Understanding Sentence Structure and Parallelism

Sentence Structure and Parallelism

Sentences and their structures have always been of interest in linguistics and language studies because they form the backbone of communication through writing. One significant aspect of sentence construction is the concept of parallelism, which refers to the repetition of grammatical patterns in different parts of a sentence. Understanding this concept can greatly enhance one's writing skills by making sentences more concise, clearer, and easier to understand. In this article, we will discuss sentence structure in general and its relation with parallelism.

A Closer Look at Sentence Structures

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought, consisting of a subject and predicate and often an object. There are two main types of sentences: declarative and interrogative. Declarative sentences state facts and opinions, while interrogative sentences ask questions. Both types require proper structure to convey meaning effectively.

Subject

The subject of a sentence typically describes who or what performs the action. For example, in the sentence "John ate an apple," John is the subject because he performed the action of eating.

Predicate

The predicate part of a sentence expresses or identifies the action done by the subject. Continuing our example, "ate" is part of the predicate because it shows the result of John's action.

Object

The object refers to the person, place, thing, or idea that receives or gets the action from the verb. Using our previous example, "an apple" is the object because it receives the action of being eaten by John.

What is Parallelism?

Parallelism is the repetition of similar grammatical forms within a sentence, such as phrases, clauses, or even entire sentences. This technique strengthens your message and makes it easier for readers to follow your argument. Here are some examples of how parallelism works:

He liked both playing football and basketball; however, he preferred playing football.

In the above sentence, the phrases "playing football" and "playing basketball" are parallel because they both start with the verb phrase.

She has many friends, but she relies only on her family.

Here, the noun phrases "many friends" and "only on her family" are parallel because they follow a consistent pattern.

Parallelism can also be used across multiple sentences. It might seem natural to restate each point you make in slightly different ways when you list them—but doing so can introduce confusion. Instead, try stating all the points differently but consistently.

Benefits of Maintaining Parallelism in Writing

Parallelism helps achieve the following benefits while structuring sentences:

Clearer Communication

By maintaining parallel structure, you make your ideas more clear and easier to understand. When you repeat similar grammatical forms, readers can better follow your argument and connect each idea to the next.

Emphasis

Using parallelism allows you to stress certain points by repeating them in a consistent manner. This repetition reinforces the importance of those ideas and makes them memorable to your readers.

Consistent Organization

Parallelism ensures that your writing remains organized and structured. By maintaining consistency in grammatical patterns throughout a sentence or several sentences, you automatically guide the reader through the text.

Common Mistakes in Parallelism

While using parallelism effectively enhances your writing, there are some common mistakes to avoid:

Mixing Up Grammatical Forms

Ensure that all elements within a list or series of phrases are grammatically consistent. For example, if one item in a list starts with a gerund ("running"), then all items should start with gerunds.

Vague or Ambiguous Language

Avoid vague terms like "various," "different," or "several" that leave room for interpretation. Instead, specify the exact items you want to list to maintain clarity and consistency.

Repetition Overuse

Although parallelism strengthens sentences, excessive repetition can make writing seem tedious. Avoid repeating too many similar words or phrases within a single paragraph.

Parallelism Examples and Practice

To practice parallelism and improve sentence structures in your writing, try the following exercises:

1. Identify Parallel Structure: Find examples of parallel structure in famous quotes or literature. Analyze why the author chose this pattern and how it contributes to the overall effect of the passage.

2. Revise Sentences: Take a sentence with non-parallel grammatical forms and revise it to maintain consistent structure.

3. Create Lists: Write a list of similar items, making sure all parts follow the same grammatical form.

By practicing these exercises regularly, you can develop the skill of maintaining parallelism in your writing and consequently improve your sentence structures.