Parallel Structures & Parallelism

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[This content is prepared to boost the knowledge of loksewa examinees]

Different parts of a same sentence having the same grammatical construction are called parallel structures. And the process of maintaining parallel structure in a sentence is called parallelism.
If the phrases, linking words, sentences and clauses in a sentence performing the same functions are lacking same grammatical composition then it is called faulty parallelism.

When to apply parallelism?

In the parallel structure the following items should match with the first item. The first item can be a phrase, linking word, sentence or clause.
·         While connecting two or more phrases, linking words, sentences and clauses in a sentence using coordinating conjunctions. E.g.
Faulty parallelism: I love to dance and swimming.
True parallelism: I love to dance and swim.
True parallelism: I love dancing and swimming.
(Some coordinating conjunctions are and, but, for, nor, so, yet etc.)

·         While connecting two or more phrases, linking words, sentences and clauses in a sentence using correlative conjunctions. E.g.
Faulty parallelism: Shankar not only loves to sing, but also dance.
True parallelism: Shankar not only loves to sing, but also to dance.
True parallelism: Shankar not only loves singing, but also dancing.
(Some correlative conjunctions are either … or, neither … nor, if … then, not only … but also etc.)

·         While comparing two or more phrases, linking words, sentences and clauses in a sentence. E.g.
Faulty parallelism: I love to watch cinema than playing guitar.
True parallelism: I love to watch cinema than to play a guitar.
True parallelism: I love watching cinema than playing a guitar.

·         While listing comparable items. E.g.
Faulty parallelism: Minakshi likes to dance, eating a lot and to travel.
True parallelism: Minakshi likes to dance, to eat a lot and to travel.
True parallelism: Minakshi likes dancing, eating a lot and travelling.

How to correct faulty parallelism in a sentence?

·         Maintaining uniformity in Tense:
Faulty parallelism: He is a writer, sings songs and has played football.
True parallelism: He is a writer, singer and football player.
True parallelism: He is a writer and singer. He has played football also.
(To break parallel structure without any valid reason is wrong. Tips about 'when to break parallel structure' is included at the end of this page.)

·         Maintaining uniformity in voice (active & passive)
Faulty parallelism: This dish is prepared by my mother and she decorated the kitchen also.
True parallelism: My mother prepared this dish and decorated the kitchen.
True parallelism: This dish is prepared by my mother and the kitchen is also decorated by her.

·         Using similar type of verbals:
Faulty parallelism: The purpose of schooling is not reading only but to improve own life also.
True parallelism: The purpose of schooling is not to read only but to improve own life also.
True parallelism: The purpose of schooling is not reading only but improving own life also.
(Verbals are the words derived from, or having the nature of a verb. They include 'to + verb', 'verb + ing', 'verb + en', 'verb + ed' etc.)

·         Non mixing of verbals with nominals:
Faulty parallelism: Company declared participating in conference and the promotion of company's agenda gives the best output.
True parallelism: Company declared participating in conference and promoting company's agenda gives the best output.
(Nominals are the verbs of or relating to a noun or clause that functions as a noun. They include 'verb + ance', 'verb + ence', 'verb + ion', 'verb +ment' etc. E.g. depend => dependence, move => movement)

·         Maintaining equal level of generality:
Faulty parallelism: David is from Australia, Ermest is from Italy and Mohan is from Kathmandu.
True parallelism: David is from Australia, Ermest is from Italy and Mohan is from Nepal.
True parallelism: David is from Australia and Ermest is from Italy. Mohan is from Kathmandu.

·         Separating unrelated meanings:
Faulty parallelism: Dolphins are loving, kind hearted, honest and big animals.
True parallelism: Dolphins are loving, kind hearted and honest animals. Also they are big.
(Loving, kind hearted and honest represent their nature. Big is their physical attribute.)

·         Proper use of prepositions:
If all the items in a sentence do not share a common preposition then preposition must be repeated for each items.
Faulty parallelism: I searched my watch on the table, the bed and inside the cupboard.
True parallelism: I searched my watch on the table, on the bed and inside the cupboard.

When to break parallel structure?

Simple reasons:
These are the reasons to be applied to make a sentence correct.

  • To relate to verb tense
  • To separate contrasting noun forms
Specific reasons:
In the following cases, sentence remains correct even not applying parallelism though.

If one event interrupts the other
E.g.: Plane was landing, but crashed.

 If events take place in different time i.e. past, present and future. 
E.g. The orange tree was planted 2 years ago, is fruiting at present, and will die someday.

Use of singular and plural form to distinguish two kind of verbs. 
E.g. We have two daughters, not a son.

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