Parallelism

Editing by:
1-Hussain al-Ghawi
2. Eman al-Zawwad
3. Mohannad Alnsour
4. Diego Auvert
5. Houda Jarid

Contents
What is parallelism?

Use similar structures to express similar

ideas.
Use parallelism in the following cases.
Use parallel structure on both sides of

coordinating conjunctions.
Exercises

What is parallelism?
Parallelism:

1.means that similar parts of a sentence have the same structure:

nouns are with nouns, verbs with verbs, and phrases with phrases

In other word:2. 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.
Note:

When similar parts do not follow the same structure,

you have created Faulty Parallelism.

For examples:1.Not parallelism : I like singing, kayaking,

and to dance.
2. parallelism: I like singing, kayaking, and
dancing
Incorrect:-

Angry ants, munched the marshmallows,

crumbling coffeecake, and sipping syrup,
headed off across the countertop.
Correct:-

Angry ants, munching marshmallows,

crumbling coffeecake, and sipping syrup,

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

Make sure to use parallelism in the following cases.

When joining two or more items with and or or:

1.The party featured a four-foot cake and a singing gorilla.

2.I am doing well in my English class, in my math class,
and in my history class.
In comparisons:

Taking the train is as fast as driving.

Driving to Austin is as fast as flying

With certain paired words (like both/and, either/or, and

neither/nor):
Marlize both bakes bread and fixes cars.
My history course is both interesting and challenging

Use parallel structure on both sides of

coordinating conjunctions
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
FANBOYS
For example,
1. She possessed all the wizards charm yet none of the
wizards insight.
2. Consult a doctor if your coughing persists or if your
coughing worsens over the weekend.
3. In English class, Diego learned to read poems
critically and appreciate good prose..
4. A swimmer was attacked by a shark, but he
scared it away by poking it in the eye.

Paired Conjunctions: (Bothand; not only. . . but

also; either. . .or; neither . . . nor)

For example,,
Both my mother and my sister are here.
Not only my mother but also my sister is here.
Neither my sister nor my parents are here.
We can have either broccoli or cauliflower for dinner.
Note:

1.When we use (both. . . and) the verb is always

plural.
2. When we use (not onlybut also; neither. . .
nor; either. . . or) the verb is always in the form of
the word directly before it

Choose the correct answer to

fill in the blank.
1.

Ellas job responsibilities include ____,

training, and informing workers of
company policies.

A) to hire
B) hired
C) hire
D) none of the above

Choose the correct answer to

fill in the blank.
1.Ellas job responsibilities include ____,
training, and informing workers of
company policies.
ANSWER:
A) to hire
B) hired
C) hire
D) none of the above; hiring is the
correct answer.

More Exercises:2. Henry likes pizza more than _______.

A) spinach
B) to eat spinach
C) to be eating spinach
D) none of the above

More Exercises:2.Henry likes pizza more than _______.

ANSWER:
A) spinach
B) to eat spinach
C) to be eating spinach
D) none of the above

More Exercises:3.He drove to the store to buy milk, eggs,

and _______.
A) to get bread
B) bread
C) getting bread
D) none of the above

More Exercises:3.He drove to the store to buy milk, eggs,

and _______.
ANSWER:
A) to get bread
B) bread
C) getting bread
D) none of the above

More Exercises:4.Tom jogs, swims, and _________.

A) he is kick boxing
B) kick boxes
C) he kick boxes
D) none of the above

More Exercises:4.Tom jogs, swims, and _________.

ANSWER:
A) he is kick boxing
B) kick boxes
C) he kick boxes
D) none of the above

More Exercises:5.The film had many stars, used various

special effects, and ________.
A) violence
B) featured graphic violence
C) it was violent
D) none of the above

More Exercises:5.The film had many stars, used various

special effects, and ________.
ANSWER:
A) violence
B) featured graphic violence
C) it was violent
D) none of the above

More Exercises:6.I think that learning a new language is

harder than ____.
A) math
B) to learn math
C) learning math
D) none of the above

More Exercises:6.I think that learning a new language is

harder than ____.
ANSWER:
A) math
B) to learn math
C) learning math
D) none of the above

More Exercises:7.For some very shy people, giving a

speech can be as frightening as
_________.
A) having a serious illness
B) illness
C) to have an illness
D) none of the above

More Exercises:7.For some very shy people, giving a

speech can be as frightening as
_________.
ANSWER:
A) having a serious illness
B) illness
C) to have an illness
D) none of the above

More Exercises:8.Id rather be lucky or hardworking than

________.
A) to have talent
B) having talent
C) talented
D) none of the above

More Exercises:8.Id rather be lucky or hardworking than

________.
ANSWER:
A) to have talent
B) having talent
C) Talented
D) none of the above

More Exercises:9. That football team has both a good

offense and ______.

A) it has a good defense
B) a good defense
C) having a good defense
D) none of the above

More Exercises:9. That football team has both a good

offense and ______.

ANSWER:
A) it has a good defense
B) a good defense
C) having a good defense
D) none of the above

Last Exercises:10. Bob is not only loyal to friends but also

________.
A) he is friendly to strangers
B) to be friendly to strangers
C) friendly to strangers
D) none of the above

Answer last Exercises:Bob is not only loyal to friends but also

________.
ANSWER:
A) he is friendly to strangers
B) to be friendly to strangers
C) friendly to strangers
D) none of the above

Sources
1.

http://esla199.pbworks.com/w/page/23276
972/Parallel%20Structure,%20Paired%20Co
njunctions,%20Coordinating%20Conjunctio
ns
.
2.
arkcs.arkansas.gov/pp.../parallel_structure
.ppt.
3. Parallelism ppt, Brenham Writing

Room, Created by D. Herring.

Thanks,,