Parallel Structure

reader Today a,
leader tomorrow a.
-Margarett Fuller
Choose the sentence that has the correct
structure.
1.
A. I wondered whether to make an outline
first or I should write the rough draft.
B. I wondered whether to make an outline
first or to write the rough draft.
C. I wondered whether to make an outline
first or writing rough draft.
D. I wondered whether to make an outline
first or that I should write a rough draft.
2
2.
A. Her choices were one, to begin

college, or two, to find a job.
B. Her choices were one, begin college, or
two, be an employee.
C. Her choices were one, begin college,
or two, that she find a job.
D. Her choices were one, beginning college,
or two, find a job.
3
3.
A. The children laughed, jumped,
and danced.
B. The children were laughing,
jumped, and some were
dancing.
C. The children were laughing and
jumping; some even danced.
D. The children laughed, dancing,
and jumping.
4
1.
A. I wondered whether to make an outline
first or I should write the rough draft.
B. I wondered whether to make an
outline first or to write the rough
draft.
C. I wondered whether to make an outline
first or writing rough draft.
D. I wondered whether to make an outline
first or that I should write a rough draft.
5
2.
A. Her choices were one, to begin
college, or two, to find a job.
B. Her choices were one, begin
college, or two, be an employee.
C. Her choices were one, begin college,
or two, that she find a job.
D. Her choices were one, beginning
college, or two, find a job.
6
3.
A. The children laughed,
jumped, and danced.
B. The children were laughing,
jumped, and some were
dancing.
C. The children were laughing and
jumping; some even danced.
D. The children laughed, dancing,
and jumping.
Parallel Structure
•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.”
• Words and Phrases
1. With the -ing
form (gerund) of words:
• Parallel Example: Mary
likes hiking, swimming,
and bicycling.
2. With infinitive phrases:
• Parallel Example: Mary likes to hike, to
swim, and to ride a bicycle.
OR
Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a
bicycle.
• (Note: You can use "to" before all the
verbs in a sentence or only before the
first one.
DO NOT MIX FORMS.
• Example 1
• Not Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride
a bicycle.
• Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a
bicycle.
• Example 2
• Not Parallel:
The production manager was asked to
write his report quickly, accurately, and
in a detailed manner.
• Parallel:
thoroughly.
Do you see the difference?
Not Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and
to ride a bicycle.
Parallel:
Mary likes hiking, swimming,
and riding a bicycle.
Can you see the difference?
Not Parallel:
in a detailed manner.
Parallel:
thoroughly.
You try it!
• Number you paper from 1 – 5.
• Read the choices on the slides.
• Answer A, B, or C.
• Write the sentence. Underline the
elements that are parallel.
#1. Which one is parallel & why?
A. Justin was excited about inviting
friends over, eating a good meal,
and to play a game of cards.
B. Justin was excited about inviting
friends over, eating a good meal, and
to play cards.
C. Justin was excited about inviting
playing a game of cards.
• Be sure that you write the sentence
and underline the elements.
• For example, for question #1, you
would underline the words that are
in red.
– Justin was excited about inviting
playing a game of cards.
If you answered incorrectly,
• Change the answer on your
paper.
• Cross out the elements that are
NOT parallel and replace them
with the elements that ARE
parallel.
#2. Let’s try another! Which sentence
contains parallel structure?
A. When the weather outside is cold and
starting to get windy, I like to be
indoors.
B. When the weather outside is cold and
windy, I like to be indoors.
C. When the weather outside is cold and
getting windy, I like to be indoors.
#3. A typical test question:
• What is the best way to revise this
sentence?
– Researchers study superbugs, probe
their weaknesses, and they hope to

find new treatments.
• Read the three choices on the next slide,
write the letter of the best choice, and
explain (in writing) why it is the best
choice.
#3. Write the sentence that is parallel & underline the parallel elements.
A. Researchers study superbugs,

probe their weaknesses, and they
hope to find new treatments.
B. Researchers study superbugs, they
probe their weaknesses, and they
hope to find new treatments.
C. Researchers study superbugs,
probe their weaknesses, and hope
to find new treatments.
The Correct Answer for #3 is………
A. Researchers study superbugs, probe their
weaknesses, and they hope to find new
treatments.
B. Researchers study superbugs, they probe their
treatments.
C. Researchers study superbugs, probe
their weaknesses, and hope to find
new treatments.
#4. Which one is parallel? Write the
sentence on your paper & underline
the parallel elements.
A. I have always enjoyed reading the book
more than I have watched the movie
version.
B. I have always enjoyed reading the book
more than to watch the movie.
C. I have always enjoyed reading the book
more than watching the movie.
#4. Which one is parallel?
Look at the parts.
A. I have always enjoyed reading the
book more than I have watched the
movie version.
B. I have always enjoyed reading the
book more than to watch the movie.
C. I have always enjoyed reading the
book more than watching the movie.
#4. If you said C, you are correct.
A. …reading the book more than I have
watched the movie version.
B. …reading the book more than to watch
the movie.
C. …reading the book more than watching
the movie.
• Do you see the -ing verbs followed by the
and the noun?
#5. What is the best way to revise sentence A?
If it is correct as it is, choose A.
A. Mary tried out for the basketball team, the soccer
team, and she went to tryouts for the volleyball
team, too.
B. Mary tried out for the basketball team, and the
soccer team, and she tried out for the volleyball
team.
C. Mary tried out for the basketball team, the soccer
team, and the volleyball team.
Proofreading Strategies to Try:
• Skim your paper, pausing at the words
"and" and "or." Check on each side of
these words to see whether the items
joined are parallel. If not, make them
parallel.
• If you have several items in a list, put
them in a column to see if they are
parallel.
#1. The correct answer is C because all
three verbs end in –ing.
A. Justin was excited about inviting friends
over, eating a good meal, and to play a
game of cards.
B. Justin was excited about inviting friends
over, eating a good meal, and to play
cards.
C. Justin was excited about inviting friends
over, eating a good meal, and playing a
game of cards.
#2. Are these two parts the same? (Hint:
Look at the words in blue.)
• When the weather outside is

cold and starting to get windy,
I like to be indoors.
The correct answer for #2 is B.
A. When the weather outside is cold and
starting to get windy, I like to be
indoors.
B. When the weather outside is cold and
windy, I like to be indoors.
C. When the weather outside is cold and
getting windy, I like to be indoors.
#3. What is the correct answer?
Examine the words in purple & red.
What do you see?
treatments.
treatments.
C. Researchers study superbugs, probe their
weaknesses, and hope to find new treatments.
#3. You’ve got it!
• The words in purple are not balanced;
they do not have parallel structure
A. study … probe … they hope
B. study … they probe … they hope
• The words in red ARE balanced; they
HAVE parallel structure.
C. study … probe … hope
The Correct Answer for #3 is………
treatments.
treatments.
C. Researchers study superbugs, probe
their weaknesses, and hope to find
new treatments.
#4. Which one is parallel?
Look at the parts.
A. I have always enjoyed reading the
book more than I have watched the
movie version.
B. I have always enjoyed reading the
book more than to watch the movie.
C. I have always enjoyed reading the
book more than watching the movie.
#4. If you said C, you are correct.
A. …reading the book more than I have
watched the movie version.
B. …reading the book more than to watch
the movie.
C. …reading the book more than watching
the movie.
• Do you see the -ing verbs followed by the
and the noun?
#5. Did you choose C?
A. Mary tried out for the basketball team, the soccer

team, and she went to tryouts for the volleyball
team, too.
B. Mary tried out for the basketball team, and the
soccer team, and she tried out for the volleyball
team.
C. Mary tried out for the basketball team, the soccer
team, and the volleyball team.

Parallel Structure

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reader Today a,

A. Her choices were one, to begin

their weaknesses, and they hope to

A. Researchers study superbugs,

• When the weather outside is

A. Mary tried out for the basketball team, the soccer

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