Skill 24: PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS

The job of the coordinate conjunctions (and, but, or) is to join together equal expressions. In other
words, what is on one side of these words must be parallel to what is on the other side. These
conjunctions can join nouns, or verbs, or adjectives, or phrases, or clauses; they just must join
together the same structures. Here are examples of equal structures correctly joined by coordinate
conjunctions:

He discussed the problem with the nurse and the doctor.

The professor was knowledgeable but boring.

She hikes, jogs, or rides her bicycle whenever she can.

There are meetings in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening.

You can do the work because you want to do it or because you have to do it

In the first example, two nouns are joined by the coordinate conjunction and. In the second example,
two adjectives are joined by the coordinate conjunction but. In the third example, three verbs are
joined by the coordinate conjunction or. In the fourth example, three phrases are joined by the
coordinate conjunction and. In the last example. Two clauses are joined by the coordinate
conjunction or.

The sentences that follow show the types of errors in parallel structure that are common on the
TOEFL test.

The evening dress was beauty* but expensive.

The student reads each chapter, takes a lot of notes, and memories* the material

In the first example. the coordinate conjunction but joins the noun beauty and the adjective
expensive. The adjective beautiful is needed in place of beauty. In the second example, the
coordinate conjunction and joins the verb reads, the verb takes, and the plural noun memories. The
verb memorizes is needed in place of memories. The following chart outlines the use of parallel
structures with coordinate conjunctions.

The following chart outlines the use of parallel structures with coordinate conjunctions.

EXERCISE 24: Each of the following sentences contains words or groups of words that should be
parallel. Circle the word that indicates that the sentence should have parallel parts. Underline the
parts that should be parallel. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

___ 1. The pastries in that shop are very expensive but quite deliciously.

___2. You can find some change to buy a paper in the drawer, on top of the dresser, or
 in the jar.

___3. The living room was decorated with expensive paintings and elegance lamps.

___4. He knew that the financial problems were serious, that the situation was not

going to improve, and that he needed to get a job.

___ 5. AU day long during the trip to the mountains, they were skiing, sledding. or

played in the snow.

___6. The car needs new tires but not a new engine.

___7. He stops working when he gets too tired to continue or when he has finished.

___8. To get to the office, you should go through this door, turn to the left, and

continuation down the hall.

___9. For dessert we could serve lemon pie, fruit tarts, chocolate cake, or butter cookies.

___10. The sick child needs some medicine, some juice, and to rest.

Skill 25: PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH PAIRED CONJUNCTIONS

The paired conjunctions both ... and, either ... or, neither ... nor, and not only ... but also require
parallel structures.

The lecture was both informative and enjoyable.

Either the history exam or the physics exam is on Tuesday.

The missing papers are neither on his desk nor in the file.

He visited not only his cousin but also his grandmother

The following is not parallel and must be corrected:

They want either to play tennis or golf*.

It is not correct because to play tennis is not parallel to golf. It can be corrected in different ways.

They want either to play tennis or to play golf.

They want to play either tennis or golf.

When you are using these paired conjunctions, be sure that the correct parts are used together. The
following are incorrect:

He lent me both some paper or* a pencil.

Either breakfast nor* lunch is included in the price.

These sentences are incorrect because the wrong parts of the paired conjunctions are used together.
In the first example, and should be used with both. In the second example, or should be used with
either.

The following chart outlines the use of parallel structure with paired conjunctions.
EXERCISE 25: Each of the following sentences contains words or groups of words that should be
parallel. Circle the words that indicate that the sentence should have parallel parts. Underline the
parts that should be parallel. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

___1. He either lied or telling an unbelievable story.

___2. The music at the concert was neither well played nor well liked.

___3. He regularly studies both in the morning or in the evening.

___4. The play that we saw last night was not only rather delightful but also quite

meaningful.

___5. He married her neither for her ability to cook nor her ability to clean house.

___6. The discussion was both exciting and interest.

___7. He withdrew all the money not only from the checking account but also from

the savings account.

___8. Neither the teacher or the students are ready to leave the classroom.

___9. You can meet with me either in the next few minutes or at 4:00.

___10. John is an adventurous person who enjoys not only skydiving but also goes

parasailing.

EXERCISE (Skills 24-25): Each of the following sentences contains words or groups of words that
should be parallel. Circle the word or words that indicate that the sentence should have parallel
parts. Underline the parts that should be parallel. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).

___1. The advertisements appeared in the newspaper and on the radio.

___2. She is trained as both an accountant and in nursing.

___3. We can take either my car or yours to the party.

___4. The coffee is too hot, too bitter, and too strength.

___5. He not only passed the test but also receiving the highest score in the class.

___6. Your ideas are neither more important or less important than the ideas of the

others.

___7. The meeting lasted only an hour but still seeming too long.

___8. The novel was both emotional and description.

___9. Either the counsellor or her secretary can help you with that problem.

10. The leaves from the tree fell in the yard, in the pool, the driveway, and on the

Sidewalk

TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 24-25): Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not
correct.

___1. Ballpoint pens are less versatile but more population than fountain pens.
A B C D

___2. Riddles vary greatly in both grammatical and phonology form.

A B C D

___3. Blood pressure is measured by feeling the pulse and apply a force to the arm.
A B C D

___4. The Moon has no atmosphere, no air, and no watery.

A B C D

___5. The first matches were too hard to ignite, a mess, or too dangerously easy to ignite.
A B C D

___6. A 1971 U.S. government policy not only put warnings on cigarette packs but also banning
A B C
television advertising of cigarettes.
D
___7. Demand, beauty, durability, rare, and perfection of cutting determine the value of a gemstone.
A B C D

___8. The Harvard Yard, which was Harvard's original campus, is still a major attraction for both
A B C
students and visiting.
D
___9. In 1862, the American Confederacy raised the Merrimack, renamed it Virginia, covered it with
A B
iron plates, and an outfit it with ten guns.
C D
___10. The liquid crystals in a liquid crystal display (LCD) affect the polarized light so that it is either
A B C
blocked and reflected by the segments of the display.
D
TOEFL REVIEW EXEROSE (Skills 1-25): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best
completes the sentence.

1. Most cells in multicelled organisms perform ___________ functions.

(A) specialize
(B) specialized
(C) they specialize
(D) specialization
2. The big island of Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, ___________ by five volcanoes.
(A) creation
(B) it was created
(C) creating
(D) was created

3. The Sun uses up over four million tons of hydrogen per second, ________still has enough
hydrogen to last for the next five billion years.
(A) it does not
(B) it
(C) but it
(D) to it

4. For Katherine L. Bates, who _________ the top of Pikes Peak in 1893, the view provided the
inspiration for her hymn "America the Beautiful."
(A) reached
(B) she reached
(C) reaching
(D) she was reaching

Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.

___5. Coal, petroleum, and natural gaseous are all fossil fuels.
A B C D

___6. The mass of neutron stars generally range from one-tenth to twice the mass of the Sun.
A B C D

___7. Grasses grow in ways that help them to survive being nibbled, chilly, or dried.
A B C D

___8. Most of Hemingway's novels glorifies heroic exploits such as bullfighting or boxing.
A B C D

___9. Palaeographers study ancient and medieval handwriting in order to establish not only its age
A B C
and also its background.
D

___10. The sounds produced by bullfrogs and toads vary greatly because each species have its own
A B C
particular call.
D