Parallelism
Examples of parallel structures
Not parallel Parallel
1. My English conversation class is made My english conservation class is made
up of Chinese, Mexicans, and some are up of Chinese, Mexicans, and Japanese.
from Japan.
2. The students who did well in the exam The students who did well in the exam
attended class regularly, and they do attended class regularly, and did their
their homework thoroughly. homework thoroughly.
3. The teacher wanted to know which The teacher wanted to know which
country we came from and our future country we cam from and what our future
goals. goals were.
4. China’s population is approximately China’s population is approximately
fourteen times as large as Vietnam. fourteen times as large as Vietnam’s
(population).
5. The study showed that the language The study showed that the language
skills of the students in class A are skills of the students in class A are almost
almost the same as class B. the same as the language skills of the
students in class B.
The study showed that the language skills
of the students in class A are almost the
same as those of the students in class B
China’s population is around 14 times as China’s population is around 14 times as
large as the population of Vietnam. large as Vietnam’s population.
China’s population is around 14 times as
large as that of Vietnam.
I. Parallelism with coordinators: And, But, Or
II.
I can’t play the flute and I can’t play the piano
I can’t play the flute or the piano
I can’t play neither the flute nor the piano
I can neither play the flute nor play the piano.
1. The Federal Air Pollution Control Administration (FAPCA) regulates
automobile exhausts, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) makes
similar regulations for aircraft.
2. The administration regulates the noise created by motor vehicles but not by
commercial aircraft.
3. Pesticides cannot be sold if they have a harmful effect on humans, on animal
life or on the environment.
[Link] with correlative conjunctions (paired conjunctions)
Both … and, either … or, neither … nor, not only … but (also)
I can’t play the flute and I can’t play the piano
I can’t play the flute or the piano
I can play neither the flute nor the piano
I can neither play the flute nor play the piano.
Practice:
Rewrite the sentences below in parallel form.
An ideal environment for studying includes good lighting, and it needs a
spacious desk and a comfortable chair.
An ideal environment for studying includes good lighting, spacious desk, and a
comfortable chair.
An ideal environment for studying includes (both) good lighting and a spacious
desk and a comfortable chair.
Ann is growing older. But unfortunately, she is not growing wiser.
Ann is growing older but, unfortunately, not growing wiser.
My new personal computer is very fast. It is also reliable. (correlative
conjunction)
My new personal computer is not only very fast but (also) reliable.
4. My old laptop is not fast. It is not reliable, either. (correlative
conjunction)
My old laptop neither is fast nor reliable.
My old laptop is neither fast nor reliable
5. People often spend a lot of time worrying about the future and it takes
them similar amounts of time to plan for it.
=> People often spend as much time worrying about the future as planning for it.
=> People often spend nearly the same time worrying about the future as planning
for it.
=> People often spend equal amounts of time worrying about the future and planning
for it.
6. The criminal did not admit guilt. He did not ask for forgiveness before
he was sent to prison. (correlative conjunction)
=> The criminal did not admit guilt nor asked for forgiveness before being sent to
prison
7. You can learn a second language in the classroom, and you can learn it
at home or in a country where the language is spoken.
=> You can learn a second language in the classroom, at home or in a country
where the language is spoken.
8. You can only choose one of the two sports – swimming or basketball –
as an extracurricular activity. (correlative conjunction)
=> You can only choose either swimming or basketball as an
extracurricular activity.
9. Young people buy computers to do schoolwork. They also buy
computers to play games. (correlative conjunction)
=> Young people buy computers not only to do schoolwork but also to
play games.
10. The disadvantages of using a credit card are overspending and you
have to pay high interest rates.
=> The disavantages of using a credit card are overspending and paying
high interest rates.
11. Credit cards are accepted by department stores, airlines, and they can
be used in some petrol stations.
12. Peter cannot play the harmonica. He cannot play the guitar, but he
can play the flute.
=> Peter cannot play the harmonica or the guitar, but he can play the flute
13. With credit cards, you can either pay your pill with one check, or you
can stretch out your payments.
=> With credit cards, you can either pay your bill with one check or stretch
out your payments.
14. Many people carry not only credit cards but they also carry cash.
=> Many people carry both credit cards and cash.
15. Many people want neither to pay off their balance monthly nor do they
like paying interest.
=> Many people don’t want to pay off their balance in full every month and
they also don’t want to pay interest.
=> Many people neither want to pay off their balance monthly nor like
paying interest.