3. Parallelism Flashcards

1
Q

What is the principle of parallelism?

A

Comparable sentence parts must be structurally and logically similar

*Note: we do not generally have to make every word parallel in the parallel elements; however, the most important words must be parallel

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2
Q

What are parallel markers?

A

Words that link or contrast items and that force those items to be parallel

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3
Q

What are examples of parallel markers?

A

The most important parallel markers are the three common conjunctions: and, but, and or

(1) And
(2) Both/and
(3) Or
(4) Either/or, neither/nor
(5) Not/but
(6) Not only/but also
(7) Rather than
(8) From/to
(9) Yet
(10) As much as
(11) Not so much…as
(12) Not just…but (also)

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4
Q

What are coordinate ideas?

A

Prepositions, articles, helping verbs

Definition: Coordinate ideas occur in pairs or in a series, and they are linked by conjunctions like “and”, “but”, “nor”, “or”; also occur with items in list or verbs in a series

Rule: You must either repeat the preposition, in front of each element in the series, or include it only in front of the firm item in the series

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5
Q

What are correlative constructions?

A

Definition: are used to relate two ideas in some way (e.g. “both…and”, “either…or”, “neither…nor”, “not only…but also”)

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6
Q

Marker: And
Structure: ?
Example: ?

A

Structure: X and Y
Example: Apples, pears, AND bananas

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7
Q

Marker: Both/and
Structure: ?
Example: ?

A

Structure: both X and Y
Example: BOTH apples and PEARS

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8
Q

Marker: Or
Structure: ?
Example: ?

A

Structure: X or Y
Example: Apples OR pears

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9
Q

Marker: Either/or
Structure: ?
Example: ?

A

Structure: Either X or Y
Example: Either apples OR pears

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10
Q

Marker: Not/but
Structure: ?
Example: ?

A

Structure: Not X but Y
Example: NOT Apples BUT pears

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11
Q

Marker: Not only/but also
Structure: ?
Example: ?

A

Structure: Not only X but also Y
Example: NOT ONLY Apples BUT ALSO pears

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12
Q

Marker: Rather than
Structure: ?
Example: ?

A

Structure: X rather than Y
Example: Apples RATHER THAN pears

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13
Q

Marker: from/to
Structure: ?
Example: ?

A

Structure: from X to Y
Example: FROM apples TO pears

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14
Q

Noun. Example of parallel elements.

A

Her expression reflected BOTH [anger] AND [relief].

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15
Q

Adjective. Example of parallel elements.

A

The park was NEITHER [accessible] NOR [affordable].

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16
Q

Verbs. Example of parallel elements.

A

The custodian [cleaned] the basement AND [washed] the windows.

17
Q

Infinitives. Example of parallel elements.

A

We would like NOT ONLY [to hear] your side of the story BUT ALSO [to provide] a response

18
Q

Participles. Example of parallel elements.

A

The actor left quickly, [shunning] fans AND [ducking] into a car.

19
Q

Prepositional Phrases. Example of parallel elements.

A

It was important to leave the money [in the drawer] RATHER THAN [on the able].

*Note: the prepositions do NOT always have to be the same

20
Q

Subordinate Clauses. Example of parallel elements.

A

They contended [that the committee was biased] AND [that it should be disbanded].

21
Q

What are the four roles of “-ing”?

A

(1) Verb. “The man is sitting on a couch.”
(2) Adjective. “The man sitting on the couch is happy.”
(3) Noun. “Sitting on the couch makes the man happy.”
(4) Adverb. “The man sits on the couch, drinking beer and eating pizza.”

  • ”-ing” adverbs are a VERY common correct answer on the GMAT!
  • ”being” is usually wrong because it is trying to be a verb but failing
22
Q

WRONG: I want to retire to a place where I can relax and I pay low taxes.

A

CORRECT: I want to retire to a place where I can relax and where I pay low taxes.

*Note: Without repetition of the subordinator “where”, the first sentence could be read “I want to retire…and I pay low taxes”. Repeating the “where” eliminates ambiguity.

23
Q

WRONG: Sal applied himself in his new job, arrived early every day, skipped lunch regularly, and left late every night.

A

CORRECT: Sal applied himself in his new job, arriving early every day, skipping lunch regularly, and leaving late every night.

The main verb is “applied”, and the “-ing” phrases provide additional information about how Sal applied himself

24
Q

What are linking verbs?

A
  • Instead of expressing what a subject does, these verbs express what the subject is, or what condition the subject is in
  • Treat any linking verbs as parallel markers
  • The most common linking verb is the verb “to be”
25
Q

What are examples of linking verbs?

A
  • to be
  • appear
  • become
  • feel
  • grow
  • look
  • remain
  • represent
  • resemble
  • seem
  • smell
  • sound
  • stay
  • taste
  • turn
26
Q

When do you ignore parallelism with regard to uses of “to be”?

A
  • Progressive tenses (“I am watering the plants”)

- Passive voice (“the plants were watered last night”)

27
Q

WRONG: We were dismayed to learn that our neighbors were untidy, disagreeable, and they were uninterested to make new friends.

A

CORRECT: We were dismayed to learn that our neighbors were untidy, disagreeable, and UNINTERESTED IN MAKING new friends.

28
Q

WRONG: The experiences we have when children influence our behavior in adulthood.

A

CORRECT: The experiences we have in childhood influence our behavior in adulthood

*The sentence does not have any parallelism signals. We know that “in childhood” should be parallel in structure to “in adulthood” because of the logical considerations: the sentence is meant to highlight a connect between childhood and adulthood.