PARALLEL STRUCTURE

HOW TO UNDERSTAND PARALLEL STRUCTURES

• Parallel structure(also called parallelism) is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. By making each compared item or idea in your sentence follow the same grammatical pattern, you create a parallel construction.

EXAMPLE

• Not parallel:
• Ellen likes hiking, the radio, and 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.

USING PARALLEL STRUCTOR AITH CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

• When you correct two clauses or phrases with a correlative conjunctions (not only...but also, either... Or, neither... Nor, if... Then), use parallel structure.

EXAMPLE

• Not Parallel:
• My dog really likes to play fetch, but also chase cars.
• Parallel:
• My dog not only likes to play fetch, but also likes to chase cars.
• Or:
• My dog likes not only to play fetch, but also to chase cars.