Question

Help on Parrallel Structures

"On the second floor, past the green door, next to the green vase, you'll see your umbrella."

Is this a correct parallel structured sentence? sounds right but not sure if its written correctly.

Answer 1

Here is what I read on the Purdue OWL page: Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or."
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/623/1/

Answer 2

I don't really think this is a parallel structure. I could be wrong. But your sentence doesn't seem to fit the Purdue description.

Answer 3

You could say, Your green umbrella is on the second floor, near the red door, next to the green vase, and on top of the table.

Answer 4

i see what about this sentence. "Sarah would like to meet her sales goals, run a marathon, and get her promotion before the end of July."

Answer 5

im thinking its incorrect because of the last phrase "and get her promotion before the end of july"

Answer 6

That is correct parallel structure - Parallel sentence structure does not necessarily mean that all of the items listed have to be of exactly equal importance. It means they words in each phrase give the phrase equal grammatical standing. For example, if two of the phrases has "meet her sales goals, run a marathon..." than the third also has to have a verb introducing it. If the phrases are just nouns, like "I like fruit, vegetables, and..." then my last item must also be a single noun, it cannot be "writing about grammar".

Answer 7

oh i see

Answer 8

do the phrases have to end in "ed" for example if the first phrase starts in past tense

Answer 9

Yeah, tense agreement is very important. I remember that the SAT writing was like 1/2 that. You cannot say "I ran to the store, bolted in the door, and say hi to the clerk." Or "I will go home, study, and slept" is a very obvious issue with tense agreement