Grammar unit 8 of 12
Parallel structure
Outlines and lists are where parallelism breaks most. A clean parallel list reads as clear thinking.
In short. Items in a list take the same grammatical form: 'to reduce debt, increase exports and create jobs'. Paired conjunctions need matching structures on each side, and comparisons must compare like with like: 'Pakistan's literacy rate is lower than Sri Lanka's'.
Rules with examples
Items in a list take the same grammatical form.
✗ WrongThe policy aims at reducing debt, to increase exports and job creation.✓ RightThe policy aims to reduce debt, increase exports and create jobs.
Paired conjunctions (not only... but also, either... or, both... and) need matching structures on each side.
✗ WrongCorruption not only harms the economy but also the society is damaged.✓ RightCorruption harms not only the economy but also society.
Outline points at the same level should share a form: all claims, all noun phrases, or all questions.
✗ Wronga. Weak institutions b. Corruption is widespread c. How to reform?✓ Righta. Institutions are weak. b. Corruption is widespread. c. Reform is possible.
Comparisons must compare like with like.
✗ WrongPakistan's literacy rate is lower than Sri Lanka.✓ RightPakistan's literacy rate is lower than Sri Lanka's.
Compare rate with rate, not rate with country.Parallel structure: exercises with answers
1. Choose the parallel sentence.
- Good governance requires transparency, accountability, and to have the rule of law.
- Good governance requires transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
- Good governance requires being transparent, accountability and rule of law.
- Good governance requires transparency, to be accountable and rule of law.
Show answer
Good governance requires transparency, accountability and the rule of law. — Three nouns.
2. Which is correct?
- Women's participation in Pakistan is lower than Bangladesh.
- Women's participation in Pakistan is lower than that in Bangladesh.
- Women's participation in Pakistan is lower than in Bangladesh's.
- Pakistan women's participation is lower than Bangladesh women.
Show answer
Women's participation in Pakistan is lower than that in Bangladesh. — Compares participation with participation.
3. Which uses 'not only... but also' correctly?
- He not only wrote the report but also presented it.
- He not only wrote the report but also it was presented.
- Not only he wrote the report but also presented.
- He wrote not only the report but also presented it.
Show answer
He not only wrote the report but also presented it. — Verb on each side.
4. Which outline is parallel?
- (i) Rising debt (ii) Exports are falling (iii) To reform taxes
- (i) Debt is rising. (ii) Exports are falling. (iii) Taxes must be reformed.
- (i) Debt rise (ii) Exports are falling (iii) Reform
- (i) Rising debt (ii) Falling (iii) Reform taxes
Show answer
(i) Debt is rising. (ii) Exports are falling. (iii) Taxes must be reformed. — All full-sentence claims.
Correct these sentences
1. The aims are to improve literacy, reducing poverty and gender equality.
Show correction
✓ The aims are to improve literacy, reduce poverty and promote gender equality.
2. Pakistan's GDP growth is slower than India.
Show correction
✓ Pakistan's GDP growth is slower than India's.
3. Either we reform the tax system or borrowing will continue.
Show correction
✓ Either we reform the tax system or we continue to borrow.
Studied in Week 8 alongside Module 8: Evidence bank.