Gerunds – Parallel Phrasing: Using Similar Word Forms in a Series

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Parallel Gerunds

Using Similar Word Forms in a Series

An unparallel sentence is "like mixing apples with oranges" – good in a salad, but not in writing.

UNPARALLEL incorrect	PARALLEL correct
He is very honest, kind and responsibility. adj adj noun?	He is very honest, kind and responsible. adj adj adjective
He enjoys swimming, running and to jog. gerund gerund infinitive?	He enjoys swimming, running and jogging. gerund gerund gerund
My friend knows how to travel and where he is traveling in comfort. how + infinitive where + clause?	My friend knows how to travel and where to travel in comfort. how + infinitive where + infinitive

matched cherries on slot machine

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
We stood in a long line waiting, talking and discussed how to fix this this country. Pop-q 11/22/2008	We stood in a long line waiting, talking and discussing how to fix this this country. (Use three similar word forms.)

Practice

Check this paragraph carefully for parallel structures, and fragments (incomplete sentences.) NOTE: Not every sentence has an error.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
e.g.	Recognizing the problem and find how to fix it is necessary and practically before one can continue. Recognizing the problem and how to fix it is necessary and before one can continue.
2.	Coming from a large family and that I am the oldest of the children, I have always had certain responsibilities and duty in the home. Coming from a large family and of the children, I have always had certain responsibilities and in the home.
3.	One of my jobs, because I have "the" alarm clock, has been waking up my younger brothers and sisters, making sure they get dressed, and to see that they get downstairs by 7:20a.m. in time for breakfast. One of my jobs, because I have "the" alarm clock, has been waking up my younger brothers and sisters, they get dressed, and that they get downstairs by 7:20a.m. in time for breakfast.
4.	My brother, who is one year younger and very responsibility, and who is tall enough to reach the high shelves in the kitchen, takes down the cereal boxes and putting them on the breakfast table. My brother, who is one year younger and very , and who is tall enough to reach the high shelves in the kitchen, takes down the cereal boxes and them on the breakfast table.
5.	My second little brother and sister, who are twins. My second little brother .
6.	They are always arguing over whose job it is to put the milk and sugar on the table and whose job it is to put them away. They are always arguing over whose job it is to put the milk and sugar on the table and to put them away.
7.	My six-year old sister, who is more mature than my brother who is ten, puts spoons and napkins on the table, never complaining and she always completing her job on time. My six year old sister, who is more mature than my brother , puts spoons and napkins on the table, and her job on time.
8.	While we are getting the breakfast table ready, Mom, who will later drive us to our schools, which are nearby. While we are getting the breakfast table ready, us to our schools, which are nearby.
9.	At 7:30a.m., we all sit down to eat, talking and preparation our minds for the day. At 7:30a.m., we all sit down to eat, and our minds for the day.
10.	I really enjoy our mornings together, even though fighting and squabbling. I really enjoy our mornings together, even though and .
11.	Our family, in which we work hard, cooperatively, and responsibly, and also which we take care and watching out for each other. work hard, , and responsibly, and also out for each other. Ours is a family in which we work hard, cooperate and act responsibly, and also, take care and watch out for each other.