Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure Review A Review B

Parallel structure Expressing related ideas in similar forms keeps writing on track. Like railroad tracks, these similar forms are said to be parallel. Parallel structure is the arrangement of similar parts of a sentence, or group of sentences, in similar grammatical forms.

“Give me liberty, or I would rather die!” Parallel structure Many famous quotations and sayings have parallel structure. When Patrick Henry addressed the Virginia House of Burgesses, he did not say “Give me liberty, or I would rather die!” “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Instead, he used parallel structure.

Parallel structure Many familiar sayings are memorable in part because they use parallel structure. ? Not parallel All work without playing makes Jack a dull boy. noun + adjective prepositional phrase All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. Parallel noun + adjective noun + adjective

Parallel structure Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase contains a preposition a noun or pronoun (object of the preposition) any modifiers of the object after seven long years years

Parallel structure Here is a famous saying of Benjamin Franklin’s written without parallel structure. Going to bed early and to rise early makes a man healthy, have wealth, and in possession of wisdom. What makes the original saying parallel? Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. early (adverb) + infinitive adjectives

Parallel structure Infinitives An infinitive is a verb form, usually preceded by to, used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Noun To write is sometimes difficult. Adjective Amanda is the player to watch. Adverb Are you eager to leave?

Parallel structure The following well-known sayings have been changed from their original wording so that they do not contain parallel sentence structure. Rewrite the sentences to restore the parallel structure. Be prepared to explain your answers. 1. April showers bring flowers in May. 2. No news is news that is good. 3. Seeing is to believe.

Parallel structure May flowers is parallel to April showers The following well-known sayings have been changed from their original wording so that they do not contain parallel sentence structure. Rewrite the sentences to restore the parallel structure. Be prepared to explain your answers. 1. April showers bring May flowers. May flowers is parallel to April showers because both consist of an adjective and a noun.

Parallel structure The following well-known sayings have been changed from their original wording so that they do not contain parallel sentence structure. Rewrite the sentences to restore the parallel structure. Be prepared to explain your answers. 2. No news is good news. Good news is parallel to No news because both consist of an adjective and a noun.

Parallel structure The following well-known sayings have been changed from their original wording so that they do not contain parallel sentence structure. Rewrite the sentences to restore the parallel structure. Be prepared to explain your answers. 3. Seeing is believing. Seeing and believing are parallel because both are gerunds, verb forms ending in –ing that function as nouns.

Parallel structure On Your Own Identify which structures are parallel in the following sayings and proverbs. Be prepared to explain how they are parallel. The end justifies the means. Good fences make good neighbors. 3. To err is human; to forgive, divine. If there is no struggle, there is no progress. [End of Section]

good (adjective) + noun infinitive + adjective Parallel structure Answers Identify which structures are parallel in the following sayings and proverbs. Be prepared to explain how they are parallel. The end justifies the means. Good fences make good neighbors. 3. To err is human; to forgive, divine. If there is no struggle, there is no progress. the (article) + noun good (adjective) + noun infinitive + adjective there is + no + noun

Review A Find five other examples of parallel structure in proverbs, nursery rhymes, slogans, poems, and songs.

Review A Find five other examples of parallel structure in proverbs, nursery rhymes, slogans, poems, and songs. [possible answers] 1. The more, the merrier. 2. Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. 3. To be or not to be, that is the question. 4. Roses are red, violets are blue. Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Review B Now, write three of your own sayings, making sure that each is parallel in structure.

Review B Now, write three of your own sayings, making sure that each is parallel in structure. [possible answers] 1. My favorite things to do are to live, to learn, and to eat. 2. Dogs serve people, and people serve cats. 3. Being happy beats being rich.

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