Parallel Structure or Parallelism

Smrt English
15 Nov 201203:35
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script focuses on the concept of parallel structure in writing, which is crucial for creating grammatically balanced and strong sentences. It explains that parallelism involves ensuring that elements within a sentence have the same grammatical form, such as using adverbs or nouns consistently. The script provides several examples to illustrate common mistakes and how to correct them, such as matching adverbs with adverbs and nouns with nouns. It also addresses the issue of maintaining parallel structure in lists and the importance of using the same voice (active or passive) throughout. The video concludes with an exercise for viewers to practice identifying and correcting parallel structure errors, encouraging active engagement with the material.

Takeaways
  • 📝 Parallel structure in sentences requires balance in grammar for strength and clarity.
  • 🔍 Faulty parallelism occurs when elements in a sentence do not share the same grammatical form.
  • 📚 An example of corrected parallelism: using adverbs 'sincerely' and 'passionately' instead of a mix of adverb and phrase.
  • ✅ Another way to correct parallelism is by using nouns, as in 'with sincerity and passion'.
  • 🚫 Avoid mixing different parts of speech, like adjectives and clauses, which can disrupt parallel structure.
  • 🔑 Correcting the sentence about the cafeteria involves aligning all descriptors as adjectives: 'messy', 'noisy', and 'crowded'.
  • 🧐 In the sentence about looking for keys, ensure all elements are prepositional phrases for parallelism: 'in his bedroom', 'under the sofa', and 'on the kitchen counter'.
  • 👀 It's important to notice when items in a list or series are not parallel, such as different parts of speech or voice.
  • 🔄 To fix a sentence with mixed voice, ensure all verbs are in the same voice, either active or passive.
  • ✍️ Practice identifying and correcting parallel structure through exercises, as suggested at the end of the video.
  • 📈 Understanding and applying parallel structure can significantly improve the quality and impact of written communication.
Q & A

  • What is parallel structure in writing?

    -Parallel structure in writing refers to the use of matching grammatical forms, such as adjectives, adverbs, or phrases, to create a balanced and coherent sentence.

  • Why is maintaining parallel structure important in writing?

    -Maintaining parallel structure is important because it ensures clarity, coherence, and a strong rhythmic flow in the text, making it easier for readers to understand.

  • What is an example of faulty parallelism?

    -An example of faulty parallelism is the sentence 'When talking to the group, he spoke sincerely and with passion,' where 'sincerely' is an adverb and 'with passion' is a phrase, causing a mismatch in grammatical structure.

  • How can the example of faulty parallelism be corrected?

    -The example can be corrected by changing 'with passion' to an adverb, resulting in 'When talking to the group, he spoke sincerely and passionately.'

  • What are the different ways to correct parallel structure errors?

    -Errors can be corrected by ensuring all elements are of the same grammatical form, such as using all adjectives, adverbs, or nouns, or by adjusting the sentence structure to match the parts of speech.

  • What is another example of faulty parallelism given in the transcript?

    -Another example is 'The cafeteria was messy, noisy, and it was crowded,' where 'messy' and 'noisy' are adjectives, but 'it was crowded' is a clause, creating an imbalance.

  • How can the cafeteria example be corrected to maintain parallel structure?

    -The cafeteria example can be corrected to 'The cafeteria was messy, noisy, and crowded,' by converting the clause into an adjective to match the other elements.

  • What is the issue with the sentence about university students, business people, and teachers using the internet?

    -The issue is that two clauses use the active voice, while the third uses the passive voice, which is not parallel and creates a grammatical inconsistency.

  • How should the sentence about the internet usage be revised to correct the parallel structure?

    -The sentence should be revised to 'University students use the internet to research essay topics, business people use it to hold video conferences, and teachers use it to deliver homework assignments,' ensuring all clauses are in the active voice.

  • What is the purpose of parallel structure in lists or series within a sentence?

    -Parallel structure in lists or series helps to emphasize each item equally and provides a consistent and predictable pattern for the reader, enhancing readability and understanding.

  • Why is it important to correct parallel structure errors in academic writing?

    -Correcting parallel structure errors in academic writing is crucial because it demonstrates a clear and logical organization of ideas, which is essential for effective communication and can impact the credibility of the writer.

  • What is the practice exercise mentioned in the transcript?

    -The practice exercise is a follow-up activity where learners can apply their understanding of parallel structure by identifying and correcting faulty parallelism in sentences. The link to the exercise is provided at the end of the video.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Understanding Parallel Structure in Writing

The first paragraph discusses the concept of parallel structure in student essays. It explains that sentences should have a balanced grammatical structure. An example is provided to illustrate faulty parallelism, where 'sincerely' is an adverb and 'with passion' is a phrase, which are not the same grammatical structure. The paragraph then corrects this by using two adverbs, 'sincerely' and 'passionately', to maintain balance. It also presents alternative ways to correct parallelism by using nouns or prepositional phrases. The paragraph concludes with an example of how to correct parallel structure in a sentence involving the use of the internet by different groups of people, emphasizing the importance of using the same voice (active or passive) across the sentence.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Parallel structure
Parallel structure refers to the grammatical technique of balancing elements in a sentence to create a sense of harmony and rhythm. It is a key concept in the video, as it is the central focus for improving the quality of student essays. The video provides examples of faulty parallelism and how to correct it, emphasizing the importance of maintaining grammatical consistency for clarity and strength in writing.
💡Adverb
An adverb is a part of speech that modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or even a whole sentence. In the context of the video, adverbs are used to modify verbs, adding detail to the action described. The script illustrates the use of adverbs in maintaining parallel structure, as in the corrected sentence 'he spoke sincerely and passionately,' where 'sincerely' and 'passionately' are both adverbs.
💡Phrase
A phrase is a group of words that function as a single unit in a sentence, often lacking a subject and a verb. The video discusses the issue of mixing phrases with other grammatical structures, which can lead to faulty parallelism. An example from the script is 'with passion,' which is a phrase that does not parallel the adverb 'sincerely,' thus requiring adjustment for grammatical balance.
💡Adjective
An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun. In the video, the use of adjectives is highlighted in the context of parallel structure. The script points out that adjectives should be balanced with other adjectives to maintain grammatical consistency, as seen in the corrected sentence 'the cafeteria was messy, noisy, and crowded,' where all elements are adjectives.
💡Clause
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate (a verb and its object or complement). The video addresses the problem of mixing clauses with other grammatical structures, which can disrupt parallelism. An example given is 'it was crowded,' which is a clause and does not parallel the adjectives 'messy' and 'noisy,' thus requiring a change to maintain parallel structure.
💡Subject
A subject is the person, thing, or idea that performs the action or is being described in a sentence. The video script uses the term in the context of a clause, emphasizing the need for parallel structure where the subject 'it' in 'it was crowded' does not align with the adjectives 'messy' and 'noisy,' necessitating a grammatical adjustment.
💡Verb
A verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. In the video, verbs are mentioned as part of the clause 'it was crowded,' which is an example of a clause that does not parallel with adjectives, thus illustrating the importance of maintaining parallel structure through consistent grammatical elements.
💡Complement
A complement is a word or phrase that completes the meaning of a sentence by providing additional information about the subject or object. The video discusses how a complement, as part of a clause, can cause a disruption in parallel structure if not aligned with other sentence elements. The script corrects this by ensuring all elements are of the same grammatical form.
💡Prepositional phrase
A prepositional phrase is a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun. The video script uses prepositional phrases to illustrate how they can maintain parallel structure when all elements in a sentence are prepositional phrases, as in the corrected example 'he looked in his bedroom, under the sofa, and on the kitchen counter.'
💡Active voice
Active voice is a verb form where the subject of the sentence performs the action. The video contrasts active voice with passive voice in the context of parallel structure, showing that mixing them can cause grammatical imbalance. The script corrects this by ensuring all verbs are in the active voice, as in 'University students use the internet to research essay topics, business people use it to hold video conferences, and teachers use it to deliver homework assignments.'
💡Passive voice
Passive voice is a verb form where the subject of the sentence receives the action. In the video, the use of passive voice is highlighted as a cause of faulty parallelism when it is not aligned with other sentence elements that are in the active voice. The script demonstrates how to correct this by ensuring all verbs are in the same voice, thus maintaining parallel structure.
💡Practice exercise
A practice exercise is a task or activity designed to help individuals apply and reinforce what they have learned. In the video script, a practice exercise is mentioned as a way for viewers to apply their understanding of parallel structure. It is an opportunity for learners to test their knowledge and improve their writing skills by identifying and correcting faulty parallelism in sentences.
Highlights

Parallel structure in student essays often causes problems, requiring balance in grammar.

Sentences should maintain grammatical consistency to be considered balanced and strong.

An example of faulty parallelism is provided, highlighting the need for matching grammatical structures.

Correcting parallelism by using two adverbs instead of a mix of adverb and phrase.

Parallel structure can also be maintained by using two nouns instead of a mix of noun and phrase.

Another example of faulty parallelism is given, involving adjectives and a clause.

The importance of matching parts of speech for parallel structure is emphasized.

A corrected sentence is provided, demonstrating how to maintain parallel structure with adjectives.

A third example illustrates the issue of mixing phrases and nouns, and how to correct it with prepositional phrases.

The transcript discusses the importance of recognizing and correcting parallel structure inconsistencies.

Active and passive voice inconsistency in parallel structure is identified as a problem.

The transcript provides a corrected example using active voice to maintain parallel structure.

The importance of parallel structure for sentence strength and clarity is reiterated.

A practice exercise is offered at the end of the video to help reinforce understanding of parallel structure.

The transcript uses clear examples to demonstrate the concept of parallel structure.

Different ways to correct faulty parallelism are presented, including changing adverbs to nouns or matching voice types.

The transcript emphasizes the role of parallel structure in improving the quality of student essays.

A link to a practice exercise is provided for further learning and application of parallel structure.

Transcripts

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ParallelismWriting TipsGrammarSentence StructureAdverbsAdjectivesClausesActive VoicePassive VoiceWriting ExercisesLanguage EducationContent Editing