This presentation covers distinguishing between

parallel and non-

parallel elements.

Think About Parallelism In

the Following Way:

Your sentence is like a seesaw. Your job is to make the

sentence “balanced” or parallel (to the ground) by

making sure the structure is the same. If something is

off-balance, then the seesaw is not parallel.

What Is Parallelism?

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.

When similar parts do not follow the

same structure, you have created a

non-parallel structure called faulty

parallelism.

Understanding Parallelism

Use similar structures to express similar ideas.

C = correct / F = faulty parallelism

• 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.

Parallelism in Pairs & Lists

When you present two or more items

in a series joined by and or or, use

similar form for each item.

• F: I am doing well in my English class,

in my math class, and in history.

• F: I am doing well in my English class,

in my math class, and my history class.

• C: I am doing well in my English class,

in my math class, and in my history

class.

Parallelism in Comparisons

In comparisons, the items being

compared must have parallel

structure.

• F: Driving to Austin is as fast as to fly.

• C: Driving to Austin is as fast as flying.

• F: Buying textbooks is almost as

expensive as tuition.

• C: Buying textbooks is almost as

expensive as paying tuition.

• C: Textbooks are almost as expensive

as tuition.

Parallelism with Paired

Words

When a sentence uses correlative

conjunctions, the items joined by them must

be parallel.

• F: My underwater basket-weaving course is both

interesting and a challenge.

• C: My underwater basket-weaving course is both

interesting and challenging.

• F: You must either make a C in the course or taking it

again will be the consequence.

• C: You must either make a C in the course or take it

again.

• F: I would rather work hard and pass than to repeat

the course.

• C: I would rather work hard and pass than repeat the

course.

Parallel Structure

Do I maintain

parallelism

with a

participle?

Or should I use an

infinitive?

Parallel Structure

Do I maintain

parallelism

with a list of

nouns?

Or should I use an

adjective

+ noun

structure?

A parallelism item on an

objective test might look

like this . . .

Sample Item

A. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for

her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch.

B. Eileen decided to buy new shoes for the party,

purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating

her best friend Maria to lunch.

C. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold

charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best

friend.

A. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for

her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch.

B. Eileen decided to buy new shoes for the party,

purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating

her best friend Maria to lunch.

C. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold

charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best

friend.

Directions: Choose the sentence that has no errors in

structure.

This is where your

knowledge of parts of

speech will come in handy!

Look at the structure of the

sentence. What is the

repeated pattern or

formula?

Explanation: Sample

Item

A. Eileen bought new shoes

for the party, a gold charm

for her mother, and to treat

her best friend Maria to

lunch.

B. Eileen decided to buy new

shoes for the party,

purchasing a gold charm

for her mother, and treating

her best friend Maria to

lunch.

Directions: Choose the sentence that has no errors in

structure.

The structure of the list for choice A is:

“noun phrase + noun phrase + infinitive phrase.” This sentence is

NOT parallel!

The structure of the list for choice B is: “infinitive phrase + participle phrase +

participle phrase.” This sentence is NOT parallel!

Explanation: Sample

Item

C. Eileen purchased

new shoes for the

party, a gold charm

for her mother, and

lunch for Maria, her

best friend.

Directions: Choose the sentence that has no errors in

structure.

The structure of the list for choice C is: “noun phrase +

noun phrase + noun phrase.” This sentence is

parallel!

Parallelism looks like this:

Items in a series must

have parallel structure.

Hans

Solo , , and

Hans

Solo , , and

.

.

Here is an example:

Hans Solo ate the pizza, wiped his lips, and

burped with contentment.

Ate = past tense verb;

wiped = past tense

verb; and burped =

past tense verb.

Non-parallel structure looks like this:

Don’t create problems by

mixing grammatical elements.

Hans

Solo , , and

Hans

Solo , , and

.

.

The problem looks like

this:

Hans Solo ate the pizza, wiped his lips, and burping with contentment.

Now look what you’ve

done! Ate and wiped

= past tense verbs, but

burping = present

participle!

Quick Test, Part 1

Directions: In the items that follow, choose

the sentence that has no errors in structure.

Let’s see how you

perform!

Item 1

A. Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and

squawking parakeets greet the pet shop

visitors.

B. Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and squawking

parakeets greet the pet shop visitors.

C. Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and

parakeets squawking greet the pet shop

visitors.

A. Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and

squawking parakeets greet the pet shop

visitors.

B. Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and

squawking parakeets greet the pet shop

visitors.

C. Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and

parakeets squawking greet the pet shop

visitors.

Item 2

A. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with

Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on the

assignment sheet.

B. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with

Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the

assignment sheet.

C. During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with

Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the

assignment sheet.

A. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting

with Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on

the assignment sheet.

B. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with

Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the

assignment sheet.

C. During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with

Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the

assignment sheet.

Item 3

A. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—

under the bed, on his desk, and he searched

inside the refrigerator.

B. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—

viewing under the bed, searching on his desk,

and inside the refrigerator.

C. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—

under the bed, on his desk, and inside the

refrigerator.

A. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—

under the bed, on his desk, and he searched

inside the refrigerator.

B. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—

viewing under the bed, searching on his desk,

and inside the refrigerator.

C. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—

under the bed, on his desk, and inside the

refrigerator.

Item 4

A. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time,

smiled at the customers, and didn’t snack on

the chicken nuggets.

B. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time,

would be smiling at the customers, and would

not be snacking on the chicken nuggets.

C. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time,

smiled at the customers, and no snacking on

the chicken nuggets.

A. The manager wanted staff who arrived on

time, smiled at the customers, and didn’t

snack on the chicken nuggets.

B. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time,

would be smiling at the customers, and would

not be snacking on the chicken nuggets.

C. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time,

smiled at the customers, and no snacking on

the chicken nuggets.

Item 5

A. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had

to tolerate his late night calls, stupid conversations,

and requests for her math homework.

B. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had

to tolerate his late night calls, the fact that he

carried on stupid conversations, and requests for

her math homework.

C. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had

to tolerate being woken up late at night, having

stupid conversations, and he constantly requested

her math homework.

A. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia

had to tolerate his late night calls, stupid

conversations, and requests for her math

homework.

B. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had

to tolerate his late night calls, the fact that he

carried on stupid conversations, and requests for

her math homework.

C. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had

to tolerate being woken up late at night, having

stupid conversations, and he constantly requested

her math homework.

Quick Test, Part 2

Directions: In the items that follow, choose

the correct word or phrase within the context

suggested by the sentence.

Now try a different

type!

Item 6

Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic

bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as

he opened the door.

A. simmered tomato sauce in the pan

B. tomato sauce simmering in the pan

C. tomato sauce that simmered in the pan

D. saucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pan

Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic

bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as

he opened the door.

A. simmered tomato sauce in the pan

B. tomato sauce simmering in the pan

C. tomato sauce that simmered in the pan

D. saucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pan

Item 7

During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope

__________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to

dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs.

A. that we eat delicious seafood

B. that eating delicious seafood occurs

C. to eat delicious seafood

D. eating delicious seafood

During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope

__________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to

dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs.

A. that we eat delicious seafood

B. that eating delicious seafood occurs

C. to eat delicious seafood

D. eating delicious seafood

Item 8

Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed,

for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a

date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________.

A. he looked good

B. being good looking

C. one handsome man to look at

D. handsome

Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed,

for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a

date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________.

A. he looked good

B. being good looking

C. one handsome man to look at

D. handsome

Item 9

To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for

roses, the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and

__________.

A. bought an expensive gold necklace at the

jewelry store

B. the jeweler for an expensive gold necklace

C. the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold

necklace

D. to buy an expensive gold necklace

To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for

roses, the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and

__________.

A. bought an expensive gold necklace at the

jewelry store

B. the jeweler for an expensive gold necklace

C. the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold

necklace

D. to buy an expensive gold necklace

Item 10

Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short,

too noisy, and _________.

A. because he picks his teeth with his fingers

B. too impolite

C. is the most impolite man she has ever met

D. Picking his teeth with his fingers

Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short,

too noisy, and _________.

A. because he picks his teeth with his fingers

B. too impolite

C. is the most impolite man she has ever met

D. Picking his teeth with his fingers

chomp!

chomp!

Grammar Bytes!

provides additional

handouts and exercises on parallel structure. Go

to chompchomp.com!

Ms. Icaro edited some of

the pictures.

The End.