LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
Course Title Advanced Grammar & Composition
Type of Synchronous/ Asynchronous
Activity
Activity Parallel Structure of Words, Phrases and Clauses
Title
Faulty Shifts in Parallel Structure
Duration One Week
Learning Avoid structures that are not parallel.
Targets
Discuss the rules in constructing sentences with parallel structures.
Apply the rules learned in different exercises.
Avoid the faulty shifts in parallel structure.
Reference/s English in Perspective
Cruz, Laura dela S.
Internet Sources
A. Concept
Digest
Parallel Structure of Words
Study the following sentences from the myth “ Life and Death” Take note of
the words that are similar in construction.
1. Not long afterward, the rooster broke into song, the tou-tou bird sang its
first notes, and the dawn began to appear.
2. Alatangana was furious at the nonsense the messengers reported, but he
was grateful for the gift that Sa has given.
Parallel structure refers to the use of grammatical elements or patterns that
have the same function and expressed similar and balanced ideas.
Rules to be followed in Parallelism:
1. Use parallel structure with elements joined by coordinating
conjunctions for, and ,nor, but or yet and so.
Examples:
, a. In the beginning there was nothing: matter nor light existed.
b. The plants covered the new earth, and animals lived on it.
c. Sa cursed Alatangana, for he eloped with Sa’s daughter.
2. Use parallel structure with elements in a list of series. Put a comma
between three or more items joined by a coordinate conjunction.
Examples:
a. Alatangana condemned Sa for creating such a dirty place, for
bringing his family to live in such a mess, and for having no light and
life.
b. She explained that he cursed Alatangana, that he punished him, and
that he would claim any of his children whenever he liked.
c. Alatangana recreated Sa’s world for the following reasons; to
establish light in it, to put order in it, and to make it more livable.
3. Use parallel structure with elements being compared.
a. Sa likes living in darkness better than living in light.
b. Alatangana prefers to have a clean world rather than to have a dirty
one.
3. Use parallel structure with elements joined by a linking verb or a verb
of being.
Examples:
a. To create a vast sea of mud is to live in filth.
b. To be content is to be happy.
4. Use parallel structure with elements joined by correlative conjunctions,
either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also.
Examples:
a. Alatangana not only knows his guilt, but also his debt to Sa.
b. Either Sa lives in filth or he loses his daughter.
c. Alatangana both loved his wife and his children.
d. Neither Sa nor Alatangana could do anything about death.
PARALLEL STRUCTURE OF PHRASES AND CLAUSES
How to construct phrases and clauses with parallel structure. Study the
Course Title Advanced Grammar & Composition
Type of Synchronous/ Asynchronous
Activity
Activity Parallel Structure of Words, Phrases and Clauses
Title
Faulty Shifts in Parallel Structure
Duration One Week
Learning Avoid structures that are not parallel.
Targets
Discuss the rules in constructing sentences with parallel structures.
Apply the rules learned in different exercises.
Avoid the faulty shifts in parallel structure.
Reference/s English in Perspective
Cruz, Laura dela S.
Internet Sources
A. Concept
Digest
Parallel Structure of Words
Study the following sentences from the myth “ Life and Death” Take note of
the words that are similar in construction.
1. Not long afterward, the rooster broke into song, the tou-tou bird sang its
first notes, and the dawn began to appear.
2. Alatangana was furious at the nonsense the messengers reported, but he
was grateful for the gift that Sa has given.
Parallel structure refers to the use of grammatical elements or patterns that
have the same function and expressed similar and balanced ideas.
Rules to be followed in Parallelism:
1. Use parallel structure with elements joined by coordinating
conjunctions for, and ,nor, but or yet and so.
Examples:
, a. In the beginning there was nothing: matter nor light existed.
b. The plants covered the new earth, and animals lived on it.
c. Sa cursed Alatangana, for he eloped with Sa’s daughter.
2. Use parallel structure with elements in a list of series. Put a comma
between three or more items joined by a coordinate conjunction.
Examples:
a. Alatangana condemned Sa for creating such a dirty place, for
bringing his family to live in such a mess, and for having no light and
life.
b. She explained that he cursed Alatangana, that he punished him, and
that he would claim any of his children whenever he liked.
c. Alatangana recreated Sa’s world for the following reasons; to
establish light in it, to put order in it, and to make it more livable.
3. Use parallel structure with elements being compared.
a. Sa likes living in darkness better than living in light.
b. Alatangana prefers to have a clean world rather than to have a dirty
one.
3. Use parallel structure with elements joined by a linking verb or a verb
of being.
Examples:
a. To create a vast sea of mud is to live in filth.
b. To be content is to be happy.
4. Use parallel structure with elements joined by correlative conjunctions,
either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also.
Examples:
a. Alatangana not only knows his guilt, but also his debt to Sa.
b. Either Sa lives in filth or he loses his daughter.
c. Alatangana both loved his wife and his children.
d. Neither Sa nor Alatangana could do anything about death.
PARALLEL STRUCTURE OF PHRASES AND CLAUSES
How to construct phrases and clauses with parallel structure. Study the
