WELCOME TO
THIS POST!
A LOVELY BOUQUET FOR MY READERS!
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Source: Pixabay, Public Domain
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
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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Source: Pixabay, Public Domain
FALL SCENERY.
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Source: Pixabay, Public Domain
© 2013
joveron (Joan Robertson)
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