Basic English Grammar

Parallel construction

Your writing will be clearer if you use parallel construction. By parallel construction, we mean words or expressions of similar form.

Consider the sentence given below.

Alice likes sewing, painting and to play tennis.

The above sentence does not follow parallel construction. To make it parallel, change the infinitive (to play) into –ing form.

• Alice likes sewing, painting and playing tennis.
• The new player is strong, clever and intelligent.
• I only eat salads; I rarely eat chips; and I never touch chocolate.

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