Parallel construction example
Last updated: 13 Oct 2008
This is an example of a parallel construction question.
To be a good student, one must study hard, listening carefully to the teacher, and to go to bed early.
- To be a good student, one must study hard, listening carefully to the teacher, and to go to bed early.
- To be a good student, one must study hard, listen carefully to the teacher, and to go to bed early.
- To be a good student, one must study hard, listen carefully to the teacher, and go to bed early.
- To be a good student, one must study hard, listening carefully to the teacher, and going to bed early.
- To be a good student, one must be studying hard, listening carefully, and go to be early.
Try to answer it before reading the explanation below.
Explanation
Notice how answer choice A is the same as the original sentence. It ALWAYS follows this pattern in sentence correction.
We know this is a parallel construction problem because we have a list or series of equivalent items, in this case verbs.
All 3 verbs have to be in the same tense or form.
A has study, listening, and to go.
B has study, listen, and to go.
D contains study, listening, and going.
E has be studying, listening, and go.
None of these are parallel.
The correct answer, C, has study, listen, and go which is parallel.
