Parallel structure
59 flashcards covering Parallel structure for the ACT English & Reading section.
Parallel structure is a grammatical rule that ensures elements in a sentence—such as items in a list, steps in a process, or parts of a comparison—are phrased in the same way for clarity and balance. For example, if you're listing activities, you might say "running, swimming, and cycling" instead of "running, to swim, and cycling" to keep everything in the same form. This makes your writing smoother and easier to read, avoiding awkwardness or confusion.
On the ACT English section, parallel structure questions often appear as sentence corrections or identification of errors, where you'll need to spot inconsistencies in phrasing within sentences or paragraphs. Common traps include mismatched verb forms, like switching from infinitives to gerunds, or uneven comparisons that disrupt flow. Focus on reading carefully for parallel elements and practicing how to revise sentences to match structures, as these questions test your ability to refine writing for precision and style.
Remember to always check that all items in a list use the same grammatical pattern.
Terms (59)
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Parallel Structure
Parallel structure is a grammatical principle where elements in a sentence that are equal in importance or function, such as items in a list, should be expressed using the same grammatical form to maintain balance and clarity.
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Elements in a Series
In a series of items, each element must follow the same grammatical pattern, such as all being nouns, verbs, or phrases, to avoid confusion and ensure the sentence flows smoothly.
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Coordinating Conjunctions and Parallelism
When using coordinating conjunctions like and or but, the elements they connect must be parallel in structure, meaning they should match in form to create a cohesive sentence.
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Parallel Verbs
Verbs in a list or connected by conjunctions must be in the same tense and form, such as all present tense or all infinitives, to keep the sentence grammatically consistent.
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Parallel Nouns
Nouns in a series should be structured similarly, such as all singular or all in the same phrase format, to maintain parallelism and avoid awkward phrasing.
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Parallel Adjectives
Adjectives in a list must follow the same pattern, like all being simple adjectives or all modified in the same way, to ensure the description remains balanced.
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Parallel Adverbs
Adverbs in a series should match in form, such as all ending in -ly or all positioned similarly, to keep the sentence's rhythm and meaning clear.
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Parallel Phrases
Prepositional or infinitive phrases in a list must have the same structure, ensuring that each begins and ends in a comparable way for effective parallelism.
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Parallel Clauses
Independent or dependent clauses connected in a sentence must be structured identically in terms of their grammatical elements to achieve proper parallel construction.
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Infinitives in Parallel Structure
When using infinitives in a series, each must be in the form of 'to + verb,' such as to run and to jump, to maintain consistency in the sentence.
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Gerunds in Parallel Structure
Gerunds, which are verbs ending in -ing used as nouns, must be formatted the same way in a list, like swimming and running, for parallel structure.
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Participles in Parallel Structure
Participles, such as present or past forms like running or jumped, in a series must match in tense and form to uphold parallelism in the sentence.
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Common Error: Mixed Verb Forms
A common mistake is using different verb forms in a parallel list, such as mixing 'ran' with 'to run,' which disrupts the sentence's balance and should be corrected.
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Common Error: Inconsistent Prepositions
Failing to use the same prepositions in parallel phrases, like 'in the house and on the car' instead of 'in the house and in the car,' creates an error in structure.
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Strategy: Spotting Parallel Errors
To identify parallel structure issues, read the sentence aloud and check if all items in a list or connected elements sound equally balanced in form.
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Correcting Parallel Structure
To fix parallel structure problems, revise the non-matching elements to match the form of the others in the series, ensuring grammatical consistency throughout.
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Parallelism in Comparisons
In comparisons using words like than or as, the elements being compared must be parallel in structure to make the comparison logical and grammatically correct.
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Correlative Conjunctions and Parallelism
Correlative conjunctions like not only...but also require the phrases or clauses they connect to be parallel in form for the sentence to be properly constructed.
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Example of Correct Parallel Structure
A sentence with correct parallel structure might say, 'She likes hiking, swimming, and biking,' where all items are gerunds for consistency.
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Example of Incorrect Parallel Structure
An incorrect example is 'She likes hiking, to swim, and bike,' because the forms mix a gerund, an infinitive, and a base verb, breaking parallelism.
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How to Check for Parallelism
To verify parallelism, list out the elements in question and compare their grammatical forms, adjusting any that do not match.
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Parallelism in Comma Lists
In a list separated by commas, each item must be parallel, such as all noun phrases or all verb phrases, to avoid grammatical errors.
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Advanced: Parallelism in Complex Sentences
In complex sentences with multiple clauses, ensure that parallel elements within those clauses maintain the same structure to enhance readability and correctness.
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Parallelism with Appositives
Appositives, which rename nouns, must be parallel in structure to the noun they describe, such as both being phrases or both simple terms.
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Trap: Subtle Form Differences
A common trap is overlooking small differences in word forms, like using 'quickly' versus 'with speed,' which can disrupt parallelism if not identical in structure.
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Trap: Idiomatic Expressions
Idiomatic phrases in a parallel list must still follow the same grammatical pattern as other items, even if they are common expressions, to maintain consistency.
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Practice: Simple Sentence Correction
For practice, correct a simple sentence like 'He wants to eat, sleep, and to play' by changing it to 'He wants to eat, sleep, and play' for proper parallelism.
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Practice: Compound Sentence
In a compound sentence, ensure parallel structure across clauses, such as 'She runs quickly and jumps high' instead of 'She runs quickly and jumping high.'
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Parallelism in Adjective Phrases
Adjective phrases in a series must be structured alike, like 'bright and sunny day' where both adjectives are simple and parallel.
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Parallelism in Adverbial Phrases
Adverbial phrases describing how or when must match in form, such as 'in the morning and at night' for effective parallelism.
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Parallelism with Passive Voice
When using passive voice in a parallel list, all elements should be in passive form, like 'was seen and was heard,' to keep the structure consistent.
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Parallelism in Questions
In a series of questions, each must follow the same grammatical pattern, such as all starting with who or what, for parallelism.
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Parallelism in Commands
Commands in a list should be parallel, like 'Run fast and jump high,' where both are imperative verbs in the same form.
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Advanced: Parallelism in Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses in a sentence must be parallel if they serve similar functions, ensuring their internal structures align for clarity.
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Trap: Overlooking Conjunctions
A trap is forgetting to check elements around conjunctions, which can hide parallel structure errors if not examined closely.
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Strategy: Use Synonyms for Checking
To test parallelism, replace elements with synonyms and see if the sentence still flows, helping identify mismatches in form.
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Parallelism in Titles
In titles or headings, parallel elements like subtitle phrases must match in structure for a professional and grammatically sound presentation.
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Common Error: Mismatched Prepositional Phrases
Using different prepositions in parallel prepositional phrases, such as 'on the table and under chair,' is an error that needs correction.
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Parallelism with Quantifiers
Quantifiers in a list, like 'some apples and a few oranges,' must be parallel in structure to maintain sentence balance.
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Advanced: Parallelism in Rhetorical Devices
In rhetorical devices like anaphora, repeated elements must be parallel to achieve the intended emphasis and grammatical correctness.
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Trap: Cultural Idioms Disrupting Parallelism
Cultural idioms might not align with parallel structure, so they need adjustment in formal writing to fit the required grammatical pattern.
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Practice: Correcting Verb-Phrase Errors
Practice fixing a sentence like 'She plans on dancing, to sing, and eating' by making it 'She plans on dancing, singing, and eating' for parallelism.
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Parallelism in Descriptive Lists
In lists that describe, each item must be parallel, such as all starting with adjectives or all with verbs, for coherent description.
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Strategy: Break Down Sentences
Break a sentence into its components to check if parallel elements are structured the same, a useful strategy for error detection.
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Parallelism with Negation
When negating elements in a parallel list, ensure the negation structure is consistent, like 'not this and not that' for balance.
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Advanced: Parallelism in Conditional Sentences
In conditional sentences, parallel if-clauses must match in structure to make the conditions logically and grammatically sound.
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Common Error: Varying Adjective Degrees
Using different degrees of adjectives in a parallel list, like 'good, better, and best,' can confuse unless intended as a sequence.
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Parallelism in Paired Items
Paired items, such as in both...and constructions, must be identical in form to satisfy parallel structure requirements.
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Trap: Embedded Clauses
Embedded clauses within parallel elements can hide errors, so check that they maintain the overall structure's consistency.
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Practice: Advanced Sentence Revision
Revise a complex sentence like 'The athlete runs fast, jumps with grace, and he swims powerfully' to 'The athlete runs fast, jumps with grace, and swims powerfully' for parallelism.
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Parallelism in Outlines
In outlines, main points must be parallel in phrasing, such as all starting with verbs, for logical organization.
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Strategy: Read Backwards
Read the sentence backwards to focus on individual elements and spot parallel structure issues more easily.
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Parallelism with Pronouns
Pronouns in a parallel list must agree in number and case, like all being subjective or all objective, for grammatical accuracy.
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Advanced: Parallelism in Metaphors
In metaphorical expressions, parallel elements must align structurally to enhance the comparison's effectiveness.
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Common Error: Inconsistent Modifiers
Modifiers in a parallel series must be placed and structured the same way to avoid altering the sentence's intended meaning.
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Parallelism in Instructions
Step-by-step instructions should use parallel phrasing, like all imperative sentences, for clear and effective communication.
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Trap: Punctuation Variations
Variations in punctuation within parallel elements can imply structural differences, so ensure consistency in their use.
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Practice: Noun-Phrase Parallelism
Correct a sentence with noun phrases, such as 'The book is interesting, informative, and has depth' to 'The book is interesting, informative, and deep' for parallelism.
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Strategy: Compare to Templates
Use standard templates of parallel sentences as a reference to check if your sentence's elements align properly.