Parallelism in English Grammar
Crafting Balanced sentences-Parallelism
In English grammar, the phenomenon where similar or parallel elements within a sentence are presented with a balanced and harmonious structure is called parallelism.
It involves using the same grammatical form or structure for items in a list, a series, or a comparison to enhance clarity, coherence, and overall readability.
Parallelism is often achieved through the use of coordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions, as well as by ensuring consistent grammatical structures for the elements involved.
Parallelism is a key concept when it comes to balancing elements in a sentence, especially with regard to nouns, verbs, and other grammatical structures.
Nouns:
The conference covered topics such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics.
Explanation: In this sentence, the parallel nouns artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics share a similar structure, contributing to the balanced construction of the sentence.
Verbs:
He likes to run, jump, and play.
Explanation: The verbs run, jump, and play are parallel in structure.
Adjectives:
The room was cozy, warm, and inviting.
Explanation: The parallel adjectives cozy, warm, and inviting have a consistent structure, describing the room in a harmonious way.
Adverbs:
She completed the task quickly, efficiently, and accurately.
Explanation: The adverbs quickly, efficiently, and accurately are parallel, describing how she completed the task.
Prepositional Phrases:
He excels in leadership, in teamwork, and in problem-solving.
Explanation: The prepositional phrases in leadership, in teamwork, and in problem-solving are parallel, highlighting areas of excellence.
Parallel Gerunds:
They enjoy swimming, hiking, and biking.
Explanation: The parallel gerunds swimming, hiking, and biking maintain a consistent structure within the sentence.
Parallel Infinitives:
She decided to read, to study, and to relax.
Explanation: The parallel infinitives to read, to study, and to relax share a similar structure, contributing to the overall parallelism of the sentence.
Parallel Adverbs:
She spoke confidently, clearly, and persuasively.
Explanation: The parallel adverbs confidently, clearly, and persuasively maintain a consistent structure, describing how she spoke.
Parallel Clauses in a Sentence:
Parallelism is also crucial when dealing with clauses in a sentence.
Clauses are groups of words that contain both a subject and a predicate.
Here are examples of parallelism with clauses:
Independent Clauses:
She enjoys hiking in the mountains, swimming in the ocean, and reading by the fireplace.
In this case, the independent clauses hiking in the mountains, swimming in the ocean, and reading by the fireplace are parallel, contributing to a balanced list of activities.
Dependent Clauses:
Because she wanted to succeed, Mary devoted extra hours to studying, sought help from tutors, and collaborated with classmates on challenging assignments.
In this sentence, the parallel dependent clauses: Mary devoted extra hours to studying, she sought help from tutors, she collaborated with classmates on challenging assignments. They share a similar structure and contribute to the parallelism in the sentence.
Adjective Clauses:
The student who is diligent, who is responsible, and who is motivated will excel in any class.
The adjective clauses who is diligent, who is responsible, and who is motivated are parallel, describing qualities of the student.
Adverbial Clauses:
She completed the assignment as quickly as possible, as efficiently as possible, and as accurately as possible.
The adverbial clauses as quickly as possible, as efficiently as possible, and as accurately as possible are parallel, describing how she completed the assignment.
The Art of Using Conjunctions to Create Harmony in Sentences:
Coordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions play a significant role in achieving parallelism in sentences.
Let's delve a bit deeper into how these conjunctions contribute to maintaining parallel structure:
Coordinating Conjunctions
(e.g., and, or, but, nor, for, so, yet):
Example: She likes to hike, swim, and read.
The coordinating conjunction and helps connect and coordinate the parallel elements hike, swim, and read in the sentence.
Example: He can either run or cycle to work.
The coordinating conjunction or connects and coordinates the parallel actions run and cycle.
Correlative Conjunctions
(e.g., both...and, either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also):
Example: Both the cat and the dog enjoy the sunny weather.
The correlative conjunction both...and pairs and coordinates the parallel subjects the cat and the dog.
Example: She is not only diligent but also resourceful.
The correlative conjunction not only...but also pairs and coordinates the parallel adjectives diligent and resourceful.
By using coordinating conjunctions, you can connect elements of the same type in a sentence, creating a sense of balance and parallelism.
Correlative conjunctions, on the other hand, work in pairs to emphasize and coordinate parallel elements.
These conjunctions are crucial tools for writers seeking to maintain a consistent and harmonious structure in their sentences.
Parallelism in English Grammar
What is Adverbial Modifier of a Sentence
What is the Attribute of a Sentence?
What is The Object of a Sentence?
Subject-Verb Agreement in English
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Haha. Hahaha.
[ID: Alternating excerpts from the transcripts of The Magnus Protocol episode 11 and The Magnus Archives episode 112 and 67.
1.
Gwen: I thought he was going to kill me!
Lena: But he didn’t, which means you’ve passed the first part of your probation. Congratulations. Did you scream?
2.
(Elias): congratulations. You’re doing a lot better than I expected.
Archivist: Feels like all I’ve managed to do is… not die.
Elias: And believe me, that is a remarkably rare skill.
3.
Gwen: I don’t understand.
Lena: Yes, you do.
Beat.
Gwen: But… why?
Lena: “Why” comes later. For now, it’s best you try to process the “what.” I’ll let you know when I have another liaison assignment for you.
4.
Archivist: So you obviously know how to stop it. You could just tell me!
Elias: I could. But I believe that if I did so, you would fail. The Stranger is antithetical to us.
[The Archivist sighs heavily]
5.
Gwen (defeated): I… Ok.
Gwen opens the door.
Lena: Oh, and Gwen?
Gwen: Yes?
Lena: Get some sleep. You look dreadful.
6.
Archivist: Of course, of course. Understood.
Elias: And for God’s sake, get some sleep.
End ID]
Thank you @princess-of-purple-prose for the ID!
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The Conjunction
The Conjunction
A conjunction is a fundamental part of grammar that serves as a link or connector between words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
Conjunctions are essential for constructing coherent and well-structured sentences.
They help establish relationships between different elements within a sentence, making the text more readable and conveying precise meaning.
Types of Conjunctions:
Conjunctions can be broadly categorized into several types based on their functions and roles within a sentence.
Here are the primary types of conjunctions:
Coordinating Conjunctions:
These conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical importance.
The most common coordinating conjunctions are often remembered using the acronym "FANBOYS":
For: Adds information or gives a reason.
And: Connects similar ideas or elements.
Nor: Indicates a negative alternative or denial.
But: Shows contrast or opposition.
Or: Presents alternatives.
Yet: Indicates contrast or surprise.
So: Demonstrates cause and effect.
Example: She wanted to go to the movies, but she didn't have enough money.
Subordinating Conjunctions:
These conjunctions introduce dependent clauses (subordinate clauses) and connect them to independent clauses (main clauses). Subordinating conjunctions indicate the relationship between the two clauses, such as cause and effect, time, condition, or contrast.
Example: Because it was raining, we stayed indoors.
Common subordinating conjunctions include because, although, if, when, and while.
Correlative Conjunctions:
These conjunctions come in pairs and work together to join words, phrases, or clauses.
The most common correlative conjunctions include:
Either...or: Indicates a choice between two alternatives.
Neither...nor: Presents two negative alternatives.
Both...and: Connects two similar elements.
Not only...but also: Emphasizes two related ideas.
Example: She is not only intelligent but also hardworking.
Conjunctive Adverbs:
Although not true conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs function similarly to coordinating conjunctions but add more information or clarify relationships between clauses.
Common conjunctive adverbs include however, therefore, consequently, and nevertheless.
Example: She studied diligently; however, she didn't perform well on the exam.
Relative Pronouns:
While not typically considered conjunctions, relative pronouns like who, which, and that connect relative clauses to the noun they modify.
These clauses provide additional information about the noun.
Example: The book that I read was fantastic.
Understanding the different types of conjunctions and their functions is essential for constructing clear and effective sentences. Properly using conjunctions helps convey relationships between ideas, ensuring that writing is coherent and well-organized.
Here's a table of coordinating conjunctions along with examples:
Coordinating Conjunction
Example
For
I need to go to the store, for I am out of milk.
And
I have to study for my exam, and I need to finish my project.
Nor
She neither called nor texted me.
But
He wanted to go out, but he was feeling tired.
Or
Do you want tea or coffee?
Yet
It was late, yet he continued working.
So
She practiced a lot, so she performed well in the competition.
These coordinating conjunctions are used to join words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal importance in a sentence.
They help create compound sentences and express relationships between ideas.
Here's a table of subordinating conjunctions along with examples:
Subordinating Conjunction
Example
Although
Although it was raining, they went for a hike.
Because
He stayed home because he was feeling unwell.
If
If you finish your homework, you can go out to play.
Since
Since she passed the exam, she's been very happy.
Unless
You can't watch TV unless you finish your chores.
While
She read a book while waiting for her flight.
After
After the rain stopped, they went for a walk.
Before
Please finish your dinner before you have dessert.
Even though
Even though it was late, they continued the meeting.
As
He left quietly as everyone was asleep.
Subordinating conjunctions are used to join a subordinate (dependent) clause to a main (independent) clause, creating complex sentences.
The subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and relies on the main clause for its meaning.
The Conjunction
Phrasal Prepositions
Prepositions -“For”, “During”, “In”, and “Within” to compare
Collective and Individual Nouns
Vowel and Consonant Sounds in Syllable
Auxiliary Verbs: should and would
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I will repeat an insight on age discourse that everyone at least somewhat "knows" but that you can only truly learn under the grinding tutelage of Time; you do not grow up, but only get older. You will change, but you will not "mature" in some linear fashion, there is no clean hierarchy of interests and desires to climb.
Which means that not only can a 40 year old have everything in common with a 25 year old, but they can in fact still want many of the things they wanted when they were 25, that a 25 year old may be more likely to possess. This is, in fact, normal; it will happen to you, maybe not in a way that correlates with dating but affects you all the same. You will be amazed at how little your vision of what 'maturity' should bring will correlate with reality.
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