Review Contents

Parallel Structure

Definition: Parallelism or Parallel structure requires that ideas of equal importance be expressed in the same grammatical structures ( the consistency both of word forms when you make a list and of the tenses of all the verbs) i.e., infinitive and infinitive, ving and ving, noun and noun, past simple and past simple etc. Sometimes ideas of equal importance are explicitly introduced by correlative conjunctions like and, both....and, not only....but also, either...or, neither...nor and many more.

Ex. Incorrect: The function of Louis Sullivan’s architecture was providing large, uninterrupted floor areas and to allow ample light into the interior.
Correct:The function of Louis Sullivan’s architecture was to provide large, uninterrupted floor areas and to allow ample light into the interior.

Ex. Incorrect: Some bat caves, like honeybee hives, have residents that take on different duties such as defending the entrance, acting as sentinels and to sound a warning at the approach of danger, and scouting outside the cave for new food and roosting sites.
Correct: Some bat caves, like honeybee hives, have residents that take on different duties such as defending the entrance, acting as sentinels and sounding a warning at the approach of danger, and scouting outside the cave for new food and roosting sites.
 

Written Expression Exercises.

1. Every hockey player must be an expert in skating, handling the puck, checking, and to shoot
       A                                   B            C                                                                                              D
    
2. The ability to convert raw materials into valuabler commodities is the basis of an industrial economy and the foundation
                  A                                                                     B                                  C                                                                      D
   for a high standard of living.
    
3. Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is known for its summer resorts and towns for fishing.
                                                           A       B               C                                      D
    
4. Children in their early years are often quarrelsome and noisy, as well as being creative.
                   A                                     B                                                         C                     D
    
5. By 1966, Isaac Newton had studied the spectrum of light, invented calculus and laying the groundwork for his theory of
   A                                                                                                       B                                     C                                             D
   gravitation and motion.
    
6. Lumber from redwoods is in great demand because of its straight grain, attractive color, and durable.
                                                             A                      B                                                C                                 D

Sentence Correction Exercises.

1. Lacking information about energy use, people tend to overestimate the amount of energy used by equipment, such as lights, that are visible and must be turned on and off and underestimate that used by unobtrusive equipment, such as water heaters.
   
   A.equipment, such as lights, that are visible and must be turned on and off and underestimate that
   B. equipment, such as lights, that are visible and must be turned on and off and underestimate it when
   C. equipment, such as lights, that is visible and must be turned on and off and underestimate it when
   D. visible equipment, such as lights, that must be turned on and off and underestimate that
   E. visible equipment, such as lights, that must be turned on and off and underestimate it when
    
2. South Korea has witnessed the world’s most dramatic growth of Christian congregations; church membership is expanding by 6.6 percent a year, fully two-thirds of the growth coming from conversions rather than the population increasing.
   
   A.coming from conversions rather than the population increasing
   B. coming from conversions rather than increases in the population
   C. coming from conversions instead of the population’s increasing
   D. is from conversions instead of population increases
   E. is from conversions rather than increasing the population
    
3. To speak habitually of the “truly needy” is gradually instilling the notion that many of those who are just called “needy” actually have adequate resources; such a conclusion is unwarranted.
   
   A.To speak habitually of the “truly needy” is gradually instilling the notion
   B. To speak habitually of the “truly needy” is instilling the notion gradually
   C. To speak habitually of the “truly needy” is gradually to instill the notion
   D. Speaking habitually of the “truly needy” is to instill the gradual notion
   E. Speaking habitually of the “truly needy” is instilling the gradual notion
    
4. Alcohol not only causes automobile accidents but also the injuries, especially to the spinal cord, may be more severe.
   
   A.the injuries, especially to the spinal cord, may be more severe
   B. there may be more severe injuries, especially to the spinal cord
   C. may increase the severity of injuries, especially to the spinal cord
   D. the injuries to the spinal cord especially may be more severe
   E. the severity of injuries, especially may be more severe
    
5. Many physicians are now suggesting that moderate fevers be allowed to run their course, for they may shorten the illness, enhance the action of antibiotics, and the chances of spreading the infection to others may be reduced.
   
   A.the chances of spreading the infection to others may be reduced
   B. there may be a reduction of chances that the infection be spread to others
   C. the chances that the infection may be spread to others is reduced
   D. may reduce the chances of spreading the infection to others
   E. reduce the chances of spreading the infection to others

Answers:

Written Expression

1. D. shooting.
2. B. more valuable commodities. Also notice the parallelism between the basis of....and the foundation for....
3. D. fishing towns. Please observe the parallelism of (summer) resorts by using (fishing) towns.
4. D. creative. (So obviuos?)
5. C. lain. Notice the fluidity of had studied, (had) invented and (had) lain, though had is grammatically correctly omitted.
6. D. durability. straight grain, attractive color, and durability are all noun parallelism.

           Sentence Correction

1. D. You need (1) a noun that parallels unobtrusive equipment, namely, visible equipment as in D or E, and (2) a structure that, again, parallels the amount of energy used by, that is, that in D.
2. B. D and E are eliminated since we don’t need a clause but a phrase. The only thing to do is to observe parallelism between conversions and increases as in B.
3. C. Only C and E complies with parallelism, either to...and to...or ving...and ving..., but E slightly distorts the meaning of the original sentence by using gradual in stead of gradually.
4. C. Not only cause (v)....but only may increase (v). See the point?
5. E. Structure: may shorten.., (may) enhance...and (may) reduce.