SAT / PSAT: SAT PSAT Reading Writing Standard English Conventions Parallel Structure Lists Comparisons Correlative Conjunctions

What Is This?

Parallel structure ensures that elements in a sentence or list are presented in the same grammatical form. This topic appears in exams to test your ability to maintain consistency in sentence structure, which is crucial for clear and effective communication. Questions typically involve identifying and correcting sentences with faulty parallelism.

Why It Matters

Parallel structure is tested in various standardized exams like the SAT, ACT, GRE, and TOEFL, as well as in job-related tests for roles requiring strong writing skills. It appears frequently and can carry significant marks. Mastering parallel structure demonstrates your ability to write clearly and logically, a skill valued in both academic and professional settings.

Core Concepts

• Consistency in Form: All items in a list, comparison, or correlative conjunction must be in the same grammatical form (e.g., all nouns, all verbs).
• Lists: Items in a list should be parallel in structure.
• Comparisons: Both sides of a comparison must be parallel.
• Correlative Conjunctions: Paired conjunctions (e.g., either/or, neither/nor) require parallel structure in the phrases they connect.
• Exceptions: Sometimes, parallelism can be broken for stylistic reasons, but this is rare and context-specific.

Prerequisites

• Understanding of basic sentence structure (subject, verb, object).
• Knowledge of parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs).
• Familiarity with coordinating and correlative conjunctions.

The Rule-Book (How It Works)

The Primary Rule

Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.

Sub-rules, Exceptions, and Edge Cases

• Lists: Ensure all items are in the same form.
• Incorrect: She likes hiking, to swim, and biking.
• Correct: She likes hiking, swimming, and biking.
• Comparisons: Both sides must match.
• Incorrect: His job is more enjoyable than boring.
• Correct: His job is more enjoyable than it is boring.
• Correlative Conjunctions: Phrases connected by pairs like either/or and neither/nor must be parallel.
• Incorrect: Either you study hard or will fail.
• Correct: Either you study hard or you will fail.

Visual Pattern

Think of parallel structure like a set of train tracks: both sides must run smoothly alongside each other without deviation.

Exam / Job / Audit Weighting

• Frequency: Common
• Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
• Question Type or Real-World Task Type: Multiple choice, sentence correction, essay writing

Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Must-Know Rules, Formulas, Standards, or Principles

1. Lists: All items must be in the same grammatical form.
2. Comparisons: Both sides must be parallel.
3. Correlative Conjunctions: Phrases connected by pairs must be parallel.

Worked Examples (Step-by-Step)

Easy

Question: Correct the sentence: She enjoys reading, to play soccer, and painting.

Step-by-Step: 1. Identify the list: reading, to play soccer, painting.
2. Ensure all items are in the same form: reading, playing soccer, painting.

Answer: She enjoys reading, playing soccer, and painting.

Key Rule Applied: Lists must be parallel.

Medium

Question: Correct the sentence: The job requires not only hard work but also is fun.

Step-by-Step: 1. Identify the correlative conjunction: not only...but also.
2. Ensure both phrases are parallel: not only hard work but also fun.

Answer: The job requires not only hard work but also fun.

Key Rule Applied: Correlative conjunctions require parallel structure.

Hard

Question: Correct the sentence: The coach told the team to either practice more or they will lose the game.

Step-by-Step: 1. Identify the correlative conjunction: either...or.
2. Ensure both phrases are parallel: either practice more or lose the game.

Answer: The coach told the team to either practice more or lose the game.

Key Rule Applied: Correlative conjunctions require parallel structure.

Common Exam Traps & Mistakes

1. Mistake: Mixing verb forms in a list.
2. Wrong Answer: She likes running, to swim, and biking.

3. Correct Approach: She likes running, swimming, and biking.

4. Mistake: Non-parallel comparisons.

5. Wrong Answer: His job is more enjoyable than boring.

6. Correct Approach: His job is more enjoyable than it is boring.

7. Mistake: Inconsistent phrases with correlative conjunctions.

8. Wrong Answer: Either you study hard or will fail.

9. Correct Approach: Either you study hard or you will fail.

10. Mistake: Ignoring parallel structure in complex sentences.

11. Wrong Answer: The coach told the team to either practice more or they will lose the game.
12. Correct Approach: The coach told the team to either practice more or lose the game.

Shortcut Strategies & Exam Hacks

• Memory Aid: Remember the mnemonic "Parallel Phrases Please" to quickly recall the need for parallel structure.
• Elimination Strategy: If a sentence has a list, comparison, or correlative conjunction, check for parallelism first.
• Pattern Recognition: Look for signal words like and, or, but, either/or, neither/nor to spot potential parallelism issues.

Question-Type Taxonomy

1. Multiple Choice: Identify the correct parallel structure.
2. Mini-Example: Which sentence is correct? A) She likes reading, to play soccer, and painting. B) She likes reading, playing soccer, and painting.

3. Favored By: SAT, ACT

4. Sentence Correction: Correct the faulty parallelism.

5. Mini-Example: Correct the sentence: The job requires not only hard work but also is fun.

6. Favored By: GRE, TOEFL

7. Essay Writing: Maintain parallel structure throughout the essay.

8. Mini-Example: Write a paragraph comparing two activities you enjoy.
9. Favored By: Job applications, academic essays

Practice Set (MCQs)

Question 1

Question: Which sentence is correct? A) She enjoys hiking, to swim, and biking.
B) She enjoys hiking, swimming, and biking.
C) She enjoys hiking, swims, and biking.
D) She enjoys hiking, swim, and biking.

Correct Answer: B) She enjoys hiking, swimming, and biking.

Explanation: All items in the list must be in the same form (gerunds).

Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - A) Mixes gerunds and infinitives.
- C) Mixes gerunds and present tense verbs.
- D) Mixes gerunds and base form verbs.

Question 2

Question: Correct the sentence: The job requires not only hard work but also is fun.
A) The job requires not only hard work but also fun.
B) The job requires not only hard work but also to be fun.
C) The job requires not only hard work but also being fun.
D) The job requires not only hard work but also it is fun.

Correct Answer: A) The job requires not only hard work but also fun.

Explanation: Both sides of the correlative conjunction must be parallel.

Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - B) Introduces an infinitive.
- C) Introduces a gerund.
- D) Introduces a clause.

Question 3

Question: Which sentence is correct? A) Either you study hard or will fail.
B) Either you study hard or you will fail.
C) Either you study hard or failing.
D) Either you study hard or to fail.

Correct Answer: B) Either you study hard or you will fail.

Explanation: Both phrases connected by either/or must be parallel.

Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - A) Mixes a clause and a verb phrase.
- C) Introduces a gerund.
- D) Introduces an infinitive.

Question 4

Question: Correct the sentence: The coach told the team to either practice more or they will lose the game.
A) The coach told the team to either practice more or lose the game.
B) The coach told the team to either practice more or they lose the game.
C) The coach told the team to either practice more or to lose the game.
D) The coach told the team to either practice more or losing the game.

Correct Answer: A) The coach told the team to either practice more or lose the game.

Explanation: Both phrases connected by either/or must be parallel.

Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - B) Mixes a clause and a verb phrase.
- C) Introduces an infinitive.
- D) Introduces a gerund.

Question 5

Question: Which sentence is correct? A) His job is more enjoyable than boring.
B) His job is more enjoyable than it is boring.
C) His job is more enjoyable than to be boring.
D) His job is more enjoyable than being boring.

Correct Answer: B) His job is more enjoyable than it is boring.

Explanation: Both sides of the comparison must be parallel.

Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - A) Mixes an adjective and a clause.
- C) Introduces an infinitive.
- D) Introduces a gerund.

30-Second Cheat Sheet

• Lists must be parallel in form.
• Comparisons must be parallel on both sides.
• Correlative conjunctions require parallel phrases.
• Signal words: and, or, but, either/or, neither/nor.
• Mnemonic: "Parallel Phrases Please".

Learning Path

1. Beginner Foundation: Review basic sentence structure and parts of speech.
2. Core Rules: Study the primary rule and sub-rules of parallel structure.
3. Practice: Work through examples and practice sets.
4. Timed Drills: Complete timed practice tests to build speed and accuracy.
5. Mock Tests: Take full-length mock exams to simulate test conditions.

Related Topics

1. Sentence Structure: Understanding how sentences are constructed helps in identifying parallelism issues.
2. Parts of Speech: Knowing nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs aids in maintaining parallel structure.
3. Coordinating Conjunctions: Mastering and, or, but helps in spotting parallelism in lists and comparisons.