by plane.
This sentence was not appropriate because "to go by
train" is not parallel with by plane and can be
corrected by the way:
He wants either to go by train or to go by plane
or
He wants to go either by train or by plane
or
He wants to go by either train or plane

NOTE
1. When subjects connected by "both ..... and" use the
plural verb
Both Runi and her mother are coming to visit us
2. When subjects connected by "either .... or",
"Neither .... nor", or "not only ..... but also", use the
verb accord (sesuai) the closest subject.
Either the teacher or the students are coming to visit
us

3. Use reversed (terbalik) subject-verb after the

conjunction containing a negative word.
Not only did he buy her a diamond ring, but
he also bought her a gold watch
4. Conjunctions couple have to precise (tepat).
False: Neither her mother or her father was
there
Correct: Neither her mother nor her father was
there

Wrong: He likes to swim, to bike, and riding his bike.

Correct: He likes to swim, to hike, and to ride his
bike.
Wrong: Neither his wife or his son is at home
Correct: Neither his wife nor his son is at home
Wrong : Runi both enjoys books and music
Correct: Runi enjoys both books and music.

Reference
Hotben D. Lingga; Advanced English Grammar
for TOEFL Preparation; Puspa Swara; 2006.