Coming up: a week's break.
In class: practice with revising sentence fragments and parallel construction. (class handout / copy below) Due at the close of class today.
A Parallel Construction Problem: the False Series
A common problem in writing today is the false series. It happens when a writer combines three or more seemingly related elements in a series, but the syntax is wrong. When you get the sentence right, you're said to be using parallel construction.
Some helpful hints on how 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 or constructed in the same way.
3)If they are not, make them parallel by making the grammatical construction the same in each part.
Examples
I would rather eat potatoes than to eat rice.
Global warming affects humans, the environment, and is scary.
It's harder to do long division than dividing with a calculator.
“How to Use Parallel Construction Correctly.” Quick and Dirty Tips, 27 Oct. 2017, www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/how-to-use-parallel-construction-correctly.
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Name_______________________________-
Fragments - Exercise 1
Some of the following word groups are fragments while others
are simple sentences. Revise any fragment to make a complete sentence. If the
word group is a simple sentence, write "correct" on the line below.
NOTE: No capital letters or end punctuation marks have been
used. Use subject-predicate units and complete thoughts to determine your
answers.
1.
after the tornado struck the small town
_________________________________________________________________________________
2.
please read the chapter on sentence analysis
______________________________________________________________________________
3.
they would like to collect money for the charity
_________________________________________________________________________________
4.
because you know that I dislike peanut butter
_________________________________________________________________________________
5.
the older man walking down the stairs
_________________________________________________________________________________
6.
whether we go to the zoo on Sunday or not
______________________________________________________________________________
7.
the new idea created a buzz of excitement
______________________________________________________________________________
8.
for example, the public's interest in reality
television
_________________________________________________________________________________
9.
does that tree ever grow pinecones
_________________________________________________________________________________
10.
as the actress finished reading her monologue
______________________________________________________________________________
Part 2: Parallel Sentence Structure -
Directions: Rewrite each sentence to fix all parallelism
errors.
11. An actor knows
how to memorize his lines and getting into character.
_________________________________________________________________________________
12.Tell me where you were, what you were doing, and your
reasons for doing it.
_________________________________________________________________________________
13. Clark's daily
exercises include running, swimming, and to lift weights.
_________________________________________________________________________________
14. To donate money
to the homeless shelter is helping people stay warm in the winter.
_________________________________________________________________________________
15. Jim not only
likes working outside but also getting dirty.
_________________________________________________________________________________
16. We followed the
path through the forest, over the hill, and we went across the river.
_________________________________________________________________________________
17. The writer was
brilliant but a recluse.
_________________________________________________________________________________
18. She told Jake to take out the trash, to mow
the lawn, and be listening for the phone call.
_________________________________________________________________________________
