Parallel Structure with Coordinating Conjunctions
Essential Question
How do we communicate grammatical patterns that we want to repeat?
Grammar in the World
What Do I Know?
Use this interactive exercise to see what you already know about good sentence structure.
Building Blocks
Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:
Learn About Parallel Structure with Coordinating Conjunctions
When we write, it’s important to create some variety in what we say. It would be very boring, for example, if we only spoke in simple sentences:
We went to the park. We had a picnic. We soaked up the warm sunshine. We ate chicken salad sandwiches. We played frisbee.
These sentences work great for a young student who is learning to read. However, we would get tired of reading such choppy sentences quite quickly, which is why we add variety to our writing:
We went to the park and had a picnic. We enjoyed ourselves as we soaked up the warm sunshine, ate chicken salad sandwiches, and played frisbee.
While it’s important to vary our sentences to add interest, it is also important that we follow rules that keep our sentences parallel, and that’s what this lesson is all about. When you use parallel structure in your sentences, you will both add variety as well as help your sentences read smoothly.
Before we learn about this topic, here’s a quick reminder of the coordinating conjunctions:
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Coordinating Conjunctions |
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Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses that are of equal type and importance. *To help you remember the most common coordinating conjunctions, remember the acronym FANBOYS |
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For: joins two ideas that are effect/cause related (in that order) |
You should celebrate your achievements, for you worked very hard to earn them. |
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And: joins two ideas together that are closely related |
Kevin got a haircut and washed his car. |
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Nor: joins two statements that are both negative |
Stacey doesn't like to do her homework, nor does she like to do chores. |
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But: joins two statements that contrast one another |
Mike would love to stay in bed, but he has a big test this afternoon. |
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Or: joins two statements that provide two choices |
Amanda can stay home and study or go out with her friends. |
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Yet: joins one statement followed by another that proposes another, less likely or unexpected option |
David hardly ever studies for tests, yet he gets the highest scores in the class. |
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So: joins two statements that show a cause and effect relationship |
Kevin didn't take out the trash all week, so his mom wouldn't let him go out with his friends on the weekend. |
When we use parallel structure, we are repeating a grammatical pattern of words, phrases, or clauses within a sentence. When we are repeating this grammatical pattern and the words, phrases, or clauses that are repeated are of equal type and importance, we use coordinating conjunctions to join those grammatical patterns.
For example, this sentence is parallel:
Molly’s hobbies are hiking, gardening, and reading.
However, this sentence is not parallel:
Molly’s hobbies are hiking, swimming, and to read.
Do you see the difference? Let’s break this down a bit.
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Parallel Structure with Coordinating Conjunctions |
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Parallel Structure with Verbs |
Incorrect: CJ will be a good nurse because he studies hard, likes science, and he is also a caring person. Correct: CJ will be a good nurse because he studies hard, likes science, and cares about other people. |
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Parallel Structure with Gerunds (nouns that end in -ing) |
Incorrect: Megan is sick, and she does not feel like eating or to drink anything. Correct: Megan is sick, and she does not feel like eating or drinking anything. |
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Parallel Structure with Infinitives Note: You do not have to use “to” before all of the verbs |
Incorrect: Kalvin can’t decide if, for his summer job, he wants to mow neighborhood yards or getting a job at a local coffee shop. Correct: Kalvin can’t decide if, for his summer job, he wants to mow neighborhood yards or to get a job at a local coffee shop. OR Kalvin can’t decide if, for his summer job, he wants to mow neighborhood yards or get a job at a local coffee shop. |
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Parallel Structure After a Colon |
Incorrect: Some of my favorite vacation memories include the following: stand-up paddleboarding in Vitória, Brazil; eating at C&O’s Cucina in Marina del Rey, California; and the hike we took through a forest in Portland, Maine. Correct: Some of my favorite vacation memories include the following: stand-up paddleboarding in Vitória Brazil; eating at C&O’s Cucina in Marina del Rey, California; and hiking through a forest in Portland, Maine. |
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Parallel Structure with Clauses |
Incorrect: Marissa hoped that she would get a good grade on her math exam, that she would win a medal at her swimming competition, and to have time to go to the mall and buy a new pair of jeans. Correct: Marissa hoped that she would get a good grade on her math exam, that she would win a medal at her swimming competition, and that she would have time to go to the mall and buy a new pair of jeans. |
Do I Get It?
Use the following interactive to check your understanding of creating parallel sentence structure with coordinating conjunctions.