General Rules of Parallel Structure
- 1. Parallel Structure By: Jaden Aiona & Cierra Thompson
- 2. Definition Parallel structure is the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
- 3. Rule #1 Parallel structures must be joined with conjunctions.
- 4. Rule #1 Parallel structures must be joined with conjunctions. Conjunctions: and or but yet so Note: You can use a conjunction or the beginning of a clause before all the verbs/clauses in a sentence or only before the first one.
- 5. Words Verbs: singing, reading, to hike Adverbs: gracefully, clearly, really loud
- 6. Words Verbs: singing, reading, to hike Not parallel Adverbs: gracefully, clearly, really loud Not parallel
- 7. Words Verbs: singing, reading, to hike Not parallel They have different grammatical structures Adverbs: gracefully, clearly, really loud Not parallel They have different grammatical structures
- 8. Words Verbs: singing, reading, to hike hiking Adverbs: gracefully, clearly, really loud loudly
- 9. Words Verbs: singing, reading, to hike hiking Parallel √ They now have the same grammatical structure Adverbs: gracefully, clearly, really loud loudly Parallel √ They now have the same grammatical structure
- 10. Use it in a sentence Katy really likes singing, reading or hiking. She sings gracefully, clearly and loudly.
- 11. Use it in a sentence Katy really likes singing, reading or hiking. ^ conjunction She sings gracefully, clearly and loudly. ^ conjunction
- 12. Rule #2 A parallel structure that begins with clauses must keep the same clauses.
- 13. Rule #2 A parallel structure that begins with clauses must keep the same clauses. A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb. Note: You can use a conjunction or the beginning of a clause before all the verbs/clauses in a sentence or only before the first one.
- 14. Clauses that she may play, that she may make, to sleep
- 15. Clauses that she may play, that she may make, to sleep What is listed above are not all clauses *Remember, clauses contain a subject and a verb
- 16. Clauses that she may play, that she may make, to sleep that she may sleep Correct√ subject ↓ “that she may verb ” is the clause so it must be used for all of the clauses
- 17. Use it in a sentence When my friend came over to my house, I told her that she may play volleyball with my brother and I, that she may make dinner with us and that she may sleep at my house. or When my friend came over to my house, I told her that she may play volleyball with my brother and I, make dinner with us and sleepover my house.
- 18. Use it in a sentence When my friend came over to my house, I told her that she may play volleyball with my brother and I, that she may make dinner with us and that she may sleep at my house. “that she may” is the clause or When my friend came over to my house, I told her that she may play volleyball with my brother and I, make dinner with us and sleepover my house. that she may is only at the beginning of the first clause BOTH ARE CORRECT
- 19. Rule #3 When you are listing items, use parallel structure.
- 20. Rule #3 When you are listing items, use parallel structure. When listing actions, they must be in the same tense in order to be parallel. Note: You can use a conjunction or the beginning of a clause before all the verbs/clauses in a sentence or only before the first one.
- 21. Lists wearing his Batman costume, phone calls that come from the Commissioner, and saving Gotham City
- 22. Lists This phrase isn’t the same tense as the others wearing his Batman costume, phone calls that come from the Commissioner, and saving Gotham City answering the Commissioner's phone calls
- 23. Use it in a sentence Bruce Wayne enjoys wearing his Batman costume, answering the Commissioner's phone calls, and saving Gotham City. This list is parallel because they are all in the same tense.
- 24. Exercises First correct these words/clauses/lists and then on your own, create a sentence using parallel structure. Words: climbing, to walk, sleeping, eat, turning Phrases: Lizzie can play, Lizzie likes to flip, Lizzie can clap, Lizzie can smile Lists: correct spelling errors, move paragraphs around to organize an essay, typing an essay
- 25. Exercises Global warming affects animals, the environment, and is scary. The Mcdonald’s salesman expected that he would present his new product at the next meeting, he would have enough time to show his PowerPoint and people who are interested will ask questions. The coach was asked to create a game plan quickly, in a detailed manner and efficiently. Correct these sentences using what you know about parallel structure. A farmer spends most of his time tilling the soil, sowing the seeds, and feed the cows. My teacher once said that she was a terrible student because she waited until the last minute to do her work, completed her class work in a careless manner and her motivation was low.
- 26. How does this help us? Parallel structure applies to writing and is extremely useful because it helps add clarity to one’s writing. Using parallel structure also helps increase the readability of one’s writing.
- 27. Thank you!