PARALLEL STRUCTURE

Parallel Structure
Parallel structure is when conjunctions are used to connect words or phrases that have the same
grammatical function in a sentence. There are several ways to create parallel structure.

1. Two nouns are connected by a conjunction.

Laura and her sister are coming to the party.

Roger or Beth will win the election.

2. Two verbs are connected by a conjunction.

Michael raised his hand and asked a question.

Denise hesitated but continued the race anyway.
When both verbs contain the same auxiliary verb, the second auxiliary is usually omitted.
Terry is doing his homework and (is) listening to the radio.
When two infinitive verbs are connected, the second to is usually omitted.
The reporter wants to go and (to) interview the celebrity in person.
We want to attend the theater or (to) play a board game tonight.

3. Two adjectives are connected by a conjunction.

The singer’s voice was tender but strong.

The cake was tasty and sweet.

4. Two adverbs are connected by a conjunction.

The thief walked softly and quietly.
The plane was flying fast but low.

5. Parallel Structure with Clauses

Incorrect - The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much,
and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.
Correct - The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much,
and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game.
Best - The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up
exercises before the game.

A parallel structure can contain more than two parts. When a series of items are connected, commas
are used to separate each unit. A comma can be used or omitted before the connector, but the same
pattern should be used throughout the text.

Paul, John, George, and Ringo formed the Beatles band. Connected nouns
Charlie entered the boat, took to the water, and began fishing. Connected verbs
Our school colors are black, gold, and green. Connected adjectives
Paul didn’t react peacefully, correctly, or intelligently. Connected adverbs

6. Parallel structure with correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions, in simple English, are pairs of words that always go together. If you have one in a
sentence, the other has to be there else the sentence is considered incorrect.
Examples
Not only…..but also
No sooner….than
Either … or
Neither … nor
Both … and
Important - Correlative conjunctions always join grammatically equal elements (e.g., noun & noun,
adjective & adjective, phrase & phrase, clause & clause, etc.). They also lend equal weight to the
joined elements i.e. one joined element is always equal to but never subordinate to the other.

Correct: The workers disputed not only the magazine article but also the company’s official statement.
(parallel: phrase with phrase)
Incorrect: The workers disputed not only the magazine article but also they disputed the company’s official
statement. (faulty parallelism: phrase with clause)
Correct: Either I like the job or I don't like it. (parallel clause matched with clause)

Correct: Either I like the job or I don't. (parallel: clause matched with clause)
Incorrect: Either I like the job or not. (faulty parallelism: clause matched with adverb)
Correct: I have neither the patience to complete it nor the desire to complete it. (parallel noun phrase with
noun phrase)
Incorrect: I have neither the patience to complete it nor do I desire to complete it. (faulty parallelism phrase
matched with clause)

Parallelism Marker

And X andY Apples AND pears

X, Y, and Z Apples, pears. AND bananas
Or Xor Y Apple or Pears
Rather rhan X rather than Y Play tennis RATHER THAN climb a mountain
Both/And Both X andY BOTH men AND women
Either/Or Either X or Y Either she works OR she plays
Nor/But Not X but Y NOT running BUT Jogging
Not only/But also Not only X but also Y NOT ONLY the manager BUT ALSO her team
From/To From X toY FROM the house TO the end of the road

And: The most important tool in sentence correction

As mentioned earlier, the most common parallelism marker is the word and. This word always signals
parallelism and can be used to connect any two similar structures, from independent clauses to individual
words such as nouns or adjectives.
The most basic form is the marker X and Y, where X and Yare the two parallel elements.
Some examples of correct usage are below; the parallelism marker is in capital letters and
the main word or words in each element (that is the word or words that need to be made
parallel) are underlined.

The manager AND her team were praised by the CEO ( Compond Subject)
In one terrible day, the account manager lost a client AND greeted the CEO of her company by the wrong
name. (Compound Verb)
New data indicate that over the course of the past week, the stock market jumped and the unemployment
rate decreased. (Two Clause)
Parallelism can be part of the core sentence structure. The X andY structure can also be part of a modifying
phrase or clause.
For example:
A rapid improvement in motor function AND vision was observed (prepositional phrase)
Historians have uncovered new evidence, confirming several theories AND giving rise to new hypotheses.
(adverbial modifier)

When a parallel structure is part of a modifier, the sentence should work structurally and make sense
logically using each parallel element individually.
For example:
A rapid improvement in motor function was observed.
A rapid improvement in vision was observed.
The root phrase can be completed using just the X or the Y element (and dropping the parallelism marker).
Here's the other sentence:
Historians have uncovered new evidence, confirming several theories.
Historians have uncovered new evidence, giving rise to new hypotheses.

If a parallel element does not work with the root phrase, then that element is incorrect:

Wrong: Historians have uncovered new evidence, confirming several theories AND
gave rise to new hypotheses.
The first element works in the overall sentence, but the second does not:
Wrong: Historians have uncovered new evidence, gave rise to new hypotheses.

You can pair working verbs in different tenses, as long as the meaning of the sentence supports the different
tenses. For example:
She eats apples all the time AND drank some apple juice yesterday.
Though not common on the Sentence Correction, you can also pair present and past participles.
For example:
The cat slept in the sun, fatigued by play and dreaming of the mouse that got away.

In short, pair similar parts of speech together. When you 're not sure, you can try completing

the sentence with each parallel element separately. If the sentence doesn't work, that answer choice is
incorrect.

3-4 Items list in Parallelism

The word and can also signal a list of three or four items.
X, Y, and Z apples, pears, AND bananas
X, Y, Z, and W apples, pears, bananas, AND peaches
Correct lists obey these templates. No right answer omits and in a list just before the last item. Sentence can
be confusing with tons of comma in a single sentence. If we can break the sentence down, it will helpful to
internalize the function of different comma.

In today's news, technology stocks are up, while the P-harmaceutical, energy_, AND
st
, after beginning adverb , after end of 1 clause , with and list
retail sectors are down.

Also, While connecting Multiple items, We should make sure And is expressing logical meaning. One way
to check this is to test the items separately.
I eat apple, and pizza made of bread and cheese.
If we break it down,
I eat apple. I eat pizza made of bread and cheese. It’s logical.
Now consider this sentence.

She argues that the agency acts with disregard for human life AND Property AND reckless abandon.

The three underlined items, which are all connected by and right now, are not all at the same logical level.
The agency acts with disregard for human life and the agency acts with disregard for property.
It does not, however, act with disregard for reckless abandon; this is illogical. One way to fix these issues is
as follows:

She argues THAT the agency acts WITH reckless abandon AND WITH disregard for human life AND
Property

Idioms with built in Parallel structure

Between X and Y
Consider X Y
In contrast to X, Y
Distinguish X from Y
Estimate X to be Y
Mistake X for Y
Think of X as Y
View X as Y
Whether X or Y

Parallelism: Concrete Nouns and Action Nouns

Concrete nouns refer to things, people, places, and even time periods or certain events.
rock, continent, electron, politician, region, holiday, week
Action nouns refer to actions, as their name implies. They are often formed from verbs:
eruption, pollution, nomination, withdrawal, development, change,
growth
Gerunds, or -ing words functioning as nouns, are divided into two categories: simple and complex.
Simple gerund phrases do not have an article (a or the) at the beginning of the phrase:
Tracking satellites accurately is important for the space agency.
Complex gerund phrases do start with an article:
The accurate tracking of satellites is important for the space agency.

Sentence Correction will not make simple gerund phrases parallel to complex ones:

Wrong: I enjoyed drinking the water AND the wine tasting.

Drinking the water is a simple gerund phrase, but the wine tasting is a complex gerund phrase:

Right: I enjoyed drinking the water AND tasting the wine.

In addition, of the two types of gerund phrases, only complex ones can be parallel to action nouns. In a list
of action nouns, a simple gerund phrase might be mistaken for something other than a noun:
Wrong: The rebels demanded the withdrawal of government forces from dispute regions, significant
reductions in overall troop levels, raising the rebel flag holidays, AND a general pardon.

Withdrawal, reductions, and pardon are all action nouns, so raising cannot be another parallel element in the
list. Rather, the complex gerund the raising of is needed.

Right: The rebels demanded the withdrawal of government forces from dispute regions, significant
reductions in overall troop levels, the raising of the rebel flag on holidays, AND a general pardon.

Also, if an appropriate action noun for a particular verb already exists in the English language, then avoid
creating a complex gerund phrase. Instead, use the action noun:
Wrong: The rebels demanded the withdrawal of government forces from dispute regions AND releasing
certain political prisoners.
Wrong: The rebels demanded the withdrawing of government forces from dispute regions AND the
releasing of certain political prisoners.
Right: The rebels demanded the withdrawal of government forces from dispute regions AND the release of
certain political prisoners.

EXERCISE

1. The brain centers of vision and  enable a person to understand written and spoken language.
A. hearing B. a hearing
C. the hearing D. be hearing
2. Classical ballet dancers perform their movements with an  bearing.
A. openly and directly B. openness and direction
C. open and direct D. opening and directly
3. Professional gardeners appreciate flowers for their , gorgeous colors, and pleasant fragrance.
A. attractively shaped B. attractive shapely
C. shaped attractively D. attractive shapes
4. If you are seated when a newcomer enters the room, stand up to be greeted or .
A. introduces himself B. introduce
C. introduction D. to be introduced
5. Students of economics take courses in such related fields as history, political science, and  .
A. statistical B. statistics
C. statistic D. statistician

6. The belief in life after death is prevalent both in primitive societies ——— advanced cultures.
A. and B. and in C. and also D. also

7. Artist Paul Kane traveled throughout Northwest Canada on foot, by canoe, and —— to sketch Native
Canadians going about their ordinary lives.
A. on horseback B. riding a horse
C. was on horseback D. by a horse
8. I found Barbara Jordan welcoming the representatives and  .
A. to serve the guests B. served guests
C. serving the guests D. has served the guests
9. Photographers' choice of a camera depends on what kind of pictures they want to take, how much
control they want over exposure, and
—— they want to spend.
A. the amount of money B. what money
 C. how much money D. so much money that
10. Atlanta is the commercial, financial, and  of Georgia.
A. center of administration
B. administrative center
C. center for administering
D. administering center
11. Even after the Revolutionary War, American importers obtained merchandise from Britain because
British merchants understood American tastes, offered attractive prices, and ——.
A. easy credit was provided B. because of easy credit C. easy credit
D. provided easy credit
12. I cannot understand why she hates  .
A. walking, reading and singing
B. walk, reading and singing
C. walking, read and singing
D. walking, reading and sing

14. She not only was competent but also friendly.

A. not only was competent but also friendly
B. not was only competent but friendly also
C. not only was competent but friendly also
D. was not only competent but also friendly
E. None of these

15. I like people who .

A. earn from legal means, to spend in right ways and behave in good manner.
B. earn from legal means, to be spent in right ways and behave in good manner.
C. earn from legal means, spend in right ways and behave in good manner.
D. earn from legal means, spending in right ways and behave in good manner.
E. None of these

16. The reforms gained support of the clan chiefs by raising them in rank and freeing many of them from paying
taxes.
A. them in rank and freeing many
B. they in rank and to free many
C. them in rank and to freeing many
D. them in rank and to be freed many
E. None of these
17. The aspects of modern anthropology that will be considered are ecological, psychological and culture.
A. are ecological, psychological and culture
B. are ecological, psychological for culture
C. are ecological, psychological and cultural
D. are ecologic, psychological and culture
E. None of these
18. On their return, they not only witnessed the sinking ship but the amazing escape of the passengers.
A. not only witnessed the sinking ship but the
B. not only witnessed the sinking ship, but the
C. not only witnessed the sinking ship, but also the
D. witnessed not only the sinking ship but also the
E. None of these
19. Either you transfer the data which was demanded or file a report explaining why you did not submit the
overall annual figures.
 A. Either you transfer the data which was dernanded
B. You either transfer the data, which was demanded
C. You either transfer the data which were demanded
D. Either you transfer the data, which was demanded
E. None of these
20. The students have always had a most sincere interest and admiration for the important work of Professor
Jakobsen.
A. a most sincere interest and admiration for B. a most sincere interest in and admiration for
C. mostly a sincere interest and admiration for D. a most sincere interest, and admiration for
E. None of these

21. Researchers A)have found a correlation B)between exercise and C)earning D)good grades. E) No Error
22. Although we A)were sitting in the bleachers, the baseball game was as B)exciting to us as C)the people
D) sitting behind home plate.E)No Error
23. Many teachers choose A)to seek employment B)in the suburbs rather than C)facing low salaries D)in the
city. E) No Error
24. A good A)night's sleep not only B)gives your body a chance to rest, but also C)energizing_you D)for the
following day. E) No Error
25. The A)joint business venture will increase B)employee satisfaction and C)be improving relations
D)between upper management and staff. E) No Error
26. The museum displays A)the work of B)a wide variety of artists, from C)those who are world renowned
to D)who are virtually unknown. E) No Error
27. We were A)dismayed to learn that our neighbors were untidy, B)disagreeable, and C)they were D)
uninterested to make new friends. E) No Error
28. The students did A)poorly on the test more because they B)had not studied C)than the material D)was
difficult. E) No Error
29. The blizzard deposited more than a foot of snow on the train tracks, A)prompted the transit authority to
shut down service B)temporarily and causing C)discontent among commuters D)who were left stranded for
hours. E) No Error
30. The experiences A)we have B)in childhood C)influence our behavior D)as adults. E) No Error
31. The band chosen for the annual spring concert appealed to both the student body as well as to the
administration. E) No Error
32. Tobacco companies, A)shaken by a string of Legal B)setbacks in the United States but C)which retain
strong growth prospects in the developing world, D)face an uncertain future. E) No Error
33. Voters want A)to elect a president who genuinely cares about health care, the environment, B)the
travails of ordinarv men and women, C)and has the experience, wisdom, and strength of character
D)required for the job. E) No Error
34. The consultant A)is looking for a cafe B)where there are comfortable chairs and that C)provides free
D)internet access. E) No Error
35. Dr. Crock's claims have been A)neither corroborated by other scientists B)nor published in a prestigious
journal C)but have nonetheless garnered D)a great deal of attention from the public. E) No Error

SENTENCE CORRECTION

1. The philosophical doctrine of Incompatibility posits an inherent irreconcilability among the doctrine of
Determinism, which holds that each state of affairs is necessitated by the states of affairs that preceded it,
and the existence of free will.
A) among the doctrine of Determinism, which holds that each state of affairs is necessitated by the states of
affairs that preceded it, and the existence of free will
B) between the doctrine of Determinism, holding each state of affairs as necessitated by the states of affairs
that preceded it, and free will existing
C) in the doctrine of Determinism, which holds the idea that each state of affairs is necessitated by the states
of affairs preceding, and the existence of free will
D) between the doctrine of Determinism, which holds that each state of affairs is necessitated by the states
of affairs preceding it, and the existence of free will
E) among the doctrine of Determinism, which holds that each state of affairs may be necessitated by the
states of affairs preceding it, and free will existing

[Link] years, Manny searched for the anonymous man who donated millions of dollars to the orphanage that
Manny founded and financed the construction of the local hospital.
A. For years, Manny searched for the anonymous man who donated millions of dollars to the orphanage that
Manny founded and financed the construction of the local hospital.
B. For years, Manny searched for the anonymous man who donated millions of dollars to the orphanage
which Manny founded and financed the construction of the local hospital.
C. For years, Manny searched for the anonymous man who donated millions of dollars to the orphanage that
Manny founded and that financed the construction of the local hospital.
D. For years, Manny searched for the anonymous man who donated millions of dollars to the orphanage
which Manny founded and which financed the construction of the local hospital.
E. For years, Manny searched for the anonymous man who donated millions of dollars to the orphanage that
Manny founded and who financed the construction of the local hospital

3. Buzz cannot explain why robots exposed to radiation are able to function properly, and those not exposed
to radiation are not able to function properly.
A. Buzz cannot explain why robots exposed to radiation are able to function properly, and those not exposed
to radiation are not able to function properly.
B. Buzz cannot explain why robots exposed to radiation are able to function properly, and those not exposed
to radiation are not able to function properly.
C. Buzz cannot explain why robots exposed to radiation are able to function properly, and not exposed to
radiation are not able to function properly.
D. Buzz cannot explain why robots exposed to radiation are able to function properly, and why those not
exposed to radiation is not able to function properly.
E. None of these

4. Most employers agree that how a candidate dresses for a job interview and even the way he positions
himself in his seat leaves a lasting impression.
A. Most employers agree that how a candidate dresses for a job interview and even the way he positions
himself in his seat leaves a lasting impression.
B. Most employers agree that how a candidate dresses for a job interview and he positions himself in his seat
leaves a lasting impression.
C. Most employers agree that how a candidate dresses for a job interview and how he positions himself in
his seat leaves a lasting impression.
D. Most employers agree that how a candidate dresses for a job interview and how he positions himself in
his seat leaving a lasting impression.
E. Most employers agree that how a candidate dresses for a job interview and even the way he positions
himself in his seat leaving a lasting impression.

5. Large banks, hedge funds and private investors hungry for new and lucrative opportunities are
bankrolling other people‘s lawsuits, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars for medical malpractice claims,
divorcing battles and class actions against corporations.
A. are bankrolling other people‘s lawsuits, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars for medical malpractice
claims, divorcing battles and class actions against corporations.
B. will bankroll other people‘s lawsuits, pump hundreds of millions of dollars into medical malpractice
claims, divorce battles and class actions against corporations.
C. are bankrolling other people‘s lawsuits, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into medical malpractice
claims, divorce battles and class actions against corporations.
D. to bankroll other people‘s lawsuits, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into medical malpractice
claims, for divorce battles and class actions against corporations.
E. are bankrolling other people‘s lawsuits, for pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into medical
malpractice claims, for divorce battles and class actions against corporations.

6. Dr. Higgins contends that individuals who have experienced emotional trauma in a hospital setting and
witnessed others in similar circumstances will respond negatively under stressful conditions caused by
insufficient sleep and low blood sugar levels, and they will benefit from hypnotherapy.
A. Dr. Higgins contends that individuals who have experienced emotional trauma in a hospital setting and
witnessed others in similar circumstances will respond negatively under stressful conditions caused by
insufficient sleep and low blood sugar levels, and they will benefit from hypnotherapy.
B. Dr. Higgins contends that individuals who have experienced emotional trauma in a hospital setting and
who have witnessed others in similar circumstances will respond negatively under stressful conditions
caused by insufficient sleep and low blood sugar levels, and that these individuals will benefit from
hypnotherapy.
C. Dr. Higgins contends that individuals who have experienced emotional trauma in a hospital setting and
witnessed others in similar circumstances will respond negatively under stressful conditions caused by
insufficient sleep and low blood sugar levels, and that these individuals will benefit from hypnotherapy.
D. Dr. Higgins contends that individuals who have experienced emotional trauma in a hospital setting and
who have witnessed others in similar circumstances will respond negatively under stressful conditions
caused by insufficient sleep and by low blood sugar levels, and that these individuals will benefit from
hypnotherapy.
E. Dr. Higgins contends that individuals who have experienced emotional trauma in a hospital setting and
who have witnessed others in similar circumstances will respond negatively under stressful conditions
caused by insufficient sleep and by low blood sugar levels, and these individuals will benefit from
hypnotherapy.

7. With companies spending large parts of their advertising budgets online, the market for content such as
feature articles and opinion essays created by a professional writer, a blogger, and by individual users, are
expanding rapidly.
A. the market for content such as feature articles and opinion essays created by a professional writer, a
blogger, and by individual users, are expanding
B. the market for content such as feature articles and opinion essays created by professional writers,
bloggers, and by individual users, are expanding
C. the market for content such as feature articles and opinion essays created by a professional writer, a
blogger, and individual users, is expanding
D. the market for content such as feature articles and opinion essays created by professional writers,
bloggers, and individual users, are expanding
E. the market for content such as feature articles and opinion essays created by professional writers, bloggers,
and individual users, is expanding

8. The Federal Reserve announcement said that growth had accelerated after slowing in the second quarter
and that the policy makers remain concerned about the prospects of inflation, even though there are few
signs of higher energy prices driving up the cost of other goods so far.

(A) that growth had accelerated after slowing in the second quarter and that the policy makers remain
concerned about the prospects of inflation, even though there are few
(B) growth had accelerated after slowing in the second quarter and that the policy makers remain concerned
about the prospects of inflation, even though there are few
(C) that growth had accelerated after slowing in the second quarter and the policy makers remain concerned
about the prospects of inflation, even though there are little
(D) growth had accelerated after slowing in the second quarter and the policy makers remain concerned
about the prospects of inflation, even though there are little
(E) that growth accelerated after slowing in the second quarter and that the policy makers remain concerned
about the prospects of inflation, even though there are few

9. Art experts have attributed the enduring intrigue of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa to everything from
having an enigmatic smile, which was never explained, to her association with the rich and powerful
families of Europe.

A .having an enigmatic smile, which was never explained

B. having an enigmatic smile, which has never been explained
C. her enigmatic smile, for which there has never been an explanation
D. her enigmatic smile, which has never been explained
E. having an enigmatic smile, for which there has never been an explanation

10. After moving to Switzerland in the 1890’s, Albert Einstein attended the Swiss Federal Polytechnic
School in Zurich, receiving in-depth training in quantitative analysis and developing a foundation for his
future work in mathematical physics.

(A) attended the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich, receiving in-depth training in quantitative
analysis and developing
(B) attended the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich, receiving in-depth training in quantitative
analysis and developed
(C) attended the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich, received in-depth training in quantitative
analysis, and he developed
(D) attended the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich, received in-depth training in quantitative
analysis, developing
(E) attending the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich, receiving in-depth training in quantitative
analysis, and developing