WRITING WITH PARALLEL STRUCTURES FOR THE TOEFL ESSAY WRITING TASK (WRITING 7)

WELCOME TO THIS POST!

A LOVELY BOUQUET FOR MY READERS! 

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This post refers to some more specific uses of parallel structures, namely Case 3 and Case 4, as a continuation of my previous post on this topic, which was Writing 6.

CASE 3.

When we compare things, we often use words such as more, less, better, worse.

In addition, we improve the connection between the items being compared, with words like as and than.

We also need to use parallel structures in these situations so that our ideas will be written correctly.

Here are some examples that show how this works.

• We enjoyed water skiing much more than when we swam in the lake  

That’s great! Enjoyed and swam are both simple past tense

• Driving to New York can actually take less time than flying there. 

Correct! Driving and flying are both gerunds!

• Children are more likely to enjoy eating ice cream than drinking milk 

Also great! Eating and drinking are both gerunds!

• To write English is just as important as to speak it

Yes! To write and to speak are both infinitives!

However, the following examples all include expressions that do not comply with the concept of parallel structures

• Driving will get you there more quickly than to walk. (- than walking)

• She said that being a good listener was just as important as to talk well. ( - as talking well)

• Her excuses bothered me more than she was absent (- than her absence)

• A big house is not necessarily better than one that is small (-than a small one)

CASE 4.

Series or Lists.

A series is a group of three or more elements in a row. The last element is connected to the others with one of these words: and, or, but (not) or yet (not).

Commas should be placed between each element in the series and before the coordinating conjunction.

It is important to note that the elements of a list or a series should be in a parallel format; otherwise they will sound very awkward.

Here are some examples to show how this works.

• He found cleaning supplies in the closet, under the sink, but not in the outside store-room.

This is good, the elements are all phrases that start with prepositions: in the closet, under the sink, in the outside store-room.

• The janitor’s duties were to keep the cleaning supplies stocked, to sweep the entrance and to distribute things in the show-room.

This is great, the list is base on infinities: to keep, to sweep, to distribute

However, the following examples all include expressions that do not comply with the concept of parallel structures

• The frustrated customer wanted to exchange the article, to obtain a refund, or she wanted to speak to the manager. ( - or to speak to the manager)

• My brother enjoys three activities: checkers, welding, and he collects baseball cards (- playing checkers, - collecting baseball cards)

• Reading mystery novels, exercising in the park and crossword puzzles occupy a good deal of my retirement time. (- completing crossword puzzles)

• Mike went to the lake, caught several fish, and he fell asleep (-and fell asleep)

CONCLUDING WORDS

I’ve said it before and I will say it again: the TOEFL Independent Writing Task does need some effort on the part of the test taker.

I would suggest the following:

Read my previous posts, Writing 5 and Writing 6, at these links.

http://joveron.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-toefl-independent-writing-task.html 

http://joveron.blogspot.com/2013/10/using-parallel-structures-when-writing.html

Search for more examples on this topic.

Ask a native speaker to review your work, but preferably one with some experience on the TOEFL. 

This task needs to be practiced and it’s really not very realistic to expect to get it right the very first time, unless you are very gifted.

This is the main purpose of this blog! So be sure to visit my future posts on the topic of the TOEFL

So let’s relax and enjoy some beautiful photos, and I do hope to see you on my next posts!

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING

 

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FALL SCENERY.

 

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© 2013  joveron  (Joan Robertson)

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