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CC0040

academic English
workshops
2009-2010
Session 6–
Parallel Structures
Wience Lai
ccwience@hkcc-polyu.edu.hk
3746-0170
HHB 1630
Part A: Diagnostic Test

• Identify and underline the


nonparallel structures in the
following passage.
• Then, revise these sentences to
eliminate errors in parallel
structure in the space between the
lines.
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4
Part B:
Grammatical principles -
Review
Parallel Structures
Using words in parallel form
Using phrases in parallel form
Using clauses in parallel form
Using parallel forms with correlative
conjunctions* (paired words)
Using words in parallel
form
• Put words of the same grammatical form in a
series.
Example (nouns): Disciplinary action will be taken
if a student is found plagiarizing others’ ideas or
words.
Example (verbs): I have read and chosen an article
about the 2008 financial tsunami in the last
reflective writing practice.
Example (adjectives): A good English learner
should be active, diligent and uninhibited.
Example (adverbs): No bonus mark will be given to
works completed sloppily, untidily and late.
Using phrases in parallel
form
• Put phrases of the same grammatical form in a series.
Example (infinitives): Our lecturer reminded us to submit an
essay outline before the deadline and to schedule an
appointment with him for essay consultation.
Example (gerund): Writing assignments, doing group projects,
and reading course texts are the common tasks all college
students need to do.
Example (participles): Having participated actively in the class
activities and asked the teacher for constant feedback, Jonathan
was able to perform exceptionally well in this challenging
subject.
Example (prepositional phrases): To support our argument
more adequately, we had better locate other sources of
references from the library and on the Internet.
Using clauses in parallel
form

• Put words of the same grammatical form in a series.


Example (active voice): Men and women speak the same
language, yet they communicate very differently.
Example (passive voice): The division of work in the College is
very clear. Student enquiries are handled at the Information Kiosk;
staff enquiries are dealt with in the service counter of the General
Office.
Using parallel forms with
correlative conjunctions*
(paired words)
• Put words of the same grammatical
form in a series.
*Correlative conjunctions (paired words):
not only… but (also); either… or, both… and,
neither… nor; whether… or; not…but.
Example: Both mature candidates and
overseas applicants are required to write a
written test.
Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
Exercise C1: Identify and
underline the nonparallel
structures in the following
passage. Then, revise these
sentences to eliminate errors in
parallel structure in the space
between the lines.
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12
11/05/09 EASWk1LPartII(WL) 13
Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
• Exercise C2: Complete the following
sentences with parallel items.
Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
Exercise C3: A title and three supporting
sentences are provided for the outline of
an essay. Using the techniques of
parallelism, write an appropriate thesis
statement and a plan of development for
an essay based on the information.

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