Parallel Forms in English: What is Parallel Structure in English?

Learn Academic English
20 Sept 202010:29
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script focuses on the importance of parallel forms in English grammar, which are crucial for clear and effective communication, particularly in writing essays or cover letters. The presenter explains that parallel forms involve using the same grammatical structure for a series of related items. Using the example of Covid-19 symptoms, the video illustrates how incorrect use of parallel forms can lead to awkward sentences. The correct form, 'fatigue,' is suggested to maintain parallelism. The video provides several examples of correct parallel structures and common mistakes, offering corrections for each. It emphasizes the significance of parallel forms in crafting a thesis statement or summarizing key points in a cover letter. The presenter advises viewers to practice using parallel structures, especially when listing multiple points, to enhance their writing skills.

Takeaways
  • 📝 Parallel forms are grammatical structures where similar parts of a sentence are expressed in the same way, which is crucial for clear and effective communication.
  • 🤔 Ignoring parallel forms can lead to awkward or confusing sentences, making them harder to understand.
  • 📚 Parallel forms are particularly important in formal writing, such as essays or cover letters.
  • 🔍 An example of incorrect parallel form is the sentence about Covid-19 symptoms, which incorrectly mixes a noun with an adjective.
  • 🧩 To correct the sentence, 'tired' should be changed to a noun form like 'fatigue' to maintain parallel structure.
  • 🌐 Correct parallel forms can enhance language learning, as demonstrated by the examples provided in the script.
  • 🎓 True fluency in a language is indicated by the ability to express oneself easily and to dream in that language.
  • 📈 Improving pronunciation involves listening to native speakers, imitating their speech, and learning the sounds of the target language.
  • 📚 Vocabulary can be learned by engaging in activities like listening to music and reading for at least 10 minutes a day.
  • ✍️ When writing a thesis statement or a main idea sentence, ensure that the listed items are in parallel forms to maintain clarity and coherence.
  • 💡 For job applications, use parallel forms in cover letters to list reasons why you are a good fit for the position, such as experience, education, and passion for the subject.
Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the video?

    -The main focus of the video is to teach viewers about parallel forms in English grammar and how to use them correctly to improve their writing.

  • Why are parallel forms important in English grammar?

    -Parallel forms are important because they ensure that elements in a sentence are structured in a consistent and coherent manner, making the sentence easier to understand and more aesthetically pleasing.

  • What is the issue with the sentence 'The symptoms of Covid-19 are a cough fever and tired'?

    -The issue is that 'tired' is an adjective, while 'cough' and 'fever' are nouns. To correct the sentence, 'tired' should be changed to a noun form, such as 'fatigue', to maintain parallel structure.

  • What is a noun suffix that can be used to convert adjectives to nouns?

    -The noun suffix '-ness' can be used to convert adjectives to nouns, but it's not always the most common or appropriate choice. In the case of 'tired', 'fatigue' is a more common noun form.

  • How can one improve their English pronunciation?

    -One can improve their English pronunciation by listening to native speakers, imitating their speech, and learning the sounds of the language.

  • What is a common mistake made when using parallel forms?

    -A common mistake is mixing different grammatical forms, such as verbs, gerunds, and nouns, within a list or series without maintaining parallel structure.

  • How can one learn vocabulary easily according to the video?

    -One can learn vocabulary easily by not only listening to music but also by reading for at least 10 minutes a day.

  • What are the three best ways to learn English at home?

    -The video suggests that listening to music, reading for at least 10 minutes a day, and imitating native speakers are three effective ways to learn English at home.

  • Why is it particularly important to be careful with parallel forms in a thesis statement or a cover letter?

    -It is important because these are key sentences that list the main ideas or reasons that will be discussed in the rest of the essay or letter. Incorrect parallel forms can confuse the reader and detract from the overall message.

  • How can one correct the sentence 'I would be a good fit for the teaching position because of my experience education, and because I love learning languages'?

    -The sentence can be corrected by changing 'because I love learning languages' to a noun form, such as 'my love of learning languages', to maintain parallel structure with 'experience' and 'education'.

  • What does the video suggest for improving sentences with incorrect parallel forms?

    -The video suggests rewriting sentences to ensure that all elements in a series or list are in the same grammatical form, such as all verbs, all gerunds, or all nouns, to correct parallel forms.

  • What is the final tip given in the video for using parallel forms?

    -The final tip is to be especially careful about parallel forms when writing a thesis statement for an essay or a main idea sentence in a cover letter, as these are critical for conveying the intended message clearly.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Understanding Parallel Forms in English Writing

This paragraph introduces the concept of parallel forms in English grammar, emphasizing their importance for clear and effective writing. The presenter explains that parallel forms involve using the same grammatical structure for items in a list or series, which can enhance the readability of sentences. A common mistake is highlighted, where the sentence about Covid-19 symptoms incorrectly mixes a noun with an adjective. The correction provided is to use 'fatigue' as a noun, aligning with the nouns 'cough' and 'fever'. The paragraph also includes examples of correct parallel forms in sentences related to language learning, illustrating how maintaining grammatical consistency improves sentence structure.

05:02
🤔 Practicing Parallel Forms for Improved Grammar

The second paragraph is an interactive segment inviting viewers to practice identifying and correcting parallel form errors in sentences. The presenter provides a series of sentences with mistakes and then offers the corrected versions, ensuring that each sentence features parallel structures. The examples cover various forms such as gerunds, verbs, and prepositional phrases, all of which are adjusted to maintain grammatical parallelism. The paragraph also touches on the significance of parallel forms in formal writing, like essays and cover letters, where clarity and precision are crucial. The presenter advises viewers to be particularly attentive to parallel structures when crafting thesis statements or summarizing key points.

10:06
👍 Encouraging Viewer Engagement and Channel Growth

The final paragraph serves as a call to action for viewers, encouraging them to like, subscribe, and share the video to support the channel's growth and reach a wider audience. The presenter expresses gratitude for the viewers' support and reiterates the importance of community engagement in expanding the channel's impact. This paragraph also includes a prompt for viewers to practice their skills by answering a question in the comments section, fostering further interaction and learning.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Parallel forms
Parallel forms refer to the grammatical structure where words, phrases, or clauses of the same grammatical form are arranged in a series. In the video, it is emphasized as a crucial aspect of English grammar that makes sentences more coherent and easier to understand. An example from the script is the corrected sentence 'Symptoms of Covid-19 are a cough, fever, and fatigue,' where 'cough,' 'fever,' and 'fatigue' are all nouns, maintaining parallel structure.
💡Grammar point
A grammar point is a specific rule or concept within the broader field of grammar. The video focuses on the grammar point of parallel forms to help improve writing skills. It is central to the video's theme as it directly addresses how to construct grammatically correct and stylistically consistent sentences.
💡English writing
English writing is the act of composing text in the English language. The video aims to assist viewers in becoming better English writers by understanding and applying parallel forms. It is a key concept as the entire video is dedicated to improving this skill through the use of parallel structures in sentences.
💡Practice
Practice involves engaging in activities to improve or master a skill. In the context of the video, practice is a method for viewers to apply what they've learned about parallel forms to enhance their English writing. The script encourages viewers to practice by pausing the video and rewriting sentences with correct parallel forms.
💡Correct sentence structure
Correct sentence structure is the proper arrangement of words and phrases to create grammatically accurate sentences. The video emphasizes the importance of parallel forms in achieving correct sentence structure. An example from the script is the sentence 'People can learn vocabulary easily by not only listening to music but also reading for at least 10 minutes a day,' which uses parallel gerunds to maintain structure.
💡Language learning
Language learning is the process of acquiring knowledge of a new language. The video uses language learning as a context to demonstrate the use of parallel forms in sentences. It is a relevant concept as it provides real-world examples of how parallel forms can be applied in discussions about learning English.
💡Pronunciation
Pronunciation is the way in which words are articulated when spoken. The video touches on improving pronunciation as part of language learning, and it provides parallel forms for activities that can enhance it, such as 'listening to native speakers, imitating their speech, and learning the sounds of the target language.'
💡Vocabulary
Vocabulary refers to the words known to a person or within a language. The video script discusses methods for expanding vocabulary, such as listening to music and reading, using parallel forms to structure the sentence and emphasize the different ways one can learn new words.
💡Fluency
Fluency in a language is the ability to express oneself easily and without effort. The video uses fluency as a benchmark for language proficiency, illustrating it with a sentence that employs parallel structure: 'You know that you are truly fluent in a language when you can express yourself easily and when you begin to dream in it.'
💡Thesis statement
A thesis statement is a central idea or argument in an essay or paper. The video highlights the importance of parallel forms in crafting a thesis statement, as it often lists multiple points that need to be grammatically consistent. An example from the script is the corrected job application statement: 'I would be a good fit for the teaching position because of my experience, education, and love of learning languages.'
💡Cover letter
A cover letter is a document sent with a job application that outlines the applicant's qualifications and interest in the job. The video emphasizes the use of parallel forms in a cover letter to present a clear and professional image. It provides an example of how to correct a non-parallel structure into a parallel one to enhance the effectiveness of the main idea sentence.
💡Job application
Job application is the process of applying for a job, which often includes submitting a resume and cover letter. The video uses the context of a job application to illustrate the importance of parallel forms in presenting reasons why one would be a good fit for a position. It shows how to restructure sentences to maintain parallelism and improve the overall impact of the application.
Highlights

The video presents a grammar point on parallel forms to improve English writing skills.

Parallel forms refer to the use of similar grammatical structures in a sentence.

Ignoring parallel forms can lead to awkward or hard-to-understand sentences.

Parallel forms are crucial in essays and cover letters.

An example sentence with a mistake is provided to illustrate the concept.

The sentence 'symptoms of Covid-19 are a cough fever and tired' lacks parallel forms.

Native speakers use control of word forms to maintain parallel structures.

The word 'tired' is an adjective and needs to be changed to a noun form for parallelism.

Using 'fatigue' as a noun maintains parallel forms in the Covid-19 symptoms sentence.

Examples of correct parallel forms are provided in the context of language learning.

Common mistakes in parallel forms are discussed with suggested corrections.

Practice exercises are given for viewers to apply the concept of parallel forms.

The importance of parallel forms in a thesis statement or main idea sentence is emphasized.

An example of a cover letter for a language teacher job is used to demonstrate correct parallel forms.

The phrase 'my love of learning languages' is suggested to correct the parallel form in the cover letter example.

The video encourages viewers to practice in the comments and to like, subscribe, and share for channel growth.

The presenter thanks the viewers and encourages them to take care.

Transcripts

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