 Definition/Rules 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."

PARALLEL :  Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.  Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle.  Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle. NOT PARALLEL:  Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.  The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation was low.

In the following pairs, one sentence has parallel structure, and the other sentence lacks parallel structure. Mark the CORRECT sentence. 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. 6. A. Mr. Brown’s lecture was inaccurate, boring, and unnecessary. B. Mr. Brown’s lecture was inaccurate, boring, and should have been omitted.

Use a semicolon to separate to independent clauses. (An independent clause means it can stand alone as its own sentence.) Example : My aunt also had hairy knuckles; she loved to wash and comb them.

1. Take care of the children the adults can take care of themselves. 2. There were two young elephants they needed to have the hairs trimmed out of their noses. 3. It was ever so easy to build smoke stacks out of cardboard the hard part was keeping the smoke stacks from burning up. 4. Irma was a very contented lady while she was swimming she always grinned.

 Basic Principle: Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs. My brother is a nutritionist. My sisters are mathematicians.

1. At Yellowstone Park grizzly bears (doesn’t, don’t) have names; they have numbers. 2. In the meeting between human and bear, a wild-card factor (throws, throw) all calculations and studies to the wind. 3. The Yellowstone authorities should (has, have) kept thorough records on each bear. 4. When some bears (encounters, encounter) people, it is the bear who runs.

 A Pronoun is a substitute for a noun. It refers to a person, place, thing, feeling, or quality but does not refer to it by its name.  An antecedent is the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers, understood by the context. Although Sarah was shy, she managed to make a few friends.

1. During early rehearsals, an actor may forget (his or her, their) lines. 2. The Washington team was opportunistic; (it, they) took advantage of every break. 3. A person needs to see (his or her, their) dentist twice a year. 4. The committee members put (its, their) signatures on the document. 5. If any one of the sisters needs a ride, (she, they) can call me.

There = place They’re = they are Their = possession Which of the following sentences uses the correct word choice for their/there/they’re? a) They couldn’t believe they forgot to call there parents. b) Their worried that their parents will be mad. c) They left they’re phones in the car. d) I only hope that Santa will bring my sons everything on their list.

 Modifiers are just what they sound like— words or phrases that modify something else. Misplaced modifiers are modifiers that modify something you didn't intend them to modify. For example, the word only is a modifier that's easy to misplace. These two sentences mean different things:  I ate only vegetables. I only ate vegetables

 One morning I hugged an elephant in my pajamas.  Fixed: One morning, wearing my pajamas, I hugged an elephant.

1. The bus station was located by a river which was made of red brick. 2. A fish was found in the Pacific Ocean that had been considered extinct. 3. The cowboy was thrown by the bull in a leather vest. 4. Sam asked me to go for a ride on the telephone.

 You need context before your quote. Advanced embedding means that you include your quote as part of your sentence. Example: The author says of the Boise School Library, “… in February 2010, it had 6,787visitors” (Doerr 2).

 Which one is done correctly?  Vincent describes how one of his patients is “always trying to learn new vocabulary, but finds it extremely difficult” (Smith 3).  In the article it says, “always trying to learn new vocabulary, but finds it extremely difficult” (Smith page 3).

 Pick one of the grammar topics we reviewed today and create 2 sample quiz questions testing that skill.  You will switch with a partner and answer his/her questions.