PARALLEL STRUCTURE

Arranging of parallel sentences, similar important and balanced.Forming sentences using the same / similar grammatical structure. Components of the sentence can be a noun, adjective, verb, adverb, phrase and others.

Attention to the following example sentences are not parallel:

I like to bicycle and climbingThe phrase "I like to bicycle and climbing" did not have the same grammatical structure that is not considered parallel. Sentence is false because “to bicycle” and “climbing” joined together with “and”, and not have the same grammatical form.

The sentence can be converted into a parallel in two ways:I like to bicycle and to climbI like bicycling and climbingParallel structure can be used with paired conjunction (the conjunction pairs)

PAIRED CONJUNCTION (Conjunctions pairs)Paired conjunction can function as a clause (clause marker) or connecting word or phrase.

Conjunctions pairs consisting of:both ..... andeither ....... orneither......... nor not only.......... but also

Example sentenceI know both where you went and what you did.

The following sentence is not parallel and must be corrected:He wants either to go by train or by plane.

This sentence was not appropriate because "to go by train" is not parallel with “by plane” and can be corrected by the way:He wants either to go by train or to go by planeorHe wants to go either by train or by planeorHe wants to go by either train or plane

NOTE

1. When subjects connected by "both ..... and" use the plural verb

Both Runi and her mother are coming to visit us

2. When subjects connected by "either .... or", "Neither .... nor", or "not only ..... but also", use the verb accord (sesuai) the closest subject.

Either the teacher or the students are coming to visit us

3. Use reversed (terbalik) subject-verb after the conjunction containing a negative word.Not only did he buy her a diamond ring, but he also bought her a gold watch

4. Conjunctions couple have to precise (tepat).False: Neither her mother or her father was thereCorrect: Neither her mother nor her father was there

Wrong: He likes to swim, to bike, and riding his bike.Correct: He likes to swim, to hike, and to ride his bike.

Wrong: Neither his wife or his son is at homeCorrect: Neither his wife nor his son is at home

Wrong : Runi both enjoys books and musicCorrect: Runi enjoys both books and music.

Reference

Hotben D. Lingga; Advanced English Grammar for TOEFL Preparation; Puspa Swara; 2006.