Parallel Structure
Parallel Structure is the use of patterns in sentences to show that two ideas have the same level of importance. This occurs in words, phrases, and clause levels. Parallel Structured sentences are connected by coordinating conjunctions.
Examples:
The red represents the pattern in the sentence.
Ex 1: The teacher complained because the student never completed his homework.
Ex 2: Jon likes swimming, hiking, and playing with his friends.
Ex 3: The girl likes to take her time so that she can write thoroughly and accurately.
Practice:
Identify the parallel structure pattern in each sentence.
Examples:
The red represents the pattern in the sentence.
Ex 1: The teacher complained because the student never completed his homework.
Ex 2: Jon likes swimming, hiking, and playing with his friends.
Ex 3: The girl likes to take her time so that she can write thoroughly and accurately.
Practice:
Identify the parallel structure pattern in each sentence.
- Practice 1: Jon and Mike like to run, to swim and to ride their bikes.
- Practice 2: Benny likes his bike, his car, and his house.
- Practice 3: The coach said that they should get some sleep and that they should warm up before the game tomorrow.
- Practice 4: Jimmy likes swimming, eating, and sleeping.
- Practice 5: Marta likes to eat, to dance, and to sing.
- Practice 6: Joker likes laughing and attacking people.
- Practice 7: Alfred told Batman that he should make a suit, and should have a cave.
- Practice 8: The class usually receives a lot of homework and receives a lot of projects.
- Practice 9: The salesman suspected that he would sell the car and suspected that the man was lying to him.
- Practice 10: The boy likes to sleep, to eat, and to watch television.