Brenham Writing Room Created by D. Herring Parallelism Brenham Writing Room Created by D. Herring

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 Faulty Parallelism.

Understanding Parallelism Use similar structures to express similar ideas. 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 history course is both interesting and a challenge. C: My history 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.

How do I know if the subject or verb is singular or plural? NUETRALIZE YOUR SENTENCE With the negative and positive S

Try it! Subject: student, Verb: study 1) The singular 2) The plural -s +s 2) The plural +s -s

Answer Subject: student, Verb: study 1) The student studies singular 2) The students study plural +s -s

Try it! Subject: Superhero, Verb: To fly 1) The singular 2) The plural -s +s 2) The plural +s -s

Answer Subject: Superhero, Verb: To fly 1) The superhero flies singular -s +s 2) The superheroes fly plural +s -s

1. Making subject and verb agree when words come between them This box belongs in the classroom. Easy enough. This box full of books belongs in the classroom. A little bit trickier. Remember to identify the subject of the sentence.

#3 Sentence with multiple subjects The STUMPERS #1 Phrases & clauses #2 Indefinite pronouns as subjects #3 Sentence with multiple subjects

# 1 Phrases & Clauses Don’t be confused by phrases that separate that subject from its verb!

Examples

Try it! Write down just the subject, verb and whether they are singular or plural The shirt on the clothesline flaps in the brisk wind. The manager of the rental units recommends that we fill out an application immediately. The singers, along with their publicist, hop into the waiting limousine. The salamanders in the vernal pool are endangered.

Answers The shirt on the clothesline flaps in the brisk wind. The manager of the rental units recommends that we fill out an application immediately. The singers, along with their publicist, hop into the waiting limousine. The salamanders in the vernal pool are endangered.

More Practice The bush of roses (looks, look) lovely next to the fence. Sounds of music (floats, float) throughout the neighborhood. Students who major in nursing (has, have) great employment prospects. The leaves on the oak tree (is turning, are turning) bright orange and yellow. The houses along Main Street (has, have) well-kept yards.

Let’s practice The man chasing the unicorns (is or are) on the terrace. The teams, especially the one with the 6’4 forward, (is or are) very powerful offensively. One of my sister’s friends (is or are) 6’4 and (enjoys or enjoy) chasing unicorns.

2. Indefinite pronouns as subjects One, anybody, anything, each, either, neither and all of their derivatives are singular. Rule of thumb: all the words ending in –one – thing and –body are SINGULAR. That means you should put an –s at the end of the verb in the present tense. Everybody plays the fool sometimes. Neither of them enjoys playing the fool.

Practice! Everybody in all the groups (win or wins) a fluffy unicorn. Each of the acrobats (want or wants) to be the star. Neither of my friends (like or likes) playing Scrabble with me.

More practice Which one of them (is or are) going to the party? Neither the manager nor her assistant (has or have) been notified. This class, along with many other classes, (is or are) preparing me for my radiant future.

FYI: these indefinite pronouns are always plural, obviously. Both Several Few Many All Are, walk, think, eat, jump, etc. NO “S” ON THE END!

Whiteboards Each of the family members (has, have) one vote. One of the boys (eat,eats) pizza every week. Both of the answers (is,are) correct. Neither of the sisters (was,were) gone today. Someone (has, have) his own thoughts. Much (has, have) happened since high school. You know that others (has,have) tried this. We can begin since everybody (has, have) arrived. Everybody on the bus (was, were) going to Cleveland. Everybody in our family (is, are) planning a trip this year.

3. A sentence with multiple subjects Don’t be confused when a sentence has two subjects!

3. The rule for sentences with multiple subjects: ….joined by ”and” are always plural. A pencil and an eraser make writing easier. …joined by ”or/nor,” the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. Neither the director nor the actors are following the lines.

For example The coach and the players need to practice after school. The coach or the players need to practice after school. Neither the players nor the coach needs to practice after school.

Whiteboards/paper The teachers and the students (want or wants) a vacation. Both the movie and the play (was/were) good. Neither the books or shelf (was/were) in the moving van. Either the movie or the play (was/were) good. Neither the CD player or the CDs (were/was) in the office.

Come up with your own sentences using the following formats: Neither....and Either……or None…..or Both…..and

Parallelism & Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz 1 Parallelism & Subject-Verb Agreement

Fix the red portions. Playing football is easier than to play tennis. At MVHS, if students are failing, they go to Flex or studying. Career success requires good work ethic and wanting to succeed. The student, along with her parents, (is/are) attending parent teacher conferences. Neither Dr. Jones nor Dr. Barnes (are/is) taking new patients. None of my friends (like or likes) going to sporting events with me.

Pronoun Usage and Misplaced Modifiers Quiz 2 Pronoun Usage and Misplaced Modifiers

Pronoun Usage

How do you choose which pronoun to use? Subject Pronouns - Subject pronouns (I, You, He, She, It, They, We) replace the name of the subject in the sentence. Example: Mrs. Yen did not come to school yesterday. She had to go to the doctor. "Mrs. Yen" is the subject and "she" is the subject pronoun.  Object Pronouns - Object pronouns (Me, You, Him, Her, It, Us, Them) take the place of the object in the sentence (the noun that receives the action in a sentence). Example: After Colleen bought a bike, it got stolen within a week, "it" is the object pronoun used to replace "bike."

I or Me? Example: Jennifer and I are meeting in San Francisco in July. Why not Jennifer and me? Because "I" is part of the subject of the sentence. Example: They gave the promotion to me. Why not I? Because "me" is the object of the sentence.

Whiteboards Peter and (he, him) belong to the debate club. Miss Miller doesn't live far from you and (she, her). Sally and (she, her) played a duet in the piano recital. The Blacks and (we, us) had dinner together last night. (We, Us) girls made our dresses for he party. There has been a good relationship between the Flynns and (I, me) for years. Give the awards to Alice and (I, me). Nancy and (I, me) played tennis yesterday. A package from the book store arrived for Jake and (I, me).

MISPLACED MODIFIERS

(Note: Refer to Discovery, 320-324, for additional practice (Note: Refer to Discovery, 320-324, for additional practice.) When modifiers (adjectives and adverbs) are out of place, too far away from the word they modify, the sentence will be awkward or confusing. Misplaced modifiers may be single words, phrases, or clauses. Study the following examples.

2. Here is an example of a misplaced phrase 1. The following words are often misplaced: almost, only, just, even, hardly ,not, nearly, merely. Most often, these words are placed in front of the words they modify. Misplaced: My sister only has two children. Correct: My sister has only two children. 2. Here is an example of a misplaced phrase Misplaced: The little girl screamed at the library at her mother. Correct: At the library, the little girl screamed at her mother. 3. Here is an example of a misplaced clause. Misplaced: I held the ticket tightly in my hand that my friend gave me. Correct: I held the ticket that my friend gave me tightly in my hand.

FIX THESE The tall boy led the parade with red hair. My brother just listens to one radio station. After dancing solo on stage, the audience applauded Anna's performance. While taking a nap, the volcano erupted. The new student will take the corner seat wearing the muscle shirt.

POSESSIVES & PLURALS

It’s and Its It’s= It is Its= posessive It’s snowing again today. I hate Utah and its indecisive weather!

They’re—their—there They’re=they are Their—possessive! There—location They’re never right about the weather in the forecasts in Utah. Their—possessive! I always listen to their crazy predictions even though they’re usually wrong. There—location Hawaii’s forecast looks good right now; maybe I’ll move there.