Download Parallelism Practice

PARALLELISM:
FINDING THE BALANCE IN
WRITING
PARALLELISM
To err is human, to forgive is divine.
PARALLELISM
inf. LV adj.
inf.
LV adj.
To err is human, to forgive is divine.
PARALLELISM
We must learn to live together as
brothers or perish together as fools.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
PARALLELISM
We must learn to live together as
brothers or (to) perish together as fools.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
(two infinitive phrases)
PARALLELISM
Cinzano and soda.
Tinglier after tennis.
Breezier on a boat.
Livelier at a lawn party.
Peppier ‘round the pool.
Snappier after softball.
Grander after golf.
Bouncier at a barbecue.
Brighter after biking.
Friskier after fishing.
Bubblier at a brunch.
PARALLELISM
Cinzano and soda.
Tinglier (after tennis).
( Adjective / prep. phrase )
Breezier (on a boat).
Livelier (at a lawn party).
Peppier (‘round the pool).
Snappier (after softball).
Grander (after golf).
Bouncier (at a barbecue).
Brighter (after biking).
Friskier (after fishing).
Bubblier (at a brunch).
PARALLELISM
What is parallel structure
(parallelism)?
PARALLELISM
Parallel structure is the grammatical
balance of two or more logically related
sentence elements.
Why use parallel structure?
Why use parallel structure?
• Use parallel structure to:
1. aid reader in understanding words
2. clarify language
3. emphasize meaning
PARALLELISM
• EXPRESS PARALLEL IDEAS IN THE SAME
GRAMMATICAL FORM.
• You should be able to use three kinds of
parallel structure:
• Coordinate
• Compared and contrasted
• Correlative
COORDINATE IDEAS
• Coordinate ideas are of equal importance and are
connected by coordinate conjunctions:
and
but
or
nor
• For proper coordination,
--- a noun is paired with another noun
--- a phrase with a phrase
--- a clause with a clause
--- an infinitive with an infinitive
--- a gerund with a gerund
--- a word ending with –ing with another –ing word.
COORDINATE IDEAS
• INCORRECT: In the winter I usually like
skiing and to skate.
( gerund paired with an infinitive)
COORDINATE IDEAS
• CORRECT: In the winter I usually like
skiing and skating.
(gerund paired with a gerund)
In the winter I usually like
to ski and to skate.
(infinitive paired with an infinitive)
COORDINATE IDEAS
• INCORRECT: A good scholar must be
precise and possess originality.
(helping verb - adjective and action verb noun )
COORDINATE IDEAS
• INCORRECT: A good scholar must be
precise and possess originality.
• CORRECT: A good scholar must be
precise and original.
(one verb and two adjectives)
COORDINATE IDEAS
• INCORRECT: Noun Prep. Phr.
Noun clause
• Consider the origins of man and how he
has developed.
(noun / prepositional phrase with noun
clause)
COORDINATE IDEAS
• INCORRECT: Noun Prep. Phr.
Noun clause
Consider the origins of man and how he has
developed.
• CORRECT: Noun clause
Noun clause
Consider how man originated and how he
has developed. (two noun clauses)
Verb
Verb
Consider how man originated and developed.
(two past tense action verbs)
COORDINATE IDEAS
• INCORRECT: Give me the aggressive fellow
and who has initiative.
(adjective/noun with adjective clause)
• CORRECT:
Give me the fellow who is
aggressive and who has initiative.
(two adjective clauses)
COORDINATE IDEAS
• INCORRECT: The pilot received orders
to bomb the target and that he would
then return home. (infinitive phase /
noun clause)
• CORRECT: The pilot received orders
to bomb the target and then to return
home. (two infinitive phrases)
COORDINATE IDEAS
• In parallel constructions, observe this
principle of pairing one part of speech
with another or one kind of
construction with another.
• Parallelism is the grammatical balance
of two or more logically related sentence
elements.
COMPARED AND CONTRASTED IDEAS
• Ideas that are compared and contrasted
are parallel, or in the same grammatical
form.
COMPARED AND CONTRASTED
IDEAS
• INCORRECT:
Einstein liked mathematical research
more than to supervise a large
laboratory.
• ( noun contrasted with an infinitive)
OR
COMPARED AND CONTRASTED
IDEAS
• INCORRECT:
Einstein liked mathematical research more
than to supervise a large laboratory.
( noun contrasted with an infinitive)
• CORRECT:
Einstein liked mathematical research more
than supervision of a large laboratory.
(noun and a modifier contrasted with noun and
modifier)
COMPARED AND CONTRASTED
IDEAS
• INCORRECT:
To chew carefully is as necessary for a
good digestion as eating slowly.
( infinitive contrasted with a gerund)
COMPARED AND CONTRASTED
IDEAS
• CORRECT:
Chewing carefully is as necessary for a
good digestion as eating slowly.
( gerund contrasted with a gerund)
To chew carefully is as necessary for a
good digestion as to eat slowly.
(infinitive contrasted with an infinitive)
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
Correlative constructions are formed
with the correlative conjunctions:
both. . . and
either . . . or
neither . . . nor not only . . . but (also)
• Correlative ideas should be expressed
in parallel form.
• Place the correlative conjunctions
immediately before the parallel ideas.
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
INCORRECT:
With The Pickwick Papers, Dickens
proved that he was not only humorous but
also a writer of great originality.
( adjective --- noun)
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
• CORRECT:
With The Pickwick Papers, Dickens proved that he
was not only humorous but also original.
(two adjectives)
With The Pickwick Papers, Dickens proved
that he was not only a humorist but also a
writer of original ideas.
(two nouns)
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
• INCORRECT:
A President of the United States must not only
represent his own political party but also the entire
American people.
(Not only . . . but also should directly precede the parallel
ideas his own political party and the entire American
people.)
Adj. adj. adj.
n.
his own political party
Adj.
adj.
adj.
n.
the entire American people.
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
• CORRECT:
A President of the United States must
represent not only his own political
party but also the entire American
people.
(Do not split verb phrase or an infinitive.
Move the correlative.)
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
INCORRECT:
Washington both enjoyed Yorktown and
experienced the gloom of Valley Forge.
CORRECT:
___________________________________
___________________________________
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
INCORRECT:
Washington both enjoyed Yorktown and
experienced the gloom of Valley Forge.
CORRECT:
___________________________________
___________________________________
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
INCORRECT:
Washington both enjoyed Yorktown and
experienced the gloom of Valley Forge.
CORRECT:
___________________________________
___________________________________
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
INCORRECT:
Washington both enjoyed Yorktown and
experienced the gloom of Valley Forge.
CORRECT:
___________________________________
___________________________________
CORRELATIVE IDEAS
INCORRECT:
Washington both enjoyed Yorktown and
experienced the gloom of Valley Forge.
CORRECT:
Washington experienced both the gloom
of Valley Forge and the joy of Yorktown.
NOTE #1:
• NOTE: To assure parallel form or to
stress emphasis, repeat the word that
introduces the parallel construction.
(prepositions, relative pronouns, sign
of the infinitive “to”)
NOTE # 1: Repeat the Word
• EXAMPLE:
We had to advise Edwards that (to accept
his offer was out of the question), that
(to leave our homestead was
impossible), and that (to move our
ailing father was dangerous).
NOTE #1: Repeat the Word
• Electrical contractors face involved
problems in (estimating costs) and in
(maintaining stock supplies).
• He refused to listen, to understand, and
to compromise.
NOTE #2:
• NOTE:
Change the word that introduces a series
of parallel elements if doing so is
necessary to maintain idiomatic
expression.
NOTE #2: Idiomatic
Expression
• INCORRECT:
He is awed and courteous to highranking officials.
NOTE #2: Idiomatic
Expression
• INCORRECT:
He is awed and courteous to highranking officials.
He is awed high-ranking officials. (?)
He is awed to high-ranking officials. (?)
He is courteous to high-ranking officials.
NOTE #2: Idiomatic
Expression
• INCORRECT:
He is awed and courteous to highranking officials.
• CORRECT:
He is awed by and courteous to highranking officials.
possible STAAR/EOC question)
NOTE #3:
• NOTE:
Change any word in a series of parallel
elements if doing so is necessary to
maintain correct grammatical form.
NOTE #3: Grammatical
Form
• INCORRECT:
Men have always and will continue to try
improving their standard of living.
(one helping verb, one verb phrase)
NOTE #3: Grammatical
Form
• INCORRECT:
Men have always and will continue to try
improving their standard of living.
(one helping verb, one verb phrase)
Men have always continue to try improving
their standard of living. (?)
Men will continue to try improving their
standard of living. (!)
NOTE #3: Grammatical
Form
• INCORRECT:
Men have always and will continue to try
improving their standard of living.
(one helping verb, one verb phrase)
• CORRECT:
Men have always tried and will continue
trying to improve their standard of living.
(two verb phrases)
REMINDER:
• CLUE:
A good indication of the need for parallelism
is the presence of either a coordinating
conjunction (and, but, or) or a pair of
correlative conjunctions (either…or,
neither…nor, both…and, not only…but
also).
PRACTICE QUESTION
Changing over from a military to a peacetime
economy means producing tractors rather than
tanks, radios rather than rifles, and producing
running shoes rather than combat boots.
(A) producing running shoes rather than combat boots
(B) the production of running shoes rather than combat
boots
(C) running shoes rather than combat boots
(D) replacing combat boots with running shoes
(E) running shoes instead of combat boots
PRACTICE QUESTION
Changing over from a military to a peacetime
economy means producing tractors rather than
tanks, radios rather than rifles, and producing
running shoes rather than combat boots.
(A) producing running shoes rather than combat boots
(B) the production of running shoes rather than combat
boots
(C) running shoes rather than combat boots
(D) replacing combat boots with running shoes
(E) running shoes instead of combat boots
PRACTICE QUESTION
Changing over from a military to a
GERUND - DO
peacetime economy means producing
NOUN
PREP. PHR.
NOUN
tractors rather than tanks, radios rather
PREP. PHR
NOUN (GERUND)
PREP.PHR
than rifles, and running shoes rather than
combat boots.
SUMMARY
1. Parallel structure is
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________.
SUMMARY
1. Parallel structure is
the grammatical balance of two or
more logically related sentence
elements.
SUMMARY
2. The three types of parallel structure
are:
A._______________________________
B.____________________________________
C.____________________________________
SUMMARY
2. The three types of parallel structure
are:
A._COORDINATE IDEAS___________
B._COMPARED AND CONTRASTED IDEAS
C._CORRELATIVE IDEAS______________
SUMMARY
3. Coordinate conjunctions are _______,
_______, ______, and ______.
SUMMARY
3. Coordinate conjunctions are AND,
OR__, _BUT, and NOR.
SUMMARY
4. Correlative conjunctions, which come
in pairs, are:
–
–
–
–
A._______________________________
B.________________________________
C.________________________________
D.________________________________
SUMMARY
4. Correlative conjunctions, which come
in pairs, are:
– A.___BOTH… AND___________________
– B.___EITHER… OR___________________
– C.___NEITHER… NOR________________
– D.___NOT ONLY… BUT ALSO__________
SUMMARY
5. Place the correlative conjunctions
directly before__________________.
SUMMARY
5. Place the correlative conjunctions
directly before the two parallel ideas.
SUMMARY
6. Use parallel structure to
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
____________.
SUMMARY
6. Use parallel structure to
a. Aid reader in understanding
words____
b. Clarify language
c. Emphasize meaning
ONE MORE THING
7. You should never split ___________
or ______________.
SUMMARY
7. You should never split verb phrases
or infinitives.
Incorrect
To not only go
He was either saying
Correct
not only to go
Either he was saying
PRACTICE
QUIZ
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
1. To become better artists, we must continue to find good teachers,
and it is important to enter competitions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
it is important to enter competitions
entering competitions
we must continue entering competitions
importantly enter competitions
to enter competitions
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
1. To become better artists, we must continue to find good teachers,
and it is important to enter competitions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
it is important to enter competitions
entering competitions
we must continue entering competitions
importantly enter competitions
to enter competitions
Two infinitive phrases
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
2. To quit the contest early is relinquishing the title you have already
earned.
a. relinquishing the title you have already earned
b. not good because of relinquishing the title you have already
earned
c. to relinquish the title you have already earned
d. already going to take away the title you have earned
e. the same as relinquishing the title you have already earned
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
2. To quit the contest early is relinquishing the title you have already
earned.
a. relinquishing the title you have already earned
b. not good because of relinquishing the title you have already
earned
c. to relinquish the title you have already earned
d. already going to take away the title you have earned
e. the same as relinquishing the title you have already earned
* Two infinitive phrases
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
3. The boys in the class finished the test first, but the highest scores
were made by the girls.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
the highest scores were made by the girls
the girls made the highest scores
the girls were the ones who made the highest scores
the scores of the girls were the highest
the scores that were the highest were made by the girls
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
3. The boys in the class finished the test first, but the highest scores
were made by the girls.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
the highest scores were made by the girls
the girls made the highest scores
the girls were the ones who made the highest scores
the scores of the girls were the highest
the scores that were the highest were made by the girls
Two independent clauses with active voice verbs
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
4. The violin had a broken string, a cracked bridge, and the endpin
was loose.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
the endpin was loose
an endpin which was loose
along with a loose endpin
a loose endpin
it had a loose endpin
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
4. The violin had a broken string, a cracked bridge, and the endpin
was loose.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
the endpin was loose
an endpin which was loose
along with a loose endpin
a loose endpin
it had a loose endpin
* A series of adjectives modifying a noun
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
5. Before starting a new business, you should consider all costs,
potential sales and how convenient it would be to market your
product.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
how convenient it would be to market your product
how to conveniently market your product
convenience of marketing your product
be able to market your product conveniently
how conveniently your product can be marketed
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
5. Before starting a new business, you should consider all costs,
potential sales and how convenient it would be to market your
product.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
how convenient it would be to market your product
how to conveniently market your product
convenience of marketing your product
be able to market your product conveniently
how conveniently your product can be marketed
* a series of nouns
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
6. The athlete was noted for his athletic prowess, his good business
sense, and he was sincerely humble as well.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
he was sincerely humble as well
his sincerity as well as being humble
being both sincere and humble
he was sincere with humility
his sincere humility
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
6. The athlete was noted for his athletic prowess, his good business
sense, and he was sincerely humble as well.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
he was sincerely humble as well
his sincerity as well as being humble
being both sincere and humble
he was sincere with humility
his sincere humility
* A series of adjectives modifying nouns
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
7. To the incoming college student, fraternity initiation may seem like
a fun activity, but a dangerous and sometimes fatal act is how the
dean sees it.
a. a dangerous and sometimes fatal act is how the dean
sees it
b. the act is dangerous and sometimes fatal to the dean
c. how the dean sees it is that it is dangerous and sometimes
fatal
d. to the dean, it is a dangerous and sometimes fatal act
e. it is dangerous and sometimes fatal to the dean who sees it
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
7. To the incoming college student, fraternity initiation may seem like
a fun activity, but a dangerous and sometimes fatal act is how the
dean sees it.
a. a dangerous and sometimes fatal act is how the dean
sees it
b. the act is dangerous and sometimes fatal to the dean
c. how the dean sees it is that it is dangerous and sometimes
fatal
d. to the dean, it is a dangerous and sometimes fatal act
e. it is dangerous and sometimes fatal to the dean who sees it
• Introductory preposition phrase, subject, verb, predicate
nominative
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
8. The sea captain reported that he was facing high winds, torrential
rain, and probably there would be 10 foot waves.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
probably there would be 10 foot waves
waves that would get as high as 10 feet
he also expected to see 10 foot waves
probably the thought he would see 10 foot waves
10 foot waves
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
8. The sea captain reported that he was facing high winds, torrential
rain, and probably there would be 10 foot waves.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
probably there would be 10 foot waves
waves that would get as high as 10 feet
he also expected to see 10 foot waves
probably the thought he would see 10 foot waves
10 foot waves
* Series of adjectives modifying nouns
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
9. My employer told me to reconcile the bank statement and that I
should count the petty cash.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
that I should count the petty cash
to count the petty cash
begin counting the petty cash
the petty cash should be counted
find some time to count the petty cash
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
9. My employer told me to reconcile the bank statement and that I
should count the petty cash.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
that I should count the petty cash
to count the petty cash
begin counting the petty cash
the petty cash should be counted
find some time to count the petty cash
* Two infinitive phrases
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
10. Jeremy carried a black cane while brown canes were carried by his
friends.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
brown canes were carried by his friends
being carried by his friends were brown canes
his friends were carrying brown canes
his friends carried brown canes
brown canes were being carried by his friends
TEST TAKING PRACTICE
PARALLELISM
10. Jeremy carried a black cane while brown canes were carried by his
friends.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
brown canes were carried by his friends
being carried by his friends were brown canes
his friends were carrying brown canes
his friends carried brown canes
brown canes were being carried by his friends
* Two clauses / active voice verbs
PARALLELISM
MORE
PRACTICE