Parallelism

Which is better?
A. In the 70s and 80s, high school math teachers taught almost exclusively by lecture; today,
more cooperative and project-based methods are likely to be employed.
B. In the 70s and 80s, high school math teachers taught almost exclusively by lecture; today, they
are more likely to use cooperative and project- based methods.
Which is better?
C. Ms. Kelly always tried to provide clear instructions that showed respect and were fair to all of
her students.
D) Ms. Kelly always tried to provide instructions that were clear, respectful, and fair to all of her
students.
Sentences A and C don't seem glaringly wrong, but Band D sound a bit better. Why? Parallelism

The Law of Parallelism:

When a sentence includes a list, contrast, or comparison, the items being listed, contrasted, or
compared should have the same grammatical form.
Sentence A contains two clauses that contrast teaching in the 70s and '80s with teaching today.
However, the comparison is not parallel: the first sentence is in the active voice, but the second is
in the passive voice.
Sentence B reads more smoothly because both clauses are in the active voice, which aligns the
subjects and clarifies the contrast.
Sentence C ascribes three adjectives to Ms. Kelly's instructions, but not in a parallel form.
Sentence D clarifies the central idea by putting these adjectives in a clear and parallel list.

Which is better?
A. It seems sometimes that our representatives would rather generate sound bites for their
partisans instead of working to solve our social and economic problems.
B. It seems sometimes that our representatives would rather generate sound bites for their
partisans than solve our social and economic problems.
The problem in sentence A is hard for most readers to catch.
It may take a few readings before you notice it.
The word rather indicates that the sentence is making a contrast.
Such a contrast requires a standard parallel construction: rather X than Y.
When you see the word rather, you should expect the word than to appear soon afterward.
But in sentence A, not only does than not appear, but the two words from X and Y that should be
parallel are not: generate is a present-tense verb, but working is a gerund.
Sentence B makes the correction, & creates the parallel construction rather generate.. than solve
Use the following standard parallel constructions precisely. When you use any of these
phrases, use the precise wording, and make sure X and Y are parallel.

rather X than Y either X or Y neither X nor Y prefer X to Y

both X and Y not X but Y the more X, the more Y
less X than Y no sooner X than Y the better X, the better Y
so much X as Y not so much X as Y X is like Y X more than Y

Rewrite each sentence to improve its parallelism structure:

1 The candidate’s platform included tax code reform, an improved school system, und reviving
good relations with the unions

2 Good study practices are not so much about working hard, but rather how well you use you
time.
Good study practices are not so much about working hard, as about using your time well.
3 The more you get to know her, the more likely it is that you will like her.
The more you get to know her, the more you like her
4. The food here it not only exceptionally fresh, but its price is also very reasonable.

5. The financial crisis of 2007 was exacerbated by the esoteric nature of certain financial
instruments, skittish investors, and the lack of awareness of regulators

6. Ma. Bennett is appreciated by her colleagues because she is very supportive and has a lot of
knowledge.

7. I can't decide whether I should give Maria the tickets or Caitlyn.

I can't decide whether I should give Maria or Caitlyn the tickets.
I can't decide whether I should give the tickets to Maria or Caitlyn.
8. The United States experienced a contraction in wealth, an increase in risk spreads, and the
credit markets were deteriorating
……….., and deterioration in the credit markets
9. I prefer the romantic virtuosity of Liszt, as opposed to Chopin's emotional accessibility

10. The festival draws crowds from across the country that come not so much for the music but
rather because of the spirit of free expression.
Exercise 1: Make the following sentences parallel.
1. That she looks beautiful and her charm help her get out of speeding tickets.

2. Visitors to my hometown in the middle of nowhere can experience rides on the bus, drinks
at the tavern, and eating at the McDonald's.

3. Because of their amazing sense of smell, quick agility, and they have fierceness when
protecting themselves, lions are the kings of the savannah.

4. My tasks today are to file for divorce, burn my house down, and to start all over.

5. By investing in nuclear energy, we can save the environment, jobs, and it costs us less.

6. In his free time, Wild Bill likes smoking Cuban cigars and to drink the finest red wine
Martha's Vineyard has to offer

7. Quickly and being silent, Jesse and Walt snuck by the sleeping police officers and made off
with a barrel of methylamine.

8. Inspired by the hard work of his immigrant father, Jeremy wanted to pay for college, find a
job, and a new house.

9. According to Apple, Samsung’s directors need to admit they violated Apple's patent, pay the
fines, and also needed is to recall all their products.

10. Samsung’s executives responded by completely rejecting Apple's ultimatum in court and
they countersued Apple back for patent infringement.

11. The 300 men trained diligently, screamed fiercely into battle, and valiantly fights.

12. At the yard sale, Jimmy found dusty writings of Einstein, containers of fossils, and Chinese
opium boxes.

13. American immigrants took huge risks to leave their homelands and searching for a better
life elsewhere.

14. Come to the next party prepared to eat a lot, to dance a lot, and with a thirst for drinks.

15. As soon as he graduated from high school, he packed all his belongings, rushed to the
college campus, and leaves his parents behind.
 Trip to Paris
The last year of high school was filled with optimism and 1. emotions that were
nostalgic. It was like standing on a bridge that must be crossed, leaving behind the carefree
days of youth and 2. stepped into a life of responsibilities, business meetings, and 3. paying
bills. My friends and I decided to have one last trip together before heading off in our own
directions.
My friends had decided to go to college on the other side of the country, 4. join an
environmental group to save the rainforest, or work for their parents in the family business,
which was what I was doing in the same town I'd lived in all my life. Out of the three of us, I
needed this vacation the most. I had never left the state, let alone 5. departing from the
country. So when Tom suggested we spend the summer in Europe, I was thrilled. After all,
travel is a great way to bond with others and 6. to learn about the world.

1.
A) NO CHANGE B) nostalgia. C) nostalgic emotions. D) emotions of nostalgia.
2.
A) NO CHANGE B) to step C) stepping D) we stepped
3.
A) NO CHANGE B) bills that have to be paid. C) having to pay bills. D) bills.
4.
A) NO CHANGE B) to join C) joining D) they will join
5.
A) NO CHANGE B) the country. C) from the country. D) depart from the country.
6.
A) NO CHANGE B) the world can be learned about.
C) for learning about the world. D) we can learn about the world.
We landed at Heathrow Airport at about 4pm, 7. would sleep in the terminal for a few
hours, and took a connecting flight to Paris. We almost missed our flight because of the loud,
pushy, and 8. large size of the crowd. On the flight, we 9. were reading books, watched
movies, and listened to music. When we arrived, it finally dawned on us that we were all alone
in a foreign Country. As students and 10. we were clueless tourists, we walked aimlessly
through the streets with giant backpacks.

7.
A) NO CHANGE B) we slept C) slept D) sleeping
8.
A) NO CHANGE B) large crowd. C) crowd that was large. D) having a large crowd.
9.
A) NO CHANGE B) read books, C) decided to read books, D) had books to read,
10.
A) NO CHANGE B) as well C) being D) as
1. B 2. C 3. D 4. A 5. B 6. A 7. C 8. B 9. B 10. D
Nostalgic (adj): ‫ حنين‬Nostalgia (n): ‫ حنين للماضي‬optimism (n): ‫تفاؤل‬
We found a car rental place and chose a Volkswagen Beetle that was inexpensive to rent
and 11. easily driven. It was perfect for taking us through the streets of Paris and 12. to show us
the popular tourist sites. The history of Paris dates back to the third century. Today, the city is
known for its coffee culture and 13. for its fashion boutiques. It didn't take long for us to realize
there was no way we could see everything in just a few hours, so we just toured the usual tourist
attractions like the Louvre, the Eiffel tower, and 14. we went to the Arc de Triomphe. By having a
budget and 15. we stuck to it, we had enough money to try a three star Michelin restaurant
afterwards!
11.
A) NO CHANGE B) easy to drive. C) driven easily. D) was easily driven.
12.
A) NO CHANGE B) showed us C) showing us D) the showing of
13.
A) NO CHANGE B) having fashion boutiques.
C) with its fashion boutiques. D) it has fashion boutiques.
14.
A) NO CHANGE B) the landmark called the Arc de Triomphe.
C) such as the Arc de Triomphe. D) the Arc de Triomphe.
15.
A) NO CHANGE B) stuck to it, C) having it stick, D) sticking to it,

11. B 12. C 13. A 14. D 15. D