What is the definition of parallel sentence?

Parallel sentence, also known as parallel structure, is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence.

Parallel structure is achieved by making each compared/listed item or idea in your sentence follow the same grammatical pattern.

Word Form

• Noun/Pronoun -- Noun/Pronoun

• Adjective --Adjective

• Verb -- Verb (must be parallel in tense, form, number)
• Adverb -- Adverb

Examples: She is my friend and mentor . (wrong: She is my friend and mentors me.)

John Mark is smart and diligent . (wrong: John Mark is smart and works hard.)

The children ran and hid behind the tree. (wrong: The children ran and were hiding behind the tree.)

You cannot be here and there at the same time. (wrong: You cannot be here and go there at the same time.)

Phrase Form

• Participial Phrase -- Participial Phrase
• Prepositional Phrase -- Prepositional Phrase
• Verb Phrase -- Verb Phrase
• Infinitive Phrase -- Infinitive Phrase
• Gerund Phrase -- Gerund Phrase

Examples:

Wearing a dark jacket and hiding in the shadows , the man sneaked into the building. (wrong: Wearing a dark jacket and to hide behind the shadows , the man sneaked into the building.)

You can choose to fail or to succeed . (wrong: You can choose to fail or be successful .)

Clause Form

Examples:

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who cheat and those who are cheated .

I admire people whose minds are active and whose hearts are pure.