Yang dimaksud parallel structures adalah jika ada dua kata/frasa/klausa yang dihubungkan oleh kata penghubung (seperti and, or, but dan sebagainya) maka keduanya harus setara.

Contoh parallel stuctures:

I like watching and reading.

Kalimat jadi salah apabila ditulis “I like watching dan to read” karena yang pertama menggunakan watching maka yang kata read juga harus menggunakan akhiran -ing. Untuk lebih jelasnya baca contoh di bawah ini.

1. Parallel berupa kata

We like apple and orange.

I read novel and news.

2. Parallel berupa verb (kata kerja)

They sit and wait.

You may take it or leave it.

3. Parallel berupa verb-ing

They are not sleeping but playing.

We like swimming and jogging.

4. Parallel berupa frasa

You may put the book on the shelf or on the table.

I knew her not after the seminar but before the seminar.

5. Parallel berupa adjective (Kata sifat)

The exam is short but hard.

He is kind and polite.

6. Parallel berupa klausa

I don’t know where he went and what he did.

I know what she likes and what she hates.