Parallel Structure: The Basics
TLDRThe video script discusses the concept of parallel structure in English grammar, which involves using coordinating conjunctions such as 'and,' 'or,' and 'but' to connect words or phrases that share the same grammatical function. The script provides several examples to illustrate correct parallel structure, including the use of nouns, gerunds, and infinitives. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining the same verb form and tense when connecting verbs with 'or.' The script also touches on the common practice of omitting repeated helping verbs in sentences. Additionally, it offers guidance on the use of commas in lists when using coordinating conjunctions, advocating for including a comma before the final 'and' in a series for clarity. The summary serves to clarify the rules of parallel structure and its significance in constructing grammatically correct and coherent sentences.
Takeaways
- 📚 Parallel structure is a grammatical technique that uses coordinating conjunctions like 'and', 'or', and 'but' to connect words or phrases that have the same grammatical function.
- 🔗 When using 'and', the connected words or phrases should be nouns, gerunds, or infinitives to maintain correct parallel structure.
- 🏃 In sentences with 'or' as the coordinating conjunction, the verbs must be in the same tense and form to ensure parallelism.
- ⚽️ Gerunds, which are verbs ending in '-ing' that function as nouns, should be parallel when connected by 'and', as in 'playing soccer and baking'.
- ⛄️ Adjectives should also be parallel when connected by 'but', as in 'it was cold but sunny'.
- 🍲 When listing items with a coordinating conjunction, it's common to use commas to separate them, including the Oxford comma before 'and'.
- 🚴♀️ In English, it's acceptable to omit repeated parts of infinitives when they are understood from context, as in 'he likes to play soccer and bake'.
- ✍️ The past progressive tense can be used in parallel structure, and it's common to omit the second helping verb for brevity, like 'they were running and jumping all day'.
- 📝 Parallel structure is not only about coordinating conjunctions but also about ensuring that the grammatical form of the connected elements is consistent.
- 🤔 The use of commas in lists can be a matter of style, and it's always good to check with a teacher or style guide if unsure.
- 📈 Understanding and using parallel structure can improve the clarity and readability of your writing, making your sentences more harmonious and easier to follow.
Q & A
What is parallel structure in English grammar?
-Parallel structure, also known as parallelism, is the use of coordinating conjunctions like 'and', 'or', and 'but' to connect two words or phrases in a sentence that have the same grammatical function.
What is the role of coordinating conjunctions in parallel structure?
-Coordinating conjunctions such as 'and', 'or', and 'but' are used to connect elements that are grammatically similar, ensuring the sentence maintains correct parallel structure.
How does the example 'we put carrots and onions in the soup' demonstrate parallel structure?
-This example demonstrates parallel structure by using the coordinating conjunction 'and' to connect two nouns, 'carrots' and 'onions', which are in the same grammatical function within the sentence.
What are gerunds and how do they relate to parallel structure?
-Gerunds are verbs that function as nouns. In the context of parallel structure, they must be in the same grammatical form when connected by a coordinating conjunction, as shown by the example 'he likes playing soccer and baking'.
How can infinitives be used in parallel structure?
-Infinitives, which are the 'to' form of a verb, can be used in parallel structure by ensuring that both connected phrases are in the infinitive form, as in 'he likes to play soccer and to bake'.
Why is it important to maintain the same verb form when using a coordinating conjunction?
-Maintaining the same verb form is crucial for parallel structure because it ensures that the elements connected by the coordinating conjunction are grammatically consistent, which aids in clarity and coherence.
What is the significance of using commas in lists within parallel structure?
-Commas are used to separate items in a list, and it is common to include a comma before the coordinating conjunction (usually 'and') in a list of three or more items. This is known as the Oxford comma and helps to avoid ambiguity.
What is the role of the Oxford comma in lists with parallel structure?
-The Oxford comma is the final comma used before the coordinating conjunction (like 'and') in a list. It provides clarity by separating the last two items in a series, which can be particularly important in parallel structures.
Why might the second helping verb be deleted in a sentence with parallel structure?
-The second helping verb might be deleted for stylistic reasons or to avoid redundancy, especially when the verbs share the same auxiliary verb, as in 'they were running and jumping all day'.
How does the example 'she runs or rides her bike every day' show correct parallel structure?
-This example shows correct parallel structure by using the coordinating conjunction 'or' to connect two verbs in the same tense, 'runs' and 'rides', which are both in the simple present tense.
What is the recommended approach when listing more than two items with parallel structure?
-When listing more than two items, it is recommended to use commas to separate each item, including the Oxford comma before the final 'and', for clarity and to maintain parallel structure.
Outlines
📚 Understanding Parallel Structure in English Grammar
This paragraph explains the concept of parallel structure, which is the use of coordinating conjunctions like 'and', 'or', and 'but' to connect words, phrases, or clauses that share the same grammatical function. It illustrates this with examples, such as 'we put carrots and onions in the soup', where 'carrots' and 'onions' are both nouns connected by 'and'. The paragraph also discusses the importance of maintaining the same grammatical form when connecting elements, as seen in 'he likes playing soccer and baking', where both are gerunds. It further clarifies that this principle applies to nouns, gerunds, and infinitives, and emphasizes the correct verb form and tense must be used, as in 'she runs or rides her bike every day'.
📋 Comma Usage in Lists and Parallel Structure
This paragraph delves into the correct use of commas in lists when employing parallel structure. It emphasizes the use of the serial or Oxford comma—the comma before the conjunction 'and' in a list of three or more items—as a way to improve clarity. The paragraph provides examples such as 'we put peas, carrots, and onions in the soup', where commas are used to separate items in the list. It also touches on the common practice of omitting the second helping verb in sentences like 'they were running and jumping all day', which is a form of ellipsis. The paragraph concludes with a note on differing opinions regarding the final comma before 'and' in lists and suggests consulting with a teacher for any variations in style or preference.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Parallel Structure
💡Coordinating Conjunctions
💡Nouns
💡Gerunds
💡Infinitives
💡Verb Form
💡Present Participle
💡Adjectives
💡Commas
💡Oxford Comma
💡Verb Tense
Highlights
Parallel structure is a grammatical technique using coordinating conjunctions like 'and', 'or', and 'but' to connect two words or phrases of the same grammatical function.
In the sentence 'we put carrots and onions in the soup', 'carrots' and 'onions' are both nouns, connected correctly with 'and'.
Parallel structure can also be applied to gerunds, such as 'playing soccer and baking', which share the same grammatical form.
When using infinitives, both parts of the sentence connected by a conjunction should be in the same form, as in 'to play soccer and to bake'.
It is common in English to omit the repeated part of an infinitive, as in 'he likes to play soccer and bake'.
Coordinating conjunctions can connect verbs in the same tense, as shown by 'she runs or rides her bike every day'.
The verb form must be consistent when using a coordinating conjunction, avoiding mixing tenses like 'she ran or rides'.
In the sentence 'they were running and jumping all day', the past progressive form 'were running' is followed by the present participle 'jumping'.
It is common to delete the second helping verb in sentences with parallel structure, as in 'they were running and were jumping' becoming 'they were running and jumping'.
The sentence 'it was cold but sunny today' uses 'but' to connect two adjectives of the same grammatical function.
Commas should be used in lists when connecting more than two items with a coordinating conjunction, as in 'we put peas, carrots, and onions in the soup'.
There is a debate about the Oxford comma, with some preferring to include it before 'and' in a list, while others do not.
The presenter's professional opinion is to include the comma before 'and' in lists for clarity.
Parallel structure ensures grammatical consistency and clarity in sentences by connecting elements of the same form and function.
Examples provided in the transcript demonstrate the correct application of parallel structure with nouns, gerunds, and infinitives.
The use of parallel structure can enhance the readability and flow of written and spoken English.
Understanding and applying parallel structure is important for effective communication in English.
The transcript provides clear examples and explanations to help learners grasp the concept of parallel structure.
The presenter suggests consulting with a teacher for any variations in opinion regarding the use of commas in lists.
Transcripts
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
Thanks for rating: