Parallelism

ENGLISH

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Parallelism
In the Grammar section of Insurance and bank exams, there are questions on the concept of Parallelism,
which is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. It means using the same pattern of
words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance & adds refinement to what is being
written and helps avoid repetition. In this note, we shall discuss questions pertaining to Parallelism that ap-
pear in the Insurance and other Banking exams.

Steps to revise sentences for parallel structure:

1. Figure out what parts of the sentence are being compared.

2. Decide whether they are parallel, i.e. arranged in the same way.

3. If they are not, make them parallel by making the grammatical construction the same in each part.

 Example1:- He likes reading, writing and swimming’

OR we can say: ‘He likes to read, write and swim’ (but not ‘He likes reading, writing and to swim’ because
the structure is not the same throughout)

 Example2:- Sam has a pen in his bag.

Sam has a pencil in his bag.
Sam has two books in his bag.
A better way of conveying the same would be: Sam has a pen, a pencil and two books in his bag.

 Example3:- Betty has intelligence, honesty, and she is funny.

OR A better way of conveying would be: Betty has intelligence, honesty, and humour.

5 Golden Rules to be Mastered to Write Parallel

Sentences
Rule #1: When you connect two or more clauses or phrases with a conjunction (for,
and, nor, but, etc.) use parallel structure.

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Example:-
Not Parallel: My best friend took me dancing and to a show.
Parallel: My best friend took me to a dance and a show.

Rule #2: When you connect two clauses or phrases with a correlative conjunction (not
only, but also, either…or, neither…nor, if…then, etc.) use parallel structure.
Example:-
Not Parallel: Sam wants both a satisfying job and that pays well.
Parallel: Sam wants both a satisfying and a well paying job.

Rule #3: Observe parallel structure of sentences while comparing elements.

Example:-
Not Parallel: I like to read books over watching movies.
Parallel: I like reading books over watching movies.

Rule #4: Observe parallel structure when elements are in a list.

Example:-
Not Parallel: Traditional societies believed the king to be a religious, a political, a social and head of the
military forces.
Parallel: Traditional societies believed the king to be a religious, political, social and a military head.

Rule #5: When you connect two clauses or phrases with a word of comparison, such as
‘than’ or ‘as’, use parallel structure.
Example:-
Not Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than financial aid.
Parallel: I would rather pay for my education than receive financial aid.

Let’s Practice!
Q. In the following sentence, choose the option which has an error.

Sam is an idealist, meaning that he believes life is fair. Sam wants both a satisfying job and that pays well,
but we all know that this can never happen. The world is not ideal.

1) but we all know that this can never happen

2) Sam is an idealist, meaning that he believes

3) believes life is fair. Sam wants

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4) job and that pays well, but we all know that this

5) Sam wants both a satisfying job and that pays well

A. The correct option is 5) i.e. Sam wants both a satisfying job and that pays well

Explanation:
 When we connect two clauses or phrases with correlative conjunction (not only, but also, either…or,
neither…nor, if…then, etc.) we use parallel structure.

 'Sam wants both a satisfying job and that pays well' is (Incorrect) while joining the verb 'satisfying'
using the conjunction 'and' a verb should be used, instead of pay, we use 'paying'

 'Sam wants both a satisfying and a well paying job' (Correct)

 Continuous verbs and gerunds end in "-ing" and have special spelling rules.

 The -ing spelling rules are --

 add "-ing" to the verb.

 when a verb ends in "e", drop the "e" and add "-ing". For example: "take + ing = taking".

 when a one-syllable verb ends in vowel + consonant, double the final consonant and add
"-ing". For example: "hit + ing = hitting".

 When a verb ends in vowel + consonant with stress on the final syllable, double the
consonant and add "-ing". For example: "begin + ing = beginning".

Q. In the following sentence, choose the option which has an error.

Yesterday we watched a movie, play video games and made pizza. We can not remember the last time
when we had so much fun.

1) Yesterday we watched a movie

2) Play video games and made pizza

3) We can not remember any other

4) The last time when we had so much fun

5) Made pizza. We can not remember

A. The correct answer is 'play video games and made pizza' i.e. 'error lies in this part of the sentence.'

Explanation:
 While using the verb tense rules. The order should be such that the 'verb' must match the tense.
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 ' play video games and made pizza' (Incorrect): The whole sentence is in the past tense, the verb 'play'
should also be in the proper form.

 played video games and made pizza (Correct)

 The past tense (e.g. I was, he talked, we had, they worked) is also called the past simple or simple past. As
its description implies, it’s used to talk about things or situations which happened in the past.

 Example: 'I met Lisa yesterday', we ate a huge breakfast

So the Correct sentence is-: Yesterday we watched a movie, played video games and made pizza. We can not
remember the last time when we had so much fun.

Q. In the following sentence, choose the option which has an error.

Tom was considered to be a good employee because he was always on time, he was very motivated and
led the team well. He was never doubted by the management

1) Tom was considered to be a good

2) to be a good employee because he was always

3) he was very motivated and led the team well.

4) He was never doubted by the management

5) because he was always on time, he was

A. The correct option is 3) i.e. he was very motivated and led the team well.

Explanation:
 'He was very motivated and led the team well' (Incorrect) In this sentence we describe the good
qualities possessed by 'Tom'

 while describing positive traits of the subject we should make use of the proper adjective 'good'
instead of trying to use an adjective clause while writing the sentence.

 'he was very motivated and he was a good leader' (Correct)

Correct Answer: Tom was considered to be a good employee because he was always on time, he was
very motivated and he was a good leader. He was never doubted by the management

Q. In the following sentence, choose the option which has an error.

The interviewer had a lot of questions for me, he kept asking me about my family. I told him that my
mother likes cooking and to read. These were her primary hobbies.

1) The interviewer had a lot of questions for me

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2) These were her primary hobbies

3) Me about my family. I told him that my mother

4) I told him that my mother likes cooking and to read

5) He kept asking me about my family

A. The correct option is 4) i.e. I told him that my mother likes cooking and to read.

Explanation:
 'I told him that my mother likes cooking and to read.' (Incorrect)

 Generally, with two or more verbs, we will use “cooking and reading,” not “cooking and to
read.” while two or more verbs are used in order to describe an activity related to the same subject,
their form should be the same.

 'I told him that my mother likes cooking and reading' (Correct)

Correct Answer: The interviewer had a lot of questions for me, he kept asking me about my family. I told
him that my mother likes cooking and reading. These were her primary hobbies.
Q. In the following sentence, choose the option which has an error.

On Sunday afternoons the whole family comes together, we enjoy relaxing and like to sit out in the sun,
which gives us a lot of time to gossip and share stories about the past week.

1) share stories about the past week.

2) It gives us a lot of time to gossip

3) comes together, we enjoy

4) On Sunday afternoons the whole family

5) we enjoy relaxing and like to sit out in the sun

A. The correct option is 5) i.e. we enjoy relaxing and like to sit out in the sun

Explanation:
 In the sentence 'we enjoy relaxing and like to sit out in the sun' (Incorrect)

 'we' is the pronoun used for the whole family together as one unit. In such cases, the action words
(verb) will have the same form while describing the pronoun 'we'.

 'we enjoy relaxing and sitting out in the sun'. (Correct)

Correct Answer: On Sunday afternoons the whole family comes together, we enjoy relaxing and sitting
out in the sun. It gives us a lot of time to gossip and share stories about the past week.
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Q. In the following sentence, choose the option which has an error.

The impact of the collision was so severe that the boat overturned and breaks into two before sinking.

1) into two before sinking.

2) was so severe that the boat

3) overturned and breaks

4) The impact of the collision

5) No error
A. The correct answer is Option 3.

Explanation:
 'the boat overturned and broke into' should be there in place of 'boat overturned and breaks into'

 Parallelism should be used in verb tense.

 Example:

 Yesterday he cleaned the car, water the plants, and washed the dishes. (wrong)
Yesterday he cleaned the car, watered the plants, and washed the dishes. (right)

Correct Answer: The impact of the collision was so severe that the boat overturned and broke into two
before sinking.'

Q. In the following sentence, choose the option which has an error.

A comfortable bed replaced the cot utilized in Peabody and darkening proved more conducive to sleep
than the light that often snuck into our old quarters.

1) that often snuck into our old quarters.

2) utilized in Peabody and darkening proved

3) more conducive to sleep than the light

4) A comfortable bed replaced the cot

5) No error
A. The correct answer is Option 2.

Explanation:
 'darkness proved' should be there in place of 'darkening'.

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 In comparative degree, elements that are compared must be the same in form and function i.e. noun is
compared with a noun, adjective with an adjective, etc.

 Example:

 She likes swimming more than to cycle. (wrong)

 She likes swimming more than cycling. (right)

 In this sentence 'light' is a noun and 'darkening' is a verb making the sentence non-parallel.

The correct sentence is: 'A comfortable bed replaced the cot utilized in Peabody and darkness proved more
conducive to sleep than the light that often snuck into our old quarters.'

Q. In the following sentence, choose the option which has an error.

They who come rarely to the woods take some little piece of the forest into their hands to play with by the
way, which they leave, either intentionally or by accident.

1) which they leave, either

2) intentionally or by accident.

3) take some little piece of the forest into

4) their hands to play with by the way,

5) They who come rarely to the woods

A. The correct answer is Option 2.

Explanation:
 'either intentionally or accidentally' should be there in place of 'either intentionally or by accident'

 When elements are joined by correlative conjunctions, they must be in the same form and function.

 Example:
We were told either to reduce the staff or find new customers. (wrong)
We were told to either reduce the staff or find new customers. (right)

 Here in this sentence intentionally is an adverb while 'or' is followed by preposition + noun which
makes the sentence non-parallel.
The correct sentence is: 'They who come rarely to the woods take some little piece of the forest into
their hands to play with by the way, which they leave, either intentionally or accidentally.'

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Q. In the following sentence, choose the option which has an error.

Luxembourg abolished fares for trains, trams, and a bus as a bid to tackle road congestion and pollution, as
well as to support low earners.

1) as well as to support low earners.

2) trams, and a bus as a bid to tackle

3) Luxembourg abolished fares for trains,

4) road congestion and pollution,

5) No error
A. The correct answer is Option 2.

Explanation:
 'trams and buses' should be there in place of 'trams and a bus.'

 Parallelism should be there in noun numbers when noun numbers are a list of elements denoting a
particular idea.

 Example:
We can pay with a mark, a yen, a buck, or pounds. (wrong)
We can pay with a mark, a yen, a buck, or a pound. (right)
Here in this sentence multiple trains, trams, and a single bus is not going to solve environmental issues.
The correct sentence is: 'Luxembourg abolished fares for trains, trams, and buses as a bid to tackle
road congestion and pollution, as well as to support low earners.'

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