What I Need to Know

It is not just important that you know how to write. Parallelism in sentence
construction helps to create austerity, rhythm, emphasis, and clarity in writing.
Using parallel structure increases the readability of writing by creating word patterns
that readers can follow easily.
This module is done to understand the meaning of parallelism in grammar and the
types of parallel structure.
In this module, you are expected to use parallel structure by:
a. Defining parallelism and parallel structure in grammar; and
b. Identifying the types of parallel structure.

What I Know
Directions: Read and understand the given sentences below and identify which sentence in
each item is correct in structure. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

1.
a. Romeo likes cooking, jogging, and to read.
b. Romeo likes cooking, jogging, and reading.
2.
a. She likes baseball and running.
b. She likes to play baseball and to run.
3.
a. The horse ran across the yard, jumped over the fence, and
rushed down the alley.
b. The horse ran across the yard, jumped over the fence, and
rushed away.
4.
a. I study on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
b. I study on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and on a Thursday.
5.
a. Diane can paint cars, motorbikes, and buses very well.
b. Diane can paint cars, a motorbike, and trains very well.

6.
a. Susan, and Ellaine are coming to dinner.
b. Susan and Ellaine are coming to dinner.

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 7.
a. My granny is extremely kind and generous.
b. My granny is extremely kind, and generous.
8.
a. Daisy spoke angrily and bitterly about her wrong assignment.
b. Daisy spoke angrily, bitterly about her wrong assignment.
9.
a. My mother will leave at ten and arrive at twelve.
b. My mother will leave at ten, and will arrive at twelve.
10.
a. Edgar opened the door. Edgar greeted his father.
b. Edgar opened the door and greeted his father.

Lesson
TYPES OF PARALLEL
1 STRUCTURE
Parallelism is defined as the state of being alike, aligned, or corresponding in some
way. In grammar, parallelism is a similarity of grammatical form for similar meaning
elements within a sentence or among sentences.

Parallel structure (also called parallelism) is the repetition of a chosen grammatical

form within a sentence. By making each compared item or idea follow the same grammatical
pattern, parallel construction is created. Similarly, it means using the same pattern of words
to show that two or more ideas have the same importance level. This may happen at the word,
phrase, or clause level.

What's In
Directions: Read and analyze the sentences below. Tell whether the conjunctions
and infinitives are correctly used by answering Yes or No. Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. Sampaguita and Daisy are flowers.

2. Merlin was smart but irresponsible.
3. I am so discouraged to finish my assignment in Math, to submit
my project in English, and to construct three questions for my
research title.
4. I am so thankful to Mary Ann and June.
5. To learn how to swim, how to cook, and how to bake are my new year's resolution
this 2021.

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 What's New

Directions: Tell whether the sentences below are grammatically correct by answering Yes or
No. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. I wanted a new barbie doll, so I bought one.

2. June and Peter are friends.
3. The dog the cat are quarreling.
4. My friends are Mario, Luningning, and Pedro.
5. Reading, writing are important.
6. Uncle Bert, brother of my father.
7. I was hungry, so I will eat.
8. Mario and Robert are my friends.
9. She was here now.
10. She eats breakfast on time.

What Is It
As defined earlier Parallel structure (also called parallelism) is the repetition of a chosen
grammatical form within a sentence, or it is the use of matching sentence
structure, phrases, or longer parts so as to balance ideas of equal importance.

Here are some examples of parallel elements

words infinitives prepositional subordinate clauses

phrases
to see because I care
thinking to understand at the time after they met
running in the house

These elements, on the other hand, are not parallel

thinking to see at the time because I care

to run since I understand being here to meet

Used in a sentence, they create a jarring effect and produce writing with unclear
emphasis and meaning. This kind of error is called "faulty parallelism."

The common way to connect parallel structures is to coordinate conjunctions such as

"and" or "or."
Sentence elements that are the same in function should also be the same in
construction. These elements should be in the same grammatical form so that they are
parallel.

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 It is not enough that we all know the parts of speech, verb tenses, etc. We should
also be aware of using parallel structure to write with economy, clarity, equality, and
delight.
Now we will talk about the types of parallel structure to make our writing
comprehensive and readable. Five types of parallel structures will be discussed below.

Here are the five types of parallelism we generally use in writing:

1. With elements joined by coordinating conjunctions, especially and, but, and or.

Examples of parallel words

Jogging and running are the easiest exercises.

parallel elements - Jogging, running

coordinating conjunction - and

I do not enjoy jogging or running.

parallel elements - jogging, running

coordinating conjunction - or

Examples of parallel phrases

She likes to eat but not to drink.

Parallel infinitive phrases – to look, to listen

Coordinating conjunction – but

You will find the brown wallet in the cabinet or under the bed.

Parallel prepositional phrases – in the cabinet, under the bed

Coordinating conjunction – or

Examples of parallel clauses

Please return the calculator after we have had some coffee or when your class is over.

Parallel clauses – after we have had some coffee when your class is over

Coordinating conjunction - or

I wondered who she was and what she was doing here.

Parallel clauses – who she was, what she was doing here
Coordinating conjunction - and

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The examples below show how to repair faulty parallelism.

Example

FAULTY: Grandma likes to eat at inexpensive restaurants and visiting beautiful places.

CORRECT: Grandma likes to eat at inexpensive restaurants and to visit beautiful places.

OR

Grandma likes eating at inexpensive restaurants and visiting beautiful places.

2. Use parallel structure with elements in lists or a series.

A series is a group of three or more elements in a row. The last element in the series
is connected to the others with one of these coordinating conjunctions: and, or, but
(not), or yet (not).

Commas should be placed between each element in the series and before the
coordinating conjunction.

Examples

Series of words

Rosalie wanted three gifts this Christmas: a laptop, mini iPod, and cash.

Series of infinitives

I have no time to request my transcript, to process my license, and to pay my water bill.

Series of a prepositional phrase

You can find yellow pads in the school supply section, in some groceries store, but not in the
gasoline station.

Series of clauses

She doesn't care about who he is, what he has, and what he can give as her boyfriend.

3. Use a parallel structure with elements being compared. (X is more than / better than Y)

When we compare things, we often use words such as more, less, better, and worse; We
connect the items being compared with words like as and than.

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 Note the comparison methods in the examples below.

Going to Curuanby single motorcycle can actually take less time than taking a van.

How you respect others is just as important as how much you value yourself.

The elements being compared are parallel to one another:

Going is parallel to taking

How you respect is parallel to how much you value

Comparing items without using parallel structure may cause confusion about what is
being compared to what.

Repair faulty parallelism in comparisons by making one element of the comparison

parallel to the other.

FAULTY: I like swimming better than to dive.

CORRECT: I like swimming better than diving.

4. Use parallel structure with elements joined by a linking verb or a verb of being.

Joining elements with linking verbs or verbs of being suggests completion of the first item
by the second one. Often, in fact, equality between the two is being set up, as the examples
below illustrate.

What you see is what you get.

=

Being my friend means being always on the go.

=

To know him is to respect him.

=

Repair faulty parallelism with linking verbs or verbs of being by making one element of the
equation parallel to the other.

FAULTY: To succeed is opening a new opportunity.

CORRECT: To succeed is to open a new opportunity.

5. Use a parallel structure with elements joined by correlative conjunction.

These are the major correlative conjunctions:

either / or neither / nor both / and not only / but also

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 Correlative conjunctions work in pairs.

Whatever grammatical structure follows, one must be parallel to the grammatical structure
that follows the other.

Examples with either / or and neither / nor

We were told to either reduce the number of pages or delete one chapter.

Bryan was neither going to classes nor practicing his dance number.

Examples with both / and

I like both to buy a new cellphone and to avail an installment laptop.

I like both to buy a new cellphone and a laptop.

Examples with not only / but also

As new employees, we were told not only what to do but also what to contribute to the
company.

Miguel wished not only to go to Korea for the summer but also to stay there or good.

What's More
Activity 1:
Directions: Read and understand the sentences. Correct the faulty sentences by using parallel
structure. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. She likes cooking, jogging, and to read.
2. He likes baseball and running.
3. The dog ran across the yard, jumped over the fence, and sprinted away.
4. Dianna wants to eat boiled egg, spicy curls, bbq.
5. Rosita and Beth is my good neighbor.

Activity 2: Directions: Read and understand the sentences below. Punctuate correctly to
make it parallel. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. The following activities can be done at the mall buying groceries eating
lunch and paying bills.
2. In Ana's bedroom you will find the following a bed a closet and a desk.
3. Dogs are men's best friends for the following reasons they are loyal they are
loving and they are obedient.

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4. People who get ahead do lots of different things such as
studying, working hard and going to college.
5. In our house you can see our pets rabbit hamster and our poodle dog.

Activity 3:
Directions: Underline the parallel structure in each sentence. Write your answer on
a separate sheet of paper.

Example: The beautiful lady is sexy and talented.

1. I received a pocket-size cellphone and a branded pair of pants for my birthday.
2. I hope to go to that university and study under Dr. Yu.
3. In my spare time, I enjoy reading novels or watching television.
4. He should have broken his engagement to Beth and married Sue instead.
5. I looked for my book but couldn't find it.

Activity 4
Direction: Combine the sentences into one concise sentence that contains a
parallel structure. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Example: Our neighbor is generous.

Our
neighbor is
kind. Our
neighbor is
honest.

Our neighbor is generous, kind, and honest.

1. The country lane

was narrow. The
country lane was
steep. The
country lane was
muddy.

2. I dislike living in a city because of

air pollution. I dislike living in a
city because of crime.

3. Hawaii has many interesting

tropical trees. Hawaii has
many tropical flowers.
Hawaii has beautiful beaches.