Chapter 4 · English Grammar

Parallelism

Advanced ⏱ 35–45 minutes 🎓 Grade 11

What you will be able to do

  • Define parallelism and why it matters
  • Keep items in a list grammatically parallel
  • Keep parallel form in comparisons
  • Use parallel structure with correlative conjunctions
  • Identify and fix faulty parallelism
Builds on / Related chapters
Grade 8 · Transformation of Sentences Grade 10 · Sentence Synthesis

1 Quick Introduction

English

Parallelism means using the same grammatical form for items that play the same role — a list of verbs, a list of nouns, a pair of phrases. "She likes swimming, running, and cycling" is parallel; "swimming, running, and to cycle" is not. Parallel structure makes writing balanced, rhythmic and easy to read — and faulty parallelism is a classic exam error.

हिन्दी

समानांतरता (parallelism) का अर्थ है समान भूमिका निभाने वाली मदों के लिए एक ही व्याकरणिक रूप का प्रयोग — क्रियाओं की सूची, संज्ञाओं की सूची, या वाक्यांशों का युग्म। "She likes swimming, running, and cycling" समानांतर है; "swimming, running, and to cycle" नहीं। समानांतर संरचना लेखन को संतुलित, लयबद्ध और पठनीय बनाती है — और faulty parallelism एक उत्कृष्ट परीक्षा-त्रुटि है।

2 A Real-Life Situation

Imagine this

A job advert demands parallel skills:

Weak: We want someone who is hardworking, honest, and a person of patience.

Strong: We want someone who is hardworking, honest, and patient.

Why this form? The strong version keeps all three as adjectives. The weak one mixes two adjectives with a noun phrase ('a person of patience'), which jars. Parallelism is the difference between writing that flows and writing that stumbles.

3 The Grammar Rule

Rule & Formula
ContextRuleExample
Listsame form for each itemreading, writing, painting
Comparisonmatch both sidesto win is better than to lose
Correlativesbalance the pairnot only X but also Y
Items in the same role → use the same grammatical form
She likes to read, to write, and to paint. (all infinitives)

4 Parallelism in Lists & Comparisons

In a list, every item must share the same form — all nouns, all gerunds, all infinitives, or all clauses.

  • ✓ He enjoys hiking, swimming, and cycling. (all gerunds)
  • ✗ He enjoys hiking, swimming, and to cycle. (mixed)
  • ✓ The course is useful, affordable, and short. (all adjectives)

In a comparison, both sides must match in form:

  • ✓ Walking is healthier than driving. (gerund vs gerund)
  • ✗ To walk is healthier than driving. (infinitive vs gerund)

Repeat a marker (to, the, a, that) before each item if it improves clarity: She wants to study, to travel, and to work.

Visual — Parallelism in Lists & Comparisons
Same role → same formreadingwritingpaintingall gerunds — parallel ✓
1
Worked Example
Fix the list: She is intelligent, kind, and works hard.
Solution

She is intelligent, kind, and hardworking. — keep all adjectives.

2
Worked Example
Fix the comparison: Reading is better than to watch TV.
Solution

Reading is better than watching TV. — match gerund to gerund.

Key Points

  • Every item in a list must share the same grammatical form
  • Both sides of a comparison must match in form
  • Repeat a marker (to/the/that) before each item for clarity

5 Parallelism with Correlatives & Faulty Parallelism

Correlative conjunctions come in pairs and demand parallel structures after each part:

PairParallel example
not only … but alsonot only sang but also danced
either … oreither by bus or by train
neither … norneither here nor there
both … andboth clever and kind

Faulty parallelism is the error of mixing forms. To fix it, find the items, pick one form, and make them all match.

  • ✗ He likes to swim and running. → ✓ He likes swimming and running (or to swim and to run).
  • ✗ Not only she is clever but also kind. → ✓ She is not only clever but also kind.
1
Worked Example
Fix the correlative: He not only plays the guitar but also the drums.
Solution

He plays not only the guitar but also the drums. — balance the two nouns after the pair.

2
Worked Example
Fix: The task requires patience, skill, and being careful.
Solution

The task requires patience, skill, and care. — keep all nouns.

Key Points

  • Correlative pairs (not only…but also) need parallel structures
  • Faulty parallelism mixes forms — pick one and match all
  • Place the correlative so both items are balanced

6 Vocabulary Builder

WordMeaningहिन्दी
Parallelismsame form for like itemsसमानांतरता
Faulty parallelismmixed grammatical formsदोषपूर्ण समानांतरता
Correlativea paired conjunctionयुग्म-संयोजक
Balanceequal structureसंतुलन
Consistencykeeping the same formएकरूपता
✎ Vocabulary Quick Test0 / 1
Q.Which list is parallel?
Explanation: 'reading, writing, painting' are all gerunds — parallel.

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ IncorrectShe likes swimming, running, and to cycle.
✓ CorrectShe likes swimming, running, and cycling.
Keep all items as gerunds.
✗ IncorrectHe is honest, brave, and a hard worker.
✓ CorrectHe is honest, brave, and hardworking.
Match all as adjectives.
✗ IncorrectNot only she sings but also dances.
✓ CorrectShe not only sings but also dances.
Balance the verbs after the correlative.
✗ IncorrectTo err is human; forgiving is divine.
✓ CorrectTo err is human; to forgive is divine.
Match infinitive to infinitive.

8 Practice Exercises

Fill in the BlanksLevel 1
Choose the parallel option to complete the list.
  1. She enjoys dancing, singing, and ______.
  2. He is wise, kind, and ______.
  3. We came to learn, to grow, and ______.
  4. The room was clean, bright, and ______.
  5. I like to read, to write, and ______.
Answer Key
  1. acting (gerund)
  2. patient (adjective)
  3. to succeed (infinitive)
  4. spacious (adjective)
  5. to travel (infinitive)
Fill in the BlanksLevel 2
Rewrite to make the structure parallel.
  1. She is talented, hardworking, and has ambition.
  2. He likes hiking, fishing, and to camp.
  3. Not only he wrote the play but also directed it.
  4. Reading is more useful than to watch TV.
  5. The job needs skill, patience, and being honest.
Answer Key
  1. She is talented, hardworking, and ambitious.
  2. He likes hiking, fishing, and camping.
  3. He not only wrote the play but also directed it.
  4. Reading is more useful than watching TV.
  5. The job needs skill, patience, and honesty.
Error Detection
  1. He is brave, honest, and a leader.
  2. She likes to sing and dancing.
  3. Not only it is cheap but also durable.
  4. Walking is healthier than to run for him.
Answer Key
  1. He is brave, honest, and capable. (or … a brave, honest leader) (error: a leader)
  2. She likes to sing and to dance. (error: dancing)
  3. It is not only cheap but also durable. (error: Not only it is)
  4. Walking is healthier than running for him. (error: to run)
Sentence Correction
  1. The course teaches reading, writing, and how to speak.
  2. She is neither happy nor she is sad.
  3. He came to study, relax, and for making friends.
Answer Key
  1. The course teaches reading, writing, and speaking.
  2. She is neither happy nor sad.
  3. He came to study, to relax, and to make friends.
Rearrange the Words
  1. swimming / she / running / enjoys / and / cycling
  2. wise / he / brave / and / is / kind
  3. sings / not / he / only / dances / but / also
Answer Key
  1. She enjoys swimming, running, and cycling.
  2. He is wise, brave, and kind.
  3. He not only sings but also dances.
Match the Following
Column AColumn B
1. reading, writing, paintinga. parallel infinitives
2. not only…but alsob. parallel gerunds
3. to win, to learn, to growc. parallel correlative (places)
4. neither here nor thered. correlative pair
Answer Key
reading, writing, painting → parallel gerundsnot only…but also → correlative pairto win, to learn, to grow → parallel infinitivesneither here nor there → parallel correlative (places)

9 Micro Quiz

✎ Quick Check — 5 questions0 / 5
Q1.Which list is parallel?
Explanation: All gerunds.
Q2.Fix: 'She is kind, clever, and a hard worker.'
Explanation: All adjectives.
Q3.Parallel comparison: 'Reading is better than ___.'
Explanation: Match gerund to gerund.
Q4.Correlative: 'He is not only ___ but also generous.'
Explanation: Match 'wealthy' to the adjective 'generous'.
Q5.Which has faulty parallelism?
Explanation: 'to cook and baking' mixes forms.

10 Reading Practice

A good leader must be decisive, fair, and compassionate. She inspires her team not only by setting goals but also by sharing the work. What matters is planning carefully, communicating clearly, and acting boldly. Leadership is less about giving orders and more about earning trust. To lead is to serve, and to serve is to grow.

Comprehension Questions
  1. Find a parallel list of adjectives.
  2. Identify the parallel structure after the correlative.
  3. Explain the parallelism in the last sentence.
Answer Key
  1. 'decisive, fair, and compassionate' — three adjectives.
  2. 'not only by setting goals but also by sharing the work' — two parallel 'by + gerund' phrases.
  3. 'To lead is to serve, and to serve is to grow' — matched infinitive structures, creating balance and rhythm.

11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use

Say these aloud
  • She is talented, hardworking, and humble.
  • He likes reading, writing, and travelling.
  • We came to learn and to grow.
  • It is not only useful but also affordable.
  • To lead is to serve.
Write five sentences with perfect parallelism: a list of gerunds, a list of adjectives, a list of infinitives, a comparison, and a correlative pair.
Example: I enjoy reading, writing, and drawing. She is bright, kind, and calm. We hope to learn, to share, and to grow. Cycling is better than driving. He is both wise and witty.

12 Challenge Zone

🔥 Higher-Level Questions — 30 / 3
Q1.Choose the correctly parallel sentence.
Explanation: All infinitives: to research, to develop, to launch.
Q2.Fix the correlative placement: 'She not only is a singer but also a dancer.'
Explanation: Place 'not only' so both nouns balance after 'is'.
Q3.Which sentence keeps parallel form in a comparison?
Explanation: Match infinitive to infinitive: 'to walk … to drive'.

13 Chapter Mind Map

Mind Map
           PARALLELISM
                |
   +--------+---+----+---------+
   |        |        |         |
 LISTS    COMPARISON CORRELA-  FAULTY
 same form match     TIVES     mix of
 all nouns/ both      not only/ forms
 gerunds/   sides     but also  >fix: pick
 infinitives          either/or one form

14 One-Minute Revision

Remember these

  • Parallelism = same grammatical form for items in the same role
  • Lists: all nouns, all gerunds, all infinitives, or all clauses
  • Comparisons: both sides must match in form
  • Correlatives (not only…but also) demand parallel structures
  • Fix faulty parallelism by choosing one form and matching all items