Parallel Structure Examples in Sentences: AP English Composition Edition

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🍎 Definition: Parallel structure (also called parallelism) means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level.
• ✍️ Why it matters: Parallel structure makes your writing clear, balanced, and easy to read. It's crucial for strong writing in AP English essays.
• 📐 How to achieve it:
  • ✅ Use the same grammatical form for all elements in a list (e.g., all nouns, all verbs, all gerunds).
  • ✅ Use the same structure for all parts of a comparison (e.g., "not only...but also," "either...or").
• 💡 Common Errors to Avoid:
  • ❌ Mixing verb tenses within a list.
  • ❌ Combining phrases with clauses.
  • ❌ Failing to use correlative conjunctions correctly (e.g., "not only...but also").
• 📝 Examples:
  • ✅ Correct: She likes *hiking*, *biking*, and *swimming*. (All gerunds)
  • ❌ Incorrect: She likes *hiking*, *to bike*, and *swimming*. (Mixed forms)
  • ✅ Correct: He is not only *intelligent* but also *hardworking*. (Parallel adjectives)
  • ❌ Incorrect: He is not only *intelligent* but also *works hard*. (Non-parallel structure)

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences uses parallel structure correctly?
   1. She enjoys reading, to cook, and gardening.
   2. She enjoys reading, cooking, and to garden.
   3. She enjoys reading, to be cooking, and gardening.
   4. She enjoys reading, cooking, and gardening.
2. Choose the sentence that maintains parallel structure in the underlined portion: *He likes to sing, to dance, and playing the guitar.*
   1. He likes to sing, to dance, and playing the guitar.
   2. He likes singing, dancing, and playing the guitar.
   3. He likes to sing, to dance, and to play the guitar.
   4. Both B and C
3. Which sentence demonstrates correct parallelism with correlative conjunctions?
   1. Not only did he study hard, but he also got a good grade.
   2. He not only studied hard, but he also got a good grade.
   3. He not only studied hard, but also a good grade he got.
   4. Not only he studied hard, but also he got a good grade.
4. Identify the sentence that correctly uses parallel structure:
   1. The coach told the players that they should practice hard, that they should be dedicated, and have good sportsmanship.
   2. The coach told the players that they should practice hard, that they should be dedicated, and that they should have good sportsmanship.
   3. The coach told the players that they should practice hard, to be dedicated, and good sportsmanship.
   4. The coach told the players to practice hard, being dedicated, and have good sportsmanship.
5. Select the option that creates parallel structure in the following sentence: *She is known for her intelligence, her beauty, and she is kind.*
   1. and for kindness.
   2. and kindness.
   3. and being kind.
   4. and she is known to be kind.
6. Which of the following sentences contains an error in parallel structure?
   1. They promised to help, to support, and they would advocate for the cause.
   2. They promised to help, to support, and to advocate for the cause.
   3. They promised helping, supporting, and advocating for the cause.
   4. They promised to offer help, support and advocate for the cause.
7. Choose the best way to rewrite the following sentence to correct the faulty parallelism: *The job requires someone who is dedicated, efficient, and has a good attitude.*
   1. The job requires someone who is dedicated, efficient, and possesses a good attitude.
   2. The job requires someone with dedication, efficiency, and a good attitude.
   3. The job requires someone who is dedicated, and efficient with a good attitude.
   4. The job requires someone who is dedicated, showing efficiency, and has a good attitude.