Parallel Structure
TLDRThe video script is an insightful guide on the importance of parallel structure in writing. It begins by highlighting common mistakes made by students in their papers, focusing on the lack of parallelism. The speaker provides clear examples to illustrate the concept of balance in sentence construction when using conjunctions like 'and', 'but', and 'or'. The explanation extends to the use of phrases and sentences, emphasizing the need for grammatical consistency across connected elements. The script also covers the 'first comma rule' for compound sentences and the correct application of correlative conjunctions such as 'both...and', 'not only...but also', 'either...or', and 'neither...nor'. The aim is to help viewers improve their writing by ensuring their sentences are not only grammatically correct but also aesthetically balanced and easy to understand.
Takeaways
- 📚 Parallel structure is a grammatical concept where two or more parts of a sentence should be in the same grammatical form for balance.
- ✅ To correct parallel structure, ensure that both sides of a conjunction like 'and' or 'but' are in the same form (e.g., noun to noun, verb to verb).
- 🔍 When using 'and' to connect elements, check for balance by comparing the forms of the words or phrases on either side.
- 📝 Examples of correct parallel structure include sentences with balanced verbs in the same tense or adjectives describing the same noun.
- 📌 Connectors like 'and,' 'or,' 'but,' 'nor,' and correlative conjunctions like 'both...and,' 'not only...but also,' require parallel structure.
- ⚠️ A common mistake is using different forms of words or phrases on either side of a connector, which disrupts parallelism.
- 💡 When connecting two complete sentences with a conjunction, use a comma before the conjunction (known as the 'first comma rule').
- 📈 In compound sentences, maintaining parallel structure involves ensuring that both clauses are grammatically complete and balanced.
- 📉 It's possible to reduce or omit repeated subjects or verbs in parallel sentences without losing grammatical balance.
- 📦 A phrase is a group of words without a complete thought, while a sentence includes a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.
- 📋 When listing items with a conjunction like 'and' or 'or,' use a comma before the conjunction in a series of three or more items (known as the 'Oxford comma').
- 🚫 The conjunction 'neither...nor' is used to express the negation of both items in a sentence and requires parallel structure.
Q & A
What is the main issue the speaker found in the students' papers?
-The main issue was mistakes with parallel structure in their writing.
What does parallel structure mean in the context of grammar?
-Parallel structure means that when two or more elements are connected by a conjunction, they should be of the same grammatical form to maintain balance in the sentence.
What is the first example of incorrect parallel structure given by the speaker?
-The first example is 'students want to learn, and getting good grades', which is corrected to 'students want to learn and to get good grades'.
What is the second example of incorrect parallel structure provided in the transcript?
-The second example is 'the teacher graded the paper carefully, and being specific', which is corrected to 'the teacher graded the paper carefully, and specifically'.
What is a phrase and how does it differ from a sentence?
-A phrase is a group of words that does not contain a subject and a verb and does not express a complete thought. A sentence, on the other hand, contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
What is the 'first comma rule' the speaker refers to?
-The 'first comma rule' refers to using a comma before the connecting word when you have two complete sentences on both sides of the connector in a compound sentence.
What is a compound sentence and how does it relate to parallel structure?
-A compound sentence is a sentence that contains at least two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction. It relates to parallel structure in that the clauses on either side of the conjunction should be balanced and of the same grammatical form.
What is a correlative conjunction and how is it used?
-A correlative conjunction is a pair of conjunctions that work together to connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. Examples include 'both...and', 'not only...but also', and 'either...or'. They are used to maintain parallel structure by ensuring the elements connected are of the same form.
What is the rule for using commas in a list of items connected by a conjunction?
-When making a list of three or more items connected by a conjunction, use a comma after each item except the last, followed by the conjunction, and then the final item in the list.
How can you reduce a compound sentence while maintaining parallel structure?
-You can reduce a compound sentence by eliminating repeated subjects or verbs when they are the same on both sides of the connector, provided that the remaining elements still maintain grammatical balance.
What does the speaker suggest as a way to practice and improve understanding of parallel structure?
-The speaker suggests practicing by going out and speaking, as it is a good way to learn and reinforce the understanding of grammar concepts like parallel structure.
Why is it important to maintain parallel structure in writing?
-Maintaining parallel structure in writing is important because it ensures clarity, coherence, and readability of the text. It helps to avoid confusion and makes the writing more aesthetically pleasing and grammatically correct.
Outlines
📚 Understanding Parallel Structure Mistakes
The speaker addresses a common issue in students' papers regarding parallel structure. They provide an explanation of what parallel structure is and how it should be maintained in writing. Two examples are given to illustrate mistakes and their corrections. The importance of balance in sentence construction when using conjunctions like 'and' is emphasized. The summary also touches on the need for matching forms on both sides of a connector to achieve parallel structure.
🔍 Balancing Connectors and Parallel Structure
This paragraph delves deeper into parallel structure with examples using the word 'and'. It highlights the necessity of checking for balance on both sides of a connector. Various connector words are introduced, and the paragraph explains that phrases and sentences, not just words, should maintain parallelism. The concept of a phrase is clarified, and the importance of using a comma before a connector when joining two complete sentences is discussed.
✅ Correcting Parallel Structure with Reduced Sentences
The speaker continues with examples of parallel structure, focusing on how to correct sentences by reducing them while maintaining balance. They demonstrate how to eliminate repetitive subjects and verbs when they are the same on both sides of a connector. The 'first comma rule' is introduced, which involves using a comma before the connector when joining two complete sentences. The paragraph also covers how to handle lists of items connected by conjunctions like 'and' and 'or'.
🛠️ Advanced Parallel Structure with Correlative Conjunctions
This section tackles more complex examples of parallel structure, particularly with correlative conjunctions like 'both...and', 'not only...but also', 'either...or', and 'neither...nor'. The speaker explains the correct usage of these conjunctions and emphasizes the need for parallel and balanced elements after each part of the conjunction. The importance of maintaining the same form of verbs or other grammatical components is highlighted to ensure parallelism.
🗣️ Speaking as a Way to Learn and Practice Parallel Structure
The final paragraph concludes the discussion on parallel structure by encouraging active speaking as a method to learn and practice the concept. The speaker uses the conjunction 'neither...nor' to make a point about the effectiveness of speaking in language learning. They summarize the key points covered in the video and motivate the audience to apply their knowledge of parallel structure in their writing and speaking.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Parallel structure
💡Connectors
💡Balance
💡Phrases
💡Sentences
💡Gerunds
💡Adjectives
💡Adverbs
💡Correlative conjunctions
💡Comma rule
💡Reduction
Highlights
The most common mistake students made was with parallel structure in their writing.
Parallel structure means that both parts of a sentence connected by a word like 'and' need to be balanced.
To correct an unbalanced sentence, ensure that the forms on either side of the conjunction are the same.
Examples given include correcting 'students want to learn and getting good grades' to 'students want to learn and to get good grades'.
Another example involves changing 'the teacher graded the paper carefully and being specific' to 'the teacher graded the paper carefully and specifically'.
When using a connector like 'and', 'but', or 'or', it's important to maintain balance in the sentence structure.
Phrases are groups of words that don't form a complete sentence, unlike sentences which have a subject, verb, and complete thought.
In complex examples, complete sentences can be connected using a connector like 'or', forming a compound sentence with correct parallel structure.
The 'first comma rule' states that a comma should be used before the connecting word when connecting two complete sentences.
When connecting two sentences, it can be beneficial to ensure the verbs and sentence structures are the same.
In some cases, sentences can be reduced while maintaining parallel structure, as long as the subject and verb forms are consistent on both sides of the connector.
When listing items with a connector like 'and', use a comma before the connector and no additional commas.
Correlative conjunctions like 'both...and', 'not only...but also', 'either...or', and 'neither...nor' are used to combine ideas and require parallel structure.
After correlative conjunctions, the words, phrases, or sentences that follow must be parallel and balanced.
The use of 'not only...but also' is a more sophisticated way of adding information in a sentence.
The conjunction 'either...or' indicates a choice between two options.
The conjunction 'neither...nor' is used to negate both parts of a sentence.
Speaking is encouraged as a way to practice and reinforce learning about parallel structure.
Transcripts
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