UNDERSTANDING

PARALLELISM
LEARNING GOAL
Recognize parallel
structures in proverbs.
KEY CONCEPT
The use of parallelism adds
unity and rhythm to literary
writing.
WHAT IS PARALLELISM?
Parallelism, also known as parallel structure, is
when phrases in a sentence have similar or the
same grammatical structure. In its most basic
usage, parallelism provides a phrase with balance
and clarity. Parallelism also serves to give phrases
a pattern and rhythm.
Structures Examples
noun parallel Proper (words) in
to noun proper (places).
Structures Examples
verb parallel Easy (come), easy (go).
to verb
Structures Examples
adjective Through life’s hardships
parallel to one always rises a
adjective (better) and a (wiser)
man.
Structures Examples
adverb Better late than never.
parallel to
adverb
Structures Examples
phrase (To spare the rod) is (to
parallel to spare the child.)
phrase
Structures Examples
clause (When the wind is
parallel to great, bow before it);
clause (when the rain is heavy,
yield to it).
Tell if the elements are parallel or not

1. Bravely - polite

2. Ball pen - notebook

3. To walk – to dance

4. dance – sing – cooking

arch and squinch – uncurl and straighten (both parts are
compound adjective)

when the blanket is short – once it is longer ( both parts are

dependent clause and begin with subordinating conjunction)
disease – fate (both parts are nouns)
To bow the body – to bow the will (both parts are infinitive
phrases; they begin with the word to plus the base form of the
verb bow followed by article the and nouns body and will)

Easy - hard (both parts are adjectives)

a favor – a rule (both parts are noun phrases; they begin with the
article a followed by nouns favor and rule)
the contended man – the discounted man (both parts are phrases
beginning with the article the followed by adjectives plus nouns
contended man, discounted man)
though (poor) – though (rich) both parts are adjectives
is (happy) – is (sad) both parts are adjectives