SKILL 22 USE PARALLEL STRUCTURE
WITH COORDINATE
The job of the coordinate
conjunctions (and, but, or) is to join together equal
expressions. In other words, what
is on one side of these words must be parallel to what
is on the other side. These
conjunctions can join nouns, or verbs, or adjectives, or
phrases, or subordinate clauses,
or main clauses; they just must join together two of the
same thing. Here are examples of
two nouns joined by a coordinate conjunction:
CONJUNCTIONS
I need to talk
to the manager or the assistant manager.
She is not a
teacher but a lawyer.
You can choose
from activities such as hiking and kayaking.
Here are examples of two verbs
joined by a coordinate conjunction:
He eats and
sleeps only when he takes a vacation.
She invites us
to her home but never talks with us.
You can stay
home or go to the movies with us.
Here are examples of two
adjectives joined by a coordinate conjunction:
My boss is
sincere and nice.
The exam that
he gave was short but difficult.
Class can be
interesting or boring.
Here are examples of two phrases
joined by a coordinate conjunction:
There are
students in the classroom and in front of the building.
The papers are
on my desk or in the drawer.
The checks
will be ready not at noon but at 1:00.
Here are examples of two clauses
joined by a coordinate conjunction:
They are not
interested in what you say or what you do.
I am here
because I have to be and because I want to be.
Mr. Brown
likes to go home early, but his wife prefers to stay late.
The following chart outlines the
use of parallel structures with coordinate conjunctions:
SKILL 23 USE PARALLEL STRUCTURE
WITH PAIRED
CONJUNCTIONS
The paired conjunctions both...
and, either.. . or, neither.. . nor, and not only ... but
also require
parallel structures.
I know both
where you went and what you
did. Either
Mark or Sue has the book.
The tickets
are neither in my pocket nor in my purse.
He is not only
an excellent student but also an outstanding athlete.
The following is not parallel and
must be corrected:
He wants
either to go by train or by plane*.
It is not correct because to go
by train is not parallel to by plane. It can be corrected
in several ways.
He wants
either to go by train or to go by plane.
He wants to go
either by train or by plane.
He wants to go
by either train or plane.
When you are using these paired
conjunctions, be sure that the correct parts are
used together. The following are
incorrect:
I want both
this book or* that one.
Either Sam
nor* Sue is taking the course.
These sentences are incorrect
because the wrong parts of the paired conjunctions
are used together. In the first
example, and should be used with both. In the second
example, or should be used with
either.
The following chart outlines the
use of parallel structure with paired conjunctions:
EXERCISE Circle the word or words
that indicate that the sentence should have
parallel parts. Underline the
parts that should be parallel. Then, indicate if the
sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).
____ 1. After retirement he plans
on traveling to exotic locations, dine in the finest
____ 2. She was both surprised by
and pleased with the seminar.
____ 3. What came after the break
was even more boring than had come before.
____ 4. He would find the missing
keys neither under the bed or behind the sofa. Depending on the perspective of
the viewer, the film was considered
____ 5. laudable,
mediocrity, or horrendous.
____ 6.He exercised not only in
the morning, but he also exercised every afternoon. Working four days per week
is much more relaxing dian working five days
____ 7. per
week.
____ 8. Sam is always
good-natured, generous, and helps you.
____ 9. Either you have to finish
the project, or the contract will be canceled. The courses that you are
required to take are more important than the
____ 10. courses
that you choose.
