English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
Identify sentences with parallel structure
Identify sentences with parallel structure
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define parallel structure and its purpose in writing.
Identify parallel words, phrases, and clauses within a sentence.
Distinguish between sentences that correctly use parallel structure and those with faulty parallelism.
Locate coordinating and correlative conjunctions as signals for parallel elements.
Explain why a sentence lacks parallelism by pinpointing the mismatched grammatical form.
Analyze the rhetorical effect of parallelism in literary and persuasive texts.
Ever notice how a great speech just *flows*? 🎶 What's the secret ingredient that makes some sentences so balanced, memorable, and powerful?
This tutorial will teach you how to identify parallel structure, a key rhetorical device that adds rhythm, clarity, and emphasis to writing. Mast...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Parallel Structure (or Parallelism)The repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. In a parallel sentence, matching information is presented in a matching grammatical structure, creating balance.The character chose to confront his past, to accept his fate, and to build a new future. (Three parallel infinitive phrases)
Grammatical FormThe specific type of word, phrase, or clause used. For a sentence to be parallel, the items in a series must all be the same form (e.g., all nouns, all gerunds, all prepositional phrases).In the phrase 'running, jumping, and swimming,' all three words are gerunds (-ing verbs acting as nouns). This is a consistent grammatical form.
Coordinating ConjunctionsWords that connect grammatically equal elements. The most...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Rule of Matching Forms
All items in a list or series must have the same grammatical structure.
When you list two or more things, check that each item is the same part of speech or type of phrase. If you start with a verb, use verbs for all items. If you start with a noun phrase, continue with noun phrases.
The Conjunction Connection Rule
Elements joined by coordinating (FANBOYS) or correlative (either/or, not only/but also) conjunctions must be grammatically parallel.
Think of these conjunctions as balance beams. The structure on one side must be the same as the structure on the other side to keep the sentence balanced and clear.
The Comparison Rule
When you compare or contrast two things (using words like 'than' or 'as'), the two items being co...
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Challenging
In persuasive writing, an author might use a sentence like, 'We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets.' What is the primary rhetorical effect of this parallelism?
A.To create a memorable rhythm and to emphasize the speaker's unwavering determination.
B.To confuse the audience by repeating the same idea in different ways.
C.To show that the speaker is running out of original ideas.
D.To make the sentence grammatically simpler for a less educated audience.
Challenging
Two potential thesis statements are presented below. Which one uses parallel structure more effectively for clarity and rhetorical impact, and why?
A.Sentence 1 is better because its varied structure is more interesting: 'In The Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates his heroism through his cunning intelligence, his great strength, and also by being a courageous leader.'
B.Sentence 2 is better because it uses parallel noun phrases to create a balanced and memorable claim: 'In The Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates his heroism through his cunning intelligence, his great strength, and his courageous leadership.'
C.Sentence 1 is better because 'by being a courageous leader' provides more detail than the alternative.
D.Sentence 2 is better because it is shorter, and shorter sentences are always more effective in thesis statements.
Challenging
Identify the sentence with faulty parallelism where the parallel elements are separated by other words, making the error more subtle.
A.The book that I borrowed from the library and that I left on the bus was a historical novel.
B.The manager told the new employees that they should arrive on time and to dress professionally.
C.Whether you agree with the policy or you disagree with it, you must still follow the rules.
D.The skills required for the job are an ability to code in Python, experience with databases, and communicating well with a team.
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