HSPT: Parallel structure: make every item match
Learn to keep the items in a list or a paired construction in the same grammatical form: -ing words, to-verbs, plain verbs or adjectives.
How do you choose the right ending when a sentence lists several things?
Short answer
Look at the form of the items already in the list and make the last one match. If the first items are -ing words, the last one is too; if the first items start with to, so does the last.
Know first: Verbs, nouns and adjectives, How commas separate items in a list
Step 1 of 5
Items joined together share one form
When a sentence joins items with and, or or but, every item should have the same grammatical form. That's called parallel structure. Ken likes hiking, biking, and to swim breaks the pattern. Ken likes hiking, biking, and swimming keeps it.
The fix is almost always the same: copy the shape of the first item. Meaning matters too, but on these questions several choices usually mean the same thing. Form is what separates them.
| Pattern | Parallel | Not parallel |
|---|---|---|
| -ing words | She loves baking, sewing, and gardening. | baking, sewing, and to garden |
| to + verb | We hope to win, to celebrate, and to rest. | to win, to celebrate, and resting |
| Plain verbs after one shared to | Remember to lock, label, and stack the crates. | to lock, label, and the stacking of the crates |
| Adjectives | The new park is larger, greener, and busier. | larger, greener, and it is busy |
Name the form of the first item, then look for the choice with the same form.
Step 2 of 5
Copy the shape of the first item
Worked example: A list of jobs
Choose the completion that preserves parallel structure. Before the storm, the crew had to tie down the tarps, close the shutters, and ___.
- Astacking the sandbags
- Bstack the sandbags
- Cthe sandbags were stacked
- Dstacks of sandbags
- 1
Find the list
The crew had to do three things. The first two are tie down the tarps and close the shutters.
- 2
Name the form
Both are plain verbs that share the to in had to: to tie down, to close.
- 3
Match it
The third item must be a plain verb too: stack the sandbags.
- 4
See why the others are there
Stacking is an -ing word. The sandbags were stacked is a full sentence with its own subject. Stacks of sandbags is a noun phrase. Each one means roughly the same thing, which is why only the form can decide.
Answer
stack the sandbags. It matches tie down and close.
Find the wrong step
A student completes this sentence: Our cat spends the day napping, stretching, and ___. (A) to chase flies (B) chasing flies (C) she chases flies (D) the chasing of flies
- 1
Finds the list after spends the day.
- 2
Decides any choice works because all four mean the cat chases flies, and picks (A) to chase flies.
What went wrong
Meaning isn't enough. The first two items are -ing words, so the third must be one too.
- 3
Moves on to the next question.
The fix
Match the -ing pattern: napping, stretching, and chasing flies. The answer is (B) chasing flies.
Step 3 of 5
Spot the pattern, then match it
Check yourself · Question 1
Choose the completion that preserves parallel structure. The hiking guide was patient, friendly, and ___.
Answer: B
The first two items are adjectives, patient and friendly. Knowledgeable is an adjective too.
Check yourself · Question 2
Choose the completion that preserves parallel structure. The coach wanted the team not only to run faster but also ___.
Answer: B
After not only comes to run faster, so after but also comes the same shape: to pass more quickly.
Trap answer: passing more quickly
Sounds smooth, wrong shape
- Why it looks right
- Passing more quickly is short and sounds natural after but also.
- Why it's wrong
- The words after not only are to run faster. The words after but also have to match that form.
- The right answer
- to pass more quickly, which mirrors to run faster.
Check yourself · Question 3
Which sentence has parallel structure?
Answer: B
All three items are -ing phrases: chopping onions, mincing garlic, slicing peppers.
Common mistake
Judging the choices by meaning alone.
- Why it's tempting
- Every choice says roughly the same thing, so every one of them seems acceptable.
- Do this instead
- Label the form of the first item in the list, such as -ing word, to + verb, plain verb or adjective. Then pick the choice with that same form.
Step 4 of 5
What to remember
Remember
- Every item in a list joined by and or or takes the same form.
- Label the first item as an -ing word, to + verb, plain verb or adjective, then match it.
- In pairs like not only ... but also, the words after each part must match.
Step 5 of 5
Practice on a real question
Use what you just learned on this question, then check the explanation.
In your own words
What form did the first two items in the practice question's list share, and which choices broke that form?