After breaking down the list items, there should be no inconsistencies. We want each item to be in the same grammatical form. How do we do that?īreak down each item in the list by identifying the parts of speech of the words and make sure that all the items match. Once you have identified the list, ensure that the items in the list are as consistent with the other items in the list as possible. Make sure that the commas are separating items in a list and are not just separating clauses. Usually the list will look like this: x, y, and z. To correctly answer parallel structure list questions, first identify that there is a list of items. The sentence reads better and all is well in the world of parallel structure. Sonia is known for her independence, her honesty, and her intelligence. After we fix the parallel structure error, this is our sentence: We want all three items in the list to have the same construction. In the last item, "being intelligent", the word "being" is a gerund and "intelligent" is an adjective that describes Sonia. Sonia is known for her independence, her honesty, and being intelligent.ĭo you see the inconsistency in the list? The first two items are nouns, traits that Sonia possesses. This is another sentence that contains a parallel structure error: Generally, in list questions, three things are listed and you have to ensure that all the items in the list are in the same grammatical form. The example from above was a parallel structure list sentence. There are two primary types of parallel structure questions that appear in SAT Writing. So, how is parallel structure tested on the SAT Writing section? Now all three items on the list are gerunds. The corrected version of the sentence looks like this:Įgya likes laughing, singing, and writing. In order to make this list parallel, all three items should be in the same grammatical form.
![parallel structure example parallel structure example](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ibSc5BO8LM/UzI-C6AFMiI/AAAAAAAAAQk/vnVwTGcEqSk/s1600/parallel_structure.png)
Parallel structure example plus#
An infinitive is also a verb that functions like a noun, but it is constructed by using the word "to" plus the verb. The last thing, "to write", is an infinitive. Gerunds are verbs that function like nouns and end in "ing". The sentence is listing three things that Egya likes. Here is an example of a sentence with an error in parallel structure:Įgya likes laughing, singing, and to write. Any inconsistency within the list is an error in parallel structure. If you are listing three things, the construction of that list should be noun, noun, noun, or verb, verb, verb, or gerund, gerund, gerund, etc. The basic parallel structure rule is that the things in a list should be in the same grammatical form. Using parallel structure shows that the words/ideas have the same level of importance and makes the sentence easier to understand. Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words for two or more words or ideas in a sentence.
![parallel structure example parallel structure example](http://image2.slideserve.com/4940942/slide4-n.jpg)
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