2) Decide whether they are parallel, i.e. arranged in the same way.
3) If they are not, make them parallel by making the grammatical construction the same in each part.
Example1:
He likes reading, writing and swimming’
OR we can say: ‘He likes to read, write and swim’ (but not ‘He likes reading, writing and to swim’ because the structure is not the same throughout)
Example2:
Sam has a pen in his bag.
Sam has a pencil in his bag.
Sam has two books in his bag.
A better way of conveying the same would be: Sam has a pen, a pencil and two books in his bag.
Example3:
Betty has intelligence, honesty, and she is funny.
OR A better way of conveying would be: Betty has intelligence, honesty, and humour.
5 GOLDEN RULES to be mastered to write parallel sentences:
1.When you connect two or more clauses or phrases with a conjunction (for, and, nor, but,etc) use parallel structure.
Example:
Not Parallel: My best friend took me dancing and to a show.
Parallel: My best friend took me to a dance and a show.
2.When you connect two clauses or phrases with a correlative conjunction (not only,but also, either…or,neither…nor, if…then, etc.) use parallel structure.
Example:
Not Parallel: Sam wants both a satisfying job and that pays well.
Parallel: Sam wants both a satisfying and a well paying job.
3.Observe parallel structure of sentences while comparing elements.
Example:
Not Parallel: I like to read books over watching movies.
Parallel: I like reading books over watching movies.
4. Observe parallel structure when elements are in a list.
Example:
Not Parallel:Traditional societies believed the king to be a religious, a political, a social and head of the military forces.
Parallel: Traditional societies believed the king to be a religious, political, social and a military head.
5.When you connect two clauses or phrases with a word of comparison, such as ‘than’ or ‘as’, use parallel structure.
Example
Not Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than financial aid.
Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than receive financial aid.
QUIZ TIME!
1.Choose the sentence that has parallel structure.
A. I wondered whether to make an outline first or I should write the rough draft.
B. I wondered whether to make an outline first or to write the rough draft.
C. I wondered whether to make an outline first or writing rough draft.
D. I wondered whether to make an outline first or that I should write a rough draft.
2.Choose the sentence that has parallel structure.
A. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and began the lesson.
B. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and he began the lesson.
C. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and decided to begin the lesson.
D. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and beginning the lesson
3.Choose the correct words to make the sentence parallel.
Rebecca was not only my boss but also ______.
A. is my friend
B. says she is my friend
C. friendly
D. my friend
Answers:
Correct Answer:B
Correct Answer:B
Correct Answer:D
Questions on parallelism are common in the sentence correction sections in CAT. As a concept it is easy to understand and help one to score. Since grammar is an integral part of the Verbal Ability section of the CAT exam, it is necessary to leave no stones unturned to prepare for that.
5 Golden rues in PARALLELISM – Grammar
PARALLELISM – 5 GOLDEN RULES in PARALLELISM – Grammar
In the Grammar section of CAT and other exams, there are questions on the concept of Parallelism, which is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence.It means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance & adds refinement to what is being written and helps avoid repetition. In this article, we shall discuss questions pertaining to Parallelism that appear in the Verbal Ability section of the CAT and other B-school entrance exams.
Steps to revise sentences for parallel structure:
1) Figure out what parts of the sentence are being compared.
2) Decide whether they are parallel, i.e. arranged in the same way.
3) If they are not, make them parallel by making the grammatical construction the same in each part.
Example1:
He likes reading, writing and swimming’
OR we can say: ‘He likes to read, write and swim’ (but not ‘He likes reading, writing and to swim’ because the structure is not the same throughout)
Example2:
Sam has a pen in his bag.
Sam has a pencil in his bag.
Sam has two books in his bag.
A better way of conveying the same would be: Sam has a pen, a pencil and two books in his bag.
Example3:
Betty has intelligence, honesty, and she is funny.
OR A better way of conveying would be: Betty has intelligence, honesty, and humour.
5 GOLDEN RULES to be mastered to write parallel sentences:
1.When you connect two or more clauses or phrases with a conjunction (for, and, nor, but,etc) use parallel structure.
Example:
Not Parallel: My best friend took me dancing and to a show.
Parallel: My best friend took me to a dance and a show.
2.When you connect two clauses or phrases with a correlative conjunction (not only,but also, either…or,neither…nor, if…then, etc.) use parallel structure.
Example:
Not Parallel: Sam wants both a satisfying job and that pays well.
Parallel: Sam wants both a satisfying and a well paying job.
3.Observe parallel structure of sentences while comparing elements.
Example:
Not Parallel: I like to read books over watching movies.
Parallel: I like reading books over watching movies.
4. Observe parallel structure when elements are in a list.
Example:
Not Parallel:Traditional societies believed the king to be a religious, a political, a social and head of the military forces.
Parallel: Traditional societies believed the king to be a religious, political, social and a military head.
5.When you connect two clauses or phrases with a word of comparison, such as ‘than’ or ‘as’, use parallel structure.
Example
Not Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than financial aid.
Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than receive financial aid.
QUIZ TIME!
1.Choose the sentence that has parallel structure.
A. I wondered whether to make an outline first or I should write the rough draft.
B. I wondered whether to make an outline first or to write the rough draft.
C. I wondered whether to make an outline first or writing rough draft.
D. I wondered whether to make an outline first or that I should write a rough draft.
2.Choose the sentence that has parallel structure.
A. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and began the lesson.
B. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and he began the lesson.
C. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and decided to begin the lesson.
D. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and beginning the lesson
3.Choose the correct words to make the sentence parallel.
Rebecca was not only my boss but also ______.
A. is my friend
B. says she is my friend
C. friendly
D. my friend
Answers:
Correct Answer:B
Correct Answer:B
Correct Answer:D
Questions on parallelism are common in the sentence correction sections in CAT. As a concept it is easy to understand and help one to score. Since grammar is an integral part of the Verbal Ability section of the CAT exam, it is necessary to leave no stones unturned to prepare for that.
5 Golden rues in PARALLELISM – Grammar
2) Decide whether they are parallel, i.e. arranged in the same way.
3) If they are not, make them parallel by making the grammatical construction the same in each part.
Example1:
He likes reading, writing and swimming’
OR we can say: ‘He likes to read, write and swim’ (but not ‘He likes reading, writing and to swim’ because the structure is not the same throughout)
Example2:
Sam has a pen in his bag.
Sam has a pencil in his bag.
Sam has two books in his bag.
A better way of conveying the same would be: Sam has a pen, a pencil and two books in his bag.
Example3:
Betty has intelligence, honesty, and she is funny.
OR A better way of conveying would be: Betty has intelligence, honesty, and humour.
5 GOLDEN RULES to be mastered to write parallel sentences:
1.When you connect two or more clauses or phrases with a conjunction (for, and, nor, but,etc) use parallel structure.
Example:
Not Parallel: My best friend took me dancing and to a show.
Parallel: My best friend took me to a dance and a show.
2.When you connect two clauses or phrases with a correlative conjunction (not only,but also, either…or,neither…nor, if…then, etc.) use parallel structure.
Example:
Not Parallel: Sam wants both a satisfying job and that pays well.
Parallel: Sam wants both a satisfying and a well paying job.
3.Observe parallel structure of sentences while comparing elements.
Example:
Not Parallel: I like to read books over watching movies.
Parallel: I like reading books over watching movies.
4. Observe parallel structure when elements are in a list.
Example:
Not Parallel:Traditional societies believed the king to be a religious, a political, a social and head of the military forces.
Parallel: Traditional societies believed the king to be a religious, political, social and a military head.
5.When you connect two clauses or phrases with a word of comparison, such as ‘than’ or ‘as’, use parallel structure.
Example
Not Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than financial aid.
Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than receive financial aid.
QUIZ TIME!
1.Choose the sentence that has parallel structure.
A. I wondered whether to make an outline first or I should write the rough draft.
B. I wondered whether to make an outline first or to write the rough draft.
C. I wondered whether to make an outline first or writing rough draft.
D. I wondered whether to make an outline first or that I should write a rough draft.
2.Choose the sentence that has parallel structure.
A. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and began the lesson.
B. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and he began the lesson.
C. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and decided to begin the lesson.
D. The teacher came into the room, he paused before the class, and beginning the lesson
3.Choose the correct words to make the sentence parallel.
Rebecca was not only my boss but also ______.
A. is my friend
B. says she is my friend
C. friendly
D. my friend
Answers:
Correct Answer:B
Correct Answer:B
Correct Answer:D
Questions on parallelism are common in the sentence correction sections in CAT. As a concept it is easy to understand and help one to score. Since grammar is an integral part of the Verbal Ability section of the CAT exam, it is necessary to leave no stones unturned to prepare for that.
5 Golden rues in PARALLELISM – GrammarJoin us MBA CET 2025
