Parallel structure means using the same grammatical form for items in a list, comparison, or pair. The Digital SAT tests this frequently — it's one of the most common grammar concepts on the test.
Core Concepts
The Rule
Items joined by coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or) or in a series must have the same grammatical form.
Types of Parallelism
In lists:
- ✗ "She enjoys swimming, to hike, and running."
- ✓ "She enjoys swimming, hiking, and running." (All gerunds.)
In comparisons:
- ✗ "Running is better than to walk."
- ✓ "Running is better than walking." (Both gerunds.)
In pairs (both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also):
- ✗ "She not only sings but also is a dancer."
- ✓ "She not only sings but also dances." (Both verbs.)
Common Parallel Structures
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Nouns | "The book, the pen, and the notebook" |
| Verbs | "She ran, jumped, and swam" |
| Gerunds | "Swimming, hiking, and biking" |
| Infinitives | "To run, to jump, and to swim" |
| Clauses | "That he would arrive and that he would stay" |
Strategy Tips
Tip 1: Identify the Pattern
Look at the first item — all other items should match its form.
Tip 2: Read the List Aloud
Non-parallel structures sound awkward when read aloud.
Tip 3: Check Correlative Pairs
Both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also — what follows each word must match.
Worked Example: Example
"The professor asked the students to read the chapter, to take notes, and summarising the key points."
Fix: "...to read the chapter, to take notes, and to summarise the key points." (All infinitives.)
Key Takeaways
Items in lists, comparisons, and pairs must have matching grammatical forms.
Check the first item and match all others to it.
Correlative conjunctions (both/and, either/or) require parallel structure after each word.
Read aloud — non-parallel structure sounds awkward.
