1. Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Review A
Review B

2. 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.

3. “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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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]

13. 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

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

15. 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?

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

17. 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.

18. The End