Mastering Parallel Structure in Sentences

Understanding Parallel Structure

Parallel structure is an important grammar concept that ensures consistency and balance in sentence construction. It involves using the same grammatical form for elements within a sentence that are of equal importance. By maintaining parallelism, writers can make their sentences clearer, more coherent, and easier to read.

Identifying Parallel Structure

One way to identify parallel structure is to look for repeated patterns or structures in a sentence. For example, in a series of items, each item should be phrased in a consistent manner. When elements in a sentence are not parallel, it can lead to confusion and disrupt the flow of the writing.

Example of Parallel Structure

Which is the BEST example of parallel structure in the following sentence? The sound of the booming fireworks bounced off the mountains and echo in everyone's ears. The sound of the booming fireworks bounce off the mountains and echo in everyone's ears. The sound of the booming fireworks bouncing off the mountain echoes in everyone's ears. The sound of the booming fireworks bounced off the mountains and echoed in everyone's ears.