Parallel Structure What you need to know 2012

WARM UP GRAMMAR EXERCISE Active/Passive Voice

SWBT: Identify the correct use of parallel structure.

Parallel Structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as “and” or “or.”

Items in a series must have parallel structure. Parallelism looks like this: Shane , , and .

Examples Not Parallel: Ellen likes hiking, the rodeo, and to take afternoon naps. Parallel: Ellen likes hiking, attending the rodeo, and taking afternoon naps. OR Ellen likes to hike, attend the rodeo, and take afternoon naps.

Not Parallel: My dog not only likes to play fetch, but also chase cars. Parallel: My dog not only likes to play fetch, but he also likes to chase cars. OR My dog likes not only to play fetch, but also to chase cars.

Items in a Series I like to skate at Banning Park, surf at Redondo Beach, and when my girlfriend comes to visit. (Not Parallel) I like to skate at Banning Park, surf at Redondo Beach, and visit with my girlfriend. (Parallel)

Items in a Series In the mountains I enjoy skiing down black runs, when I sled with my cousins, and having snowball fights. (Not Parallel) In the mountains I enjoy skiing down black runs, sledding with my cousins, and having snowball fights. (Parallel)

A____ Jennifer is smart, beautiful, and loves everyone. In the following pairs, one sentence has parallel structure, and the other sentence lacks parallel structure. 1. A____ Jennifer is smart, beautiful, and loves everyone. B____ Jennifer is smart, beautiful, and caring. 2. A____ Andy’s day is so long that he gets up at 6:00 a.m., leaves for work at 6:30 a.m., is eating dinner at 11:00 p.m., and goes to bed at 2:00 a.m. B____ Andy’s day is so long that he gets up at 6:00 a.m., leaves for work at 6:30 a.m., eats dinner at 11:00 p.m., and goes to bed at 2:00 a.m.

3. A____ Bob was not only Sam’s roommate, but also he was his best friend. B____ Bob was not only Sam’s roommate but also his best friend. 4. A____ If you go to the store, please remember to pick up your prescription, buy some shampoo, and to look for a notebook. B____ If you go to the store, please remember to pick up your prescription, to buy some shampoo, and to look for a notebook. 5. A____ I spent two hours with Ms. Smith, reviewing my job performance, evaluating my goals, and discussing my future with the company. B____ I spent two hours with Ms. Smith, reviewing my job performance, evaluating my goals, and my future with the company was also discussed.

Sample Item Directions: Choose the sentence that has no errors in structure. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch. Eileen decided to buy new shoes for the party, purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating her best friend Maria to lunch. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best friend. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best friend.

Item 1 Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors. Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors. Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors. Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors. Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and parakeets squawking greet the pet shop visitors.

Item 2 During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet. During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet.

Item 3 Alex looked everywhere for his math book— under the bed, on his desk, and he searched inside the refrigerator. Alex looked everywhere for his math book— under the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator. Alex looked everywhere for his math book— under the bed, on his desk, and he searched inside the refrigerator. Alex looked everywhere for his math book— viewing under the bed, searching on his desk, and inside the refrigerator. Alex looked everywhere for his math book— under the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator.

Item 4 The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, smiled at the customers, and didn’t snack on the chicken nuggets. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, would be smiling at the customers, and would not be snacking on the chicken nuggets. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, smiled at the customers, and didn’t snack on the chicken nuggets. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, would be smiling at the customers, and would not be snacking on the chicken nuggets. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, smiled at the customers, and no snacking on the chicken nuggets.

Item 5 After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate his late night calls, stupid conversations, and requests for her math homework. 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. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate his late night calls, stupid conversations, and requests for her math homework. 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. 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.

Item 6 Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as he opened the door. simmered tomato sauce in the pan tomato sauce simmering in the pan tomato sauce that simmered in the pan 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. simmered tomato sauce in the pan tomato sauce simmering in the pan tomato sauce that simmered in the pan 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. that we eat delicious seafood that eating delicious seafood occurs to eat delicious seafood eating delicious seafood During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope __________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs. that we eat delicious seafood that eating delicious seafood occurs to eat delicious seafood 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 __________. he looked good being good looking one handsome man to look at handsome Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________. he looked good being good looking one handsome man to look at handsome

Item 9 To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for roses, the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and __________. bought an expensive gold necklace at the jewelry store the jeweler for an expensive gold necklace the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold necklace 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 __________. bought an expensive gold necklace at the jewelry store the jeweler for an expensive gold necklace the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold necklace to buy an expensive gold necklace

Item 10 Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short, too noisy, and _________. because he picks his teeth with his fingers too impolite is the most impolite man she has ever met Picking his teeth with his fingers Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short, too noisy, and _________. because he picks his teeth with his fingers too impolite is the most impolite man she has ever met Picking his teeth with his fingers

Parallel Structure in Thesis Statements

Parallel Graphic Cell Phone Example   Students should be allowed to carry cell phones at school. (Why? Because…) 1.Cell phones could give kids a greater sense of security. 2.Cell phones can be used to get help in emergencies. 3.Cell phones would help parents stay involved in their children’s school lives.   “Students should be allowed to carry cell phones at school. Cell phones could give kids a greater sense of security. Also, students could use cell phones in emergencies. Having cell phones could help parents stay involved in their children’s school lives.” Clear, but wordy. (41 words)

Same information in 34 words. “Students should be allowed to carry cell phones at school because they provide students more security, they can be used in emergencies, and they keep parents involved in their children’s school lives.”   Same information in 34 words. because they can be used in emergencies they keep parents involved in their children’s school lives they provide students more security