Parallel structure
B2 Upper IntermediateParallel structure involves using the same grammatical form for all items in a list or series to ensure clarity and balance. It is a key component of professional and academic writing at the B2 level.
Overview
Parallelism requires that coordinate elements follow the same pattern. When you list actions, descriptions, or objects, each item must use the same part of speech or grammatical structure. This consistency helps the reader follow the logic of the sentence without distraction.
- Gerunds: I enjoy swimming, hiking, and running.
- Infinitives: She decided to study, to work, and to travel.
- Adjectives: The film was long, boring, and repetitive.
Form
[Grammatical Form A] + [and/or/but] + [Grammatical Form A]
Parallel structure is most commonly used with coordinating conjunctions like and, but, and or. It also applies to correlative conjunctions such as either/or and not only/but also.
Examples
Common mistakes
I like singing, dancing, and to play guitar.
I like singing, dancing, and playing guitar.
Mixing gerunds (-ing) and infinitives (to + verb) in a list breaks parallelism.
The hotel was clean, quiet, and it was near the beach.
The hotel was clean, quiet, and convenient.
A list of adjectives should not end with a full clause.
Practice
Complete the sentence: The candidate is intelligent, motivated, and ________.
Show answer
experienced
Answer:experienced
Why:The first two items are adjectives, so the third item must also be an adjective to maintain parallel structure.
Correct this sentence: We can either go by train or taking the bus.
Show answer
We can either go by train or take the bus.
Answer:We can either go by train or take the bus.
Why:Correlative conjunctions like 'either/or' must connect identical verb forms. 'Go' is a base verb, so 'take' must also be a base verb.
Which is correct? A) He learned to code, to design, and to market. B) He learned to code, designing, and marketing.
Show answer
A
Answer:A
Why:Option A uses infinitives consistently for all three items in the list.