Parallel

Structure
BUSINESS HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
 OBJECTIVES
•Use similar structures to
express similar ideas.

•Use parallelism in
different cases.
 Parallel Structure is
Important!
your ideas come across more clearly
since they’re easier to read.
What is parallelism?
• Parallelism:
1.means that similar parts of a sentence have the same structure:
nouns are with nouns, verbs with verbs, and phrases with phrases
In other word:-
2. Parallelism in writing means that similar parts in a sentence
(2 or more) must have the same structure.
• Their parts are comparable and balanced.
• Allows writing to flow smoothly and helps avoid misunderstandings.

• Note:
When similar parts do not follow the same structure, you have
created Faulty Parallelism.
Examples:
1.Not parallel : I like singing, kayaking, and to dance.
2. parallel: I like singing, kayaking, and dancing

• Incorrect:
Angry ants, munched the marshmallows, crumbling
coffeecake, and sipping syrup, headed off across the
countertop.
• Correct:-
Angry ants, munching marshmallows, crumbling
coffeecake, and sipping syrup, headed off across the
countertop.
Use similar structures to express similar ideas.

• Put nouns with nouns

• Faulty (F): I enjoy basketball more than playing video games.
• Correct (C) : I enjoy basketball more than video games. √

• Put verbs with verbs (and use same tense)

• F: On our anniversary, we ate, danced, and were singing.
• C: On our anniversary, we ate, danced, and sang.

• Put adjectives with adjectives

• F: My history class was both interesting and a challenge.
• C: My history class was both interesting and challenging.
Make sure to use parallelism in the following cases.

• When joining two or more items with and or or:

1.The party featured a four-foot cake and a singing gorilla.
2.I am doing well in my English class, in my math class, and in
my history class.

• In comparisons:
Taking the train is as fast as driving.
Driving to Austin is as fast as flying

• With certain paired words (like both/and, either/or, and

neither/nor):
Marlize both bakes bread and fixes cars.
My history course is both interesting and challenging
Use parallel structure on both sides of coordinating
conjunctions
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
FANBOYS
For example:
1. She possessed all the wizard’s charm yet none of the wizard’s insight.
2. Consult a doctor if your coughing persists or if your coughing worsens
over the weekend.
3. In English class, Diego learned to read poems critically and
appreciate good prose..
4. A swimmer was attacked by a shark, but he scared it away by poking
it in the eye.
Paired Conjunctions: (Both…and; not only. . . but also;
either. . .or; neither . . . nor)

For example,,
• Both my mother and my sister are here.
• Not only my mother but also my sister is here.
• Neither my sister nor my parents are here.
• We can have either broccoli or cauliflower for dinner.

• Note:
1.When we use (both. . . and) the verb is always plural.
2. When we use (not only…but also; neither. . . nor;
either. . . or) the verb is always in the form of the word
directly before it
 Correct Usage
Infinitive Phrases
Parallel way:

John likes to laugh, to run, and to eat.

OR
John likes to laugh, run, and eat.

You can use "to" right before all the verbs in a

sentence or just before the first verb.
 Correct Usage
-ing Words
Parallel way:

John likes laughing, running, and eating.

OR
Little ducks are always
quacking and following each
other.
 Incorrect Usage
Not Parallel:

Paul likes laughing, running, and to eat.

OR
The store clerk rang up his customer
quickly and efficient.
 More Examples
Incorrect Correct
1. Jacob thought the cartoon 1. Jacob thought the cartoon
was unexciting, childish, was unexciting, childish,
and was too long. and too long.
2. Joe went to school, a 2. Joe went to school, to a
diner, and to the bank. diner, and to the bank.
3. You think both singing and 3. You think both singing and
to dance are important dancing are important.
 Make sure to use parallelism in the following cases.

• When joining two or more items with and or or:

1.The party featured a four-foot cake and a singing gorilla.
2.I am doing well in my English class, in my math class, and in
my history class.

• In comparisons:
Taking the train is as fast as driving.
Driving to Austin is as fast as flying

• With certain paired words (like both/and, either/or, and

neither/nor):
Marlize both bakes bread and fixes cars.
My history course is both interesting and challenging
Use parallel structure on both sides of coordinating
conjunctions
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
FANBOYS
For example,
1. She possessed all the wizard’s charm yet none of the wizard’s insight.
2. Consult a doctor if your coughing persists or if your coughing worsens
over the weekend.
3. In English class, Diego learned to read poems critically and
appreciate good prose..
4. A swimmer was attacked by a shark, but he scared it away by poking
it in the eye.
Paired Conjunctions: (Both…and; not only. . . but also;
either. . .or; neither . . . nor)

For example:
• Both my mother and my sister are here.
• Not only my mother but also my sister is here.
• Neither my sister nor my parents are here.
• We can have either broccoli or cauliflower for dinner.

• Note:
1.When we use (both. . . and) the verb is always plural.
2. When we use (not only…but also; neither. . . nor;
either. . . or) the verb is always in the form of the word
directly before it
Choose the correct answer to fill in the
blank.
1. Ella’s job responsibilities include ____, training,
and informing workers of company policies.

A) to hire
B) hired
C) hire
D) none of the above
Choose the correct answer to fill in the
blank.
1.Ella’s job responsibilities include ____, training,
and informing workers of company policies.

ANSWER:
A) to hire
B) hired
C) hire
D) none of the above; hiring is the correct answer.
More Exercises:-
2. Henry likes pizza more than _______.

A) spinach
B) to eat spinach
C) to be eating spinach
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
2.Henry likes pizza more than _______.

ANSWER:
A) spinach
B) to eat spinach
C) to be eating spinach
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
3.He drove to the store to buy milk, eggs, and
_______.

A) to get bread
B) bread
C) getting bread
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
3.He drove to the store to buy milk, eggs, and
_______.

ANSWER:
A) to get bread
B) bread
C) getting bread
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
4.Tom jogs, swims, and _________.

A) he is kick boxing
B) kick boxes
C) he kick boxes
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
4.Tom jogs, swims, and _________.

ANSWER:
A) he is kick boxing
B) kick boxes
C) he kick boxes
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
5.The film had many stars, used various special
effects, and ________.

A) violence
B) featured graphic violence
C) it was violent
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
5.The film had many stars, used various special
effects, and ________.

ANSWER:
A) violence
B) featured graphic violence
C) it was violent
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
6.I think that learning a new language is harder
than ____.

A) math
B) to learn math
C) learning math
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
6.I think that learning a new language is harder
than ____.

ANSWER:
A) math
B) to learn math
C) learning math
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
7.For some very shy people, giving a speech can
be as frightening as _________.

A) having a serious illness

B) illness
C) to have an illness
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
7.For some very shy people, giving a speech can
be as frightening as _________.

ANSWER:
A) having a serious illness
B) illness
C) to have an illness
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
8.I’d rather be lucky or hardworking than
________.

A) to have talent
B) having talent
C) talented
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
8.I’d rather be lucky or hardworking than
________.

ANSWER:
A) to have talent
B) having talent
C) Talented √
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
9. That football team has both a good offense and
______.

A) it has a good defense

B) a good defense
C) having a good defense
D) none of the above
More Exercises:-
9. That football team has both a good offense and
______.

ANSWER:
A) it has a good defense
B) a good defense √
C) having a good defense
D) none of the above
Last Exercises:-
10. Bob is not only loyal to friends but also
________.

A) he is friendly to strangers
B) to be friendly to strangers
C) friendly to strangers
D) none of the above
Answer last Exercise:-
Bob is not only loyal to friends but also ________.

ANSWER:
A) he is friendly to strangers
B) to be friendly to strangers
C) friendly to strangers √
D) none of the above
THANK YOU!