Which Sentence Uses Correct Parallel Structure?
In English grammar, parallel structure is the use of the same grammatical form for two or more related ideas. It is a way to create a sense of balance and rhythm in your writing.
To use parallel structure correctly, you need to make sure that the two or more related ideas are grammatically similar. This means that they should have the same parts of speech, the same verb tense, and the same level of formality.
For example, the following sentences use parallel structure correctly:
- I like to eat, sleep, and watch movies.
- The cat ran, jumped, and played.
- The store sells clothes, shoes, and accessories.
In each of these sentences, the two or more related ideas are all verbs. They are all in the present tense, and they are all informal.
Here are some examples of sentences that do not use parallel structure correctly:
- I like to eat, watch movies, and sleep.
- The cat ran, jumped, and played with the ball.
- The store sells clothes, shoes, and accessories, and other items.
In the first sentence, the first two ideas are verbs, but the third idea is a noun. In the second sentence, the first two ideas are verbs, but the third idea is a gerund. In the third sentence, the first three ideas are nouns, but the fourth idea is a phrase.
To correct these sentences, we need to make sure that the two or more related ideas are grammatically similar. For example, we could change the first sentence to:
- I like to eat, sleep, and watch movies.
This sentence now uses parallel structure because all three ideas are verbs.
We could also change the second sentence to:
- The cat ran, jumped, and played with its tail.
This sentence now uses parallel structure because all three ideas are verbs.
We could also change the third sentence to:
- The store sells clothes, shoes, accessories, and other merchandise.
This sentence now uses parallel structure because all four ideas are nouns.
Questions Related to Parallel Structure
Here are some questions that you can ask yourself to help you determine if you are using parallel structure correctly:
- Do the two or more related ideas have the same parts of speech?
- Do the two or more related ideas have the same verb tense?
- Do the two or more related ideas have the same level of formality?
If you can answer yes to all of these questions, then you are probably using parallel structure correctly.
Here are some additional tips for using parallel structure effectively:
- Use coordination to connect the two or more related ideas. Coordination is a way to join two or more independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, such as "and," "or," "nor," "but," "yet," or "for."
- Use subordination to connect the two or more related ideas. Subordination is a way to join two or more clauses by making one clause dependent on the other.
For example, the following sentence uses coordination to connect the two or more related ideas:
- I like to eat, sleep, and watch movies.
This sentence uses the coordinating conjunction "and" to join the three independent clauses.
The following sentence uses subordination to connect the two or more related ideas:
- I like to eat, which is my favorite activity.
This sentence uses the subordinating conjunction "which" to make the second clause dependent on the first clause.
Parallel structure can be a useful tool for improving the clarity and conciseness of your writing. By following the tips in this article, you can use parallel structure effectively to create clear and concise sentences.
