Parallelism Flashcards
What is wrong?
The employees were upset by the company’s low pay, poor working conditions, and that they did not have enough outlets for their creativity.
PARALLELISM
The employees were upset by the company’s low [pay], poor working [conditions], and [shortage] of outlets for employees’ creativity. The parallel elements are all nouns.
Spot the parallel markers, find the prallel elements and define their type
- Her expression reflected both anger and relief.*
- The park was neither accessible nor affordable.*
- We collected from second to third-grade books.*
- The custodian cleaned the basement and washed the windows.*
PARALLEL MARKERS/PARALLEL ELEMENTS
Nouns: Her expression reflected BOTH anger AND relief.
Adjectives: The park was NEITHER accessible NOR affordable.
Adjectives: We collected FROM second TO third-grade books.
Verbs: The custodian cleaned the basement AND washed the windows.
Spot the parallel markers, find the prallel elements and define their type.
- We would like not only to hear your side of the story but also to provide a response.*
- The actor left quickly, shunning fans OR ducking into a car.*
- It was important to leave the money in the drawer rather than on the table.*
- They contended not that the committee could solve the city´s problems but that it should be disbanded.*
PARALLEL MARKERS/PARALLEL ELEMENTS
Infinitives: We would like NOT ONLY to hear your side of the story BUT ALSO to provide a response.
Participles: The actor left quickly, shunning fans OR ducking into a car.
Prepst Phrases: It was important to leave the money in the drawer RATHER THAN on the table. (Note: the prepositions do not always have to be the same.)
Subordinate Clauses: They contended NOT that the committee could solve the city´s problems BUT that it should be disbanded.
The parallel elements can be shorten?
- The division was opening offices, was hiring staff AND was investing in equipment.*
- The railroad EITHER can lose more money OR can solve its problems.*
- They wanted to increase awareness, to spark interest, AND to motivate purchases.*
PARALLEL ELEMENTS Verbal forms can be shortened
- The division WAS opening offices, hiring staff AND investing in equipment.*
- The railroad CAN EITHER lose more money OR solve its problems.*
- They wanted TO increase awareness, spark interest, AND motivate purchases.*
The parallel elements can be shorten?
- I want to retire to a place where I can relax AND where the taxes are low.*
- Ralph likes BOTH those who are popular AND those who are not.*
PARALLEL ELEMENTS
Parallel subordinate clauses should start with the same word.
I want to retire to a place WHERE I can relax AND WHERE the taxes are low. (concision yields to parallelism)
Each parallel part must be complete with the first part of the sentence.
Ralph likes BOTH THOSE WHO are popular AND THOSE WHO are not.
(just repeat the sentence to each parallel part individually)
What is wrong?
She argues that the agency acts with disregard for human life AND property AND reckless abandon AND it shoyld therefore be shut down.
LISTS WITH AND
She argues that the agency acts with reckless abandon AND with disregard for human life AND property, AND it should therefore be shut down.
Insert comma: a) before and in lists with more than 2 items, b) lists of clauses. Be careful with the lists insisde the lists.
What is wrong?
- The bouquet of flowers was a giving of love.*
- Upon being nominated, this politician represents a step forward in urban-rural relations in this country.*
LINKING VERBS
Linking verbs make the subject and object parallel
- The bouquet of flowers WAS a gift of love. (form)*
- The nomination of this politician REPRESENTS a step forward in urban-rural relations in this country. (meaning)*
What are linking verbs? Give examples.
LINKING VERBS
- Linking verbs don’t tell what the subject does but what it is, or it’s state*.
- The to be verb, appear, become, feel, grow, represent, lok, remain, resemble, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, turn…*
