The ESL HELP! Desk

What's wrong with this sentence?

Problem:   When I saw my brother after all these years, I felt like hugging him and not let go.

In English, the order of the words within each sentence, what we call syntax or sentence structure, is very important.

Before you begin the activities, you may want to study the podcast and grammar lesson, He's Always Talking about Grammar , also in our Library.

After you complete the activities, you can check your answers.

What Is Parallel Structure?

 

When similar ideas are connected with a conjunction (and, or, but), the ideas must be PARALLEL, i.e. in a similar grammatical form.

• Life is too short to worry about foolish things or to be sad for a long time.
                             infinitive phrase                    infinitive phrase

• I have to be ready to leave home and (to) catch the bus.
                             infinitive phrase        infinitive phrase

• This caused a war between the English and the Chinese.
                                        noun, the people    noun, the people

• This caused a war between England and China.
                                noun, the country       noun, the country
  
  

Solving Problems

Both forms must be correct and parallel with each other. 

• Problem:    You have to try to forget him and being happy.
  
  Solution:      You have to try to forget him and ________  happy.

• Problem:     Asking the court for help is better and safer than hurt another
                        person and then feel guilty for what you've done.
  
  Solution:        Asking the court for help is better and safer than _______ another
                       person and then  _________ guilty for what you've done.
  
  

Try It Yourself!

  

WHERE'S THE ERROR?

Here are some sentences which lack parallelism.  Can you fix them?  What type of problem did the original sentence have?

1.  The best thing to do is to ask for help or calling the police.
     Solution:
     Explanation:

2.  I believe that Japanese cars last longer than an American car.
     Solution:
     Explanation:

3. My name, Du Chao, reminds me to be successful and courage.
     Solution:
    Explanation:

4.  We were talking and try to understand each other.
     Solution:
     Explanation:

Click here for the answers to the Parallel Structure Activity, Where's the Error?

What's Wrong with This Sentence?

SOLUTION:   When I saw my brother after all these years, I felt like hugging him and not letting go.