Parallel structure | Syntax | Khan Academy

Khan Academy
23 Aug 201605:04
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script revolves around the concept of parallel structure in English grammar and style. It begins with a humorous discussion on the spelling of the word 'parallel,' highlighting the alignment of the two 'l's in the word as an example of parallelism. The hosts delve into the importance of parallel structure, which involves the alignment of grammatical forms in a series within a sentence, such as using gerunds ('-ing' form of verbs) consistently. They provide examples of sentences with and without parallel structure, emphasizing the stylistic harmony that comes from parallelism. The conversation also touches on the use of active versus passive voice, infinitives versus gerunds, and the juxtaposition of individual modifiers against longer phrases. The hosts caution that while parallel structure is generally preferred for stylistic consistency, it can be intentionally broken for emphasis. The script concludes with a light-hearted exchange about the term 'perpendicularity,' a playful invention to contrast with parallel structure. The video ends on a warm note, with the hosts expressing their appreciation for an intern named Paige.

Takeaways
  • 📝 Parallel structure is a stylistic consideration rather than a strict grammar rule, aiming for harmonious sentence construction.
  • 🔍 The word 'parallel' itself has parallel 'll's in the middle, which is a fun mnemonic for spelling.
  • 📚 In a sentence with a list, all elements should align in form, such as using gerunds, infinitives, or participles consistently.
  • 🤔 While grammatically correct, sentences that lack parallel structure can appear stylistically awkward or disjointed.
  • ✅ An example of parallel structure is 'I love fishing, skiing, and rock climbing,' where each activity is a gerund.
  • ❌ Non-parallel structure can be found in sentences like 'I love fishing, skiing, and to climb rocks,' which lacks harmony.
  • 🔄 Active versus passive voice should be consistent in parallel structures, such as 'The cake was baked, frosted, and sprinkled'.
  • 🏋️‍♂️ Gerunds and infinitives are different verb forms; ensure they are used consistently in lists for parallelism.
  • 📏 Be cautious when mixing short adjectives with longer phrases to maintain parallel structure, like 'large, damp, and dangerous'.
  • 👀 Breaking parallel structure intentionally can be used for emphasis, drawing attention to a particular element in a sentence.
  • 🌟 The general tendency is to create harmonious sentences, but the ability to break this rule can be a powerful tool in writing.
  • 🎓 The conversation highlights the importance of parallel structure for style and coherence, and the flexibility writers have in applying it.
Q & A

  • What is the correct spelling of the word 'parallel'?

    -The word 'parallel' is spelled with two 'l's together in the middle of the word, which is a fun coincidence as it visually represents the concept of parallelism.

  • What is parallel structure in grammar and style?

    -Parallel structure refers to the arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence so that they are of the same grammatical form, creating a harmonious and balanced construction.

  • Can you provide an example of a sentence with parallel structure?

    -An example of a sentence with parallel structure is, 'I love fishing, skiing, and rock climbing,' where each activity is represented by a gerund (-ing form).

  • What happens when parallel structure is not maintained in a sentence?

    -When parallel structure is not maintained, the sentence may still be grammatically correct but it can appear stylistically awkward or disjointed, lacking the harmonious flow of parallel construction.

  • How does active versus passive voice affect parallel structure?

    -Active and passive voice can disrupt parallel structure if they are mixed within a list. For example, 'The cake was baked, frosted, and I put sprinkles on it' lacks parallelism because the first two items are in passive voice, while the third is in active voice.

  • What is an infinitive verb, and how does it differ from a gerund?

    -An infinitive verb is the basic form of a verb, often preceded by 'to' (e.g., 'to ski'). A gerund, on the other hand, is a verb form ending in '-ing' that functions as a noun (e.g., 'skiing'). Mixing these forms can break parallel structure.

  • Why might someone intentionally break parallel structure?

    -A writer might intentionally break parallel structure to draw attention to a particular element in a sentence or to create a specific effect, such as emphasizing the last item in a list.

  • What is the term 'perpendicularity' in the context of the script?

    -In the script, 'perpendicularity' is a playful term invented to describe the opposite of parallel structure, where elements in a sentence are deliberately arranged not to align with each other.

  • How can adjectives affect the parallel structure of a sentence?

    -When a series of individual adjectives is followed by a longer phrase, it can disrupt the parallel structure. For example, 'sharks are large, damp, and not to be trifled with' breaks the parallelism between the adjectives and the longer phrase.

  • Why is it important to maintain parallel structure in writing?

    -Maintaining parallel structure in writing is important because it enhances clarity, readability, and the aesthetic quality of the text. It helps to create a sense of balance and coherence in sentences that contain lists or series.

  • What is the significance of the phrase 'You've been a wonderful intern, Paige' at the end of the script?

    -This phrase signifies a farewell to Paige, who appears to be concluding her internship. It reflects the appreciation and camaraderie among the team members, adding a personal and warm touch to the end of the discussion.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Introduction to Parallel Structure

The video begins with a group of grammar enthusiasts discussing the concept of parallel structure. They touch upon the interesting fact about the spelling of the word 'parallel', where the two 'l's are parallel to each other in the middle of the word. The conversation then shifts to explain that parallel structure is more about style than grammar. It involves ensuring that elements in a series, such as verbs or nouns, are aligned in a sentence for stylistic harmony. Examples are given to illustrate correct parallel structure ('I love fishing, skiing, and rock climbing.') versus incorrect structure ('I love fishing, skiing, and to climb rocks.'). The hosts also discuss the importance of maintaining consistency in voice (active vs. passive), verb forms (infinitives vs. gerunds), and the use of individual modifiers versus longer phrases to maintain parallelism.

05:00
🎂 Active vs. Passive Voice and Modifier Consistency

The discussion continues with an example highlighting the difference between active and passive voice in the context of parallel structure. The hosts use the example of a cake being prepared to demonstrate how changing from passive to active voice ('the cake was baked, frosted, and I put sprinkles on it.' to 'the cake was baked, frosted, and sprinkled.') can create a more harmonious sentence. They also address the use of infinitives versus gerunds and the contrast between lists of individual terms and longer phrases. The video acknowledges that sometimes breaking parallel structure can be intentional for emphasis. The hosts playfully introduce the term 'perpendicularity' for the act of intentionally breaking parallel structure. The segment ends on a light note, with the hosts bidding farewell to an intern named Paige, expressing their appreciation for her work.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Parallel structure
Parallel structure refers to the grammatical and stylistic technique of using the same grammatical form or pattern for all items in a series or list within a sentence. It is crucial for maintaining consistency and flow in writing. In the video, the concept is introduced as a stylistic consideration rather than a strict grammatical rule. An example used in the script is 'I love fishing, skiing, and rock climbing,' where all activities are presented in the gerund form, maintaining parallel structure.
💡Gerund
A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and is used as a noun in a sentence. It represents an action as if it were an object. In the context of the video, gerunds are used to illustrate parallel structure, as seen in the sentence 'I love fishing, skiing, and rock climbing,' where 'fishing,' 'skiing,' and 'rock climbing' are all gerunds functioning as nouns in the list.
💡Active voice
Active voice is a verb form where the subject of the sentence performs the action. It is often more direct and concise than passive voice. In the video, active voice is contrasted with passive voice to demonstrate parallel structure. An example given is 'the cake was baked, frosted, and sprinkled,' where 'sprinkled' is used as an active verb to maintain consistency with 'baked' and 'frosted.'
💡Passive voice
Passive voice is a verb form where the subject of the sentence receives the action. It is used when the action is more important than who or what is performing it. In the script, the passive voice is discussed in the context of the sentence 'the cake was baked, frosted, and I put sprinkles on it,' where 'I put' breaks the parallel structure established by the passive 'was baked' and 'was frosted.'
💡Infinitive
An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by the word 'to' (e.g., 'to ski'). It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence. The video discusses infinitives in the context of verb forms, contrasting them with gerunds. For instance, 'to ski' is an infinitive, while 'skiing' is a gerund, and maintaining parallel structure requires consistency in verb forms.
💡Adjectives
Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns, providing details about their qualities. In the video, adjectives are used to demonstrate how parallel structure can be maintained in a list of descriptors. An example is 'sharks are large, damp, and dangerous,' where 'large,' 'damp,' and 'dangerous' are adjectives that describe 'sharks' in a parallel manner.
💡Phrases
A phrase is a group of words that work together to convey a concept but do not usually include both a subject and a verb. In the context of the video, phrases are discussed in relation to parallel structure, where it's noted that a list of individual terms ('large, damp') can be contrasted with a longer phrase ('not to be trifled with'), and the latter can break the parallel structure for emphasis.
💡Harmonious
Harmonious refers to a pleasing, consistent, or orderly arrangement of elements. In the video, harmonious is used to describe the aesthetic quality of sentences that follow parallel structure. It implies a sense of balance and coherence in the construction of sentences, such as 'baked, frosted, and sprinkled,' which sounds harmonious due to its parallel structure.
💡Perpendicular
Perpendicular is a term that means at a right angle to something, or in the context of the video, it humorously refers to deliberately breaking parallel structure for a specific effect. The term is playfully introduced as 'perpendicularity' to contrast with parallel structure, suggesting a deliberate choice to create a non-parallel sentence for emphasis or style.
💡Style
Style in writing refers to the way language is used to express ideas, including the choice of words, sentence structure, and other elements that contribute to the voice and tone of the text. The video emphasizes that parallel structure is more about style than strict grammar rules. It's about creating a sentence that is aesthetically pleasing and coherent, which aligns with the theme of the video.
💡Editing
Editing is the process of reviewing and revising written material to improve its clarity, coherence, and adherence to stylistic and grammatical standards. In the script, editing is mentioned in the context of correcting a personal statement where parallel structure is not maintained. It highlights the role of editors in ensuring that writing is not only grammatically correct but also stylistically consistent.
Highlights

Parallel structure is more about style than grammar

Parallel structure means words in a list should line up and be consistent

Example of parallel structure: 'I love fishing, skiing, and rock climbing.'

Breaking parallel structure can be done intentionally for stylistic effect

Maintain parallel structure with active vs passive voice

Example of active vs passive: 'The cake was baked, frosted, and sprinkled.'

Maintain parallel structure with infinitive vs gerund verb forms

Example of infinitive vs gerund: 'to ski' vs 'skiing'

Be cautious when mixing individual adjectives with longer descriptive phrases

Example of adjectives vs phrase: 'large, damp, and dangerous' vs 'large, damp, and not to be trifled with'

Parallel structure helps make sentences harmonious and easier to read

Breaking parallel structure can draw attention to the last element in a list

The hosts humorously invent the term 'perpendicularity' as the opposite of parallel structure

Parallel structure is a general writing tendency, but can be intentionally broken

The hosts commend Paige as a wonderful intern and express they will miss her

Paige thanks the hosts and expresses she will miss them too

The hosts sign off on the topic of parallel structure

Transcripts

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