Parallel Structure
In a parallel Structure, you must use equal grammatical units. For example if the first item is a noun, then the following items should also be a nouns. Likewise if the first action is a verb, then the following verbs should also be verbs. Here are some examples to help. :)
1) Students capped their pens and closed their notebooks.
Capped and closed are both simple past tense verbs, so they are parallel structures.
2) The students gathered their pens, books, and bags.
Pens, books, and bags are all nouns so this sentence is a Parallel structure.
The next sentence will show a sentence that is not a Parallel structure.
3) The students capped their pens, were closing their bags, and zipped there book bags.
Capped and zipped are simple past tense verbs, but were closing is a past progressive.
You can also use Correlative Conjunctions such as Not only..... But also....... either....... or, and neither...... Nor.
Here is an example.......
1) Not only did Professor Sam give the class a withering look, but he also assigned 20 extra pages of homework as punishment for their impatience to leave.
Did Professor Samgive the class a withering look follows not only, so assigned 20 extra pages of homework as punishment for their impatience to leave should follow but also, which this sentence does, so it is a parallel structure.
In a parallel Structure, you must use equal grammatical units. For example if the first item is a noun, then the following items should also be a nouns. Likewise if the first action is a verb, then the following verbs should also be verbs. Here are some examples to help. :)
1) Students capped their pens and closed their notebooks.
Capped and closed are both simple past tense verbs, so they are parallel structures.
2) The students gathered their pens, books, and bags.
Pens, books, and bags are all nouns so this sentence is a Parallel structure.
The next sentence will show a sentence that is not a Parallel structure.
3) The students capped their pens, were closing their bags, and zipped there book bags.
Capped and zipped are simple past tense verbs, but were closing is a past progressive.
You can also use Correlative Conjunctions such as Not only..... But also....... either....... or, and neither...... Nor.
Here is an example.......
1) Not only did Professor Sam give the class a withering look, but he also assigned 20 extra pages of homework as punishment for their impatience to leave.
Did Professor Samgive the class a withering look follows not only, so assigned 20 extra pages of homework as punishment for their impatience to leave should follow but also, which this sentence does, so it is a parallel structure.