Transcript Parallel Structure - Welcome to Mrs. Gentry's English Class

Parallel Structure
What you need to know
2012
WARM UP
• GRAMMAR EXERCISE
• Active/Passive Voice
SWBT:
• Identify the correct use of parallel structure.
means 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.”
Items in a series must have parallel structure.
Parallelism looks like this:
Shane
,
, and
.
Examples
Not Parallel:
• Ellen likes hiking, the rodeo, and to take 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.
Not Parallel:
• My dog not only likes to play fetch, but also chase cars.
Parallel:
• My dog not only likes to play fetch, but he also likes to chase cars.
• OR
• My dog likes not only to play fetch, but also to chase cars.
Items in a Series
I like to skate at Banning Park, surf at Redondo Beach, and
when my girlfriend comes to visit. (Not Parallel)
I like to skate at Banning Park, surf at Redondo Beach, and
visit with my girlfriend. (Parallel)
Items in a Series
In the mountains I enjoy skiing down black runs, when I sled
with my cousins, and having snowball fights. (Not Parallel)
In the mountains I enjoy skiing down black runs, sledding
with my cousins, and having snowball fights. (Parallel)
In the following pairs, one sentence has parallel structure, and the other sentence lacks parallel
structure.
• 1.
A____ Jennifer is smart, beautiful, and loves everyone.
B____ Jennifer is smart, beautiful, and caring.
• 2.
A____ Andy’s day is so long that he gets up at 6:00 a.m., leaves for work at
6:30 a.m., is eating dinner at 11:00 p.m., and goes to bed at 2:00 a.m.
B____ Andy’s day is so long that he gets up at 6:00 a.m., leaves for work at
6:30 a.m., eats dinner at 11:00 p.m., and goes to bed at 2:00 a.m.
3.
A____ Bob was not only Sam’s roommate, but also he was his best friend.
B____ Bob was not only Sam’s roommate but also his best friend.
4.
A____ If you go to the store, please remember to pick up your prescription, buy some
shampoo, and to look for a notebook.
B____ If you go to the store, please remember to pick up your prescription, to buy some
shampoo, and to look for a notebook.
5.
A____ I spent two hours with Ms. Smith, reviewing my job performance, evaluating my
goals, and discussing my future with the company.
B____ I spent two hours with Ms. Smith, reviewing my job performance, evaluating my
goals, and my future with the company was also discussed.
Sample Item
Directions: Choose the sentence that has no errors in
structure.
A. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for
her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch.
A. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for
B. Eileen decided to buy new shoes for the party,
her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch.
purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating
B. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold
her best friend Maria to lunch.
charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best
C. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold
friend.
charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best
friend.
Item 1
A. Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and
squawking parakeets greet the pet shop
visitors.
B. Barking
Barkingdogs,
dogs,meowing
meowing
kittens,
kittens,
andand
squawking
parakeets greet
squawking
parakeets
the pet greet
shop visitors.
the pet shop
C. visitors.
Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and
parakeets squawking greet the pet shop
visitors.
Item 2
A. During
Duringclass,
class,Samuel
Samuelspent
spent
hishis
time
time
flirting
flirting
with
Brittney,
with
Brittney,
eatingeating
candy,candy,
and doodling
and doodling
on the on
assignment
the
assignment
sheet.sheet.
B. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with
Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the
assignment sheet.
C. During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with
Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the
assignment sheet.
Item 3
A. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—
under the bed, on his desk, and he searched
inside the refrigerator.
B. Alex
Alex looked
lookedeverywhere
everywhereforfor
hishis
math
math
book—
book—
viewingthe
under
under
bed,the
onbed,
his searching
desk, andon
inside
his desk,
the
and inside the refrigerator.
refrigerator.
C. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—
under the bed, on his desk, and inside the
refrigerator.
Item 4
A. The manager
managerwanted
wantedstaff
staffwho
who
arrived
arrived
on on
time,
smiledsmiled
time,
at the customers,
at the customers,
and didn’t
and
snack
didn’t
on
the chicken
snack
on the
nuggets.
chicken nuggets.
B. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time,
would be smiling at the customers, and would
not be snacking on the chicken nuggets.
C. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time,
smiled at the customers, and no snacking on
the chicken nuggets.
Item 5
A. After giving
giving Jeremy
Jeremyher
herphone
phonenumber,
number,Felicia
Feliciahad
hadtoto
tolerate his
his late
late night
nightcalls,
calls,stupid
stupidconversations,
conversations,and
and
requests for
for her
her math
mathhomework.
homework.
B. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to
tolerate his late night calls, the fact that he carried on
stupid conversations, and requests for her math
homework.
C. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to
tolerate being woken up late at night, having stupid
conversations, and he constantly requested her math
homework.
Item 6
Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic
bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as
he opened the door.
A. simmered tomato sauce in the pan
B. tomato
tomato sauce
saucesimmering
simmering
in in
thethe
pan
pan
C. tomato sauce that simmered in the pan
D. saucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pan
Item 7
During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope
__________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to
dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs.
A. that we eat delicious seafood
B. that eating delicious seafood occurs
C. to
to eat
eat delicious
deliciousseafood
seafood
D. eating delicious seafood
Item 8
Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed,
for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a
date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________.
A. he looked good
B. being good looking
C. one handsome man to look at
D. handsome
handsome
Item 9
To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for
roses, the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and
__________.
A. bought an expensive gold necklace at the
jewelry store
B. the
the jeweler
jewelerfor
foran
anexpensive
expensive
gold
gold
necklace
necklace
C. the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold
necklace
D. to buy an expensive gold necklace
Item 10
Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short,
too noisy, and _________.
A. because he picks his teeth with his fingers
B. too
too impolite
impolite
C. is the most impolite man she has ever met
D. Picking his teeth with his fingers
Parallel Structure in Thesis Statements
Parallel Graphic
Cell Phone Example
Students should be allowed to carry cell phones at school. (Why? Because…)
1.Cell phones could give kids a greater sense of security.
2.Cell phones can be used to get help in emergencies.
3.Cell phones would help parents stay involved in their children’s school lives.
“Students should be allowed to carry cell phones at school. Cell phones could give kids a greater sense of security.
Also, students could use cell phones in emergencies. Having cell phones could help parents stay involved in their
children’s school lives.”
“Students should be allowed to carry cell phones at school because they provide
students more security, they can be used in emergencies, and they keep parents
involved in their children’s school lives.”
they provide students more security
because
they can be used in emergencies
they keep parents involved in their children’s school lives