Parallel Structure

　　平行结构

　　相似的思想应用相似的形式表达出来。句子的成份相近，则也应以相似的形式出现。请注意以下标有"NO"的句子是不规范的。

　　No: The school bus skidded, turned sideways, then comes to a stop.

　　Yes: The school bus skidded, turned sideways, and came to a stop.

　　(并列时态)

　　No: I don’t know why I married someone who is miserly, sloppy and a bore.

　　Yes: I don’t know why I married someone who is miserly, sloppy and boring.

　　(形容词平行结构)

　　No: In the wreck the circus lost a panda and elephant.

　　Yes: In the wreck the circus lost a panda and an elephant.

　　(不定冠词的平行结构)

　　No: I debated whether I should give the beggar money or to offer him food.

　　Yes: I debated whether to give the beggar money or to offer him food.

　　(不定式的平行结构)

　　No: They would lie on the battlefield for hours and sometimes days.

　　Yes: They would lie on the battlefield for hours and sometimes for days.

　　(介词平行结构)

　　No: Michael’s vacuum cleaner squealed loudly, shook violently, and dust filled the air.

　　Yes: Michael’s vacuum cleaner squealed loudly, shook violently, and filled the air with dust.

　　(并列谓语)

　　No: The mechanic explained the problem, method, and the tools that he was going to use.

　　Yes: The mechanic explained the problem, method, and tools that he was going to use.

　　(并列带有定冠词"the"的名词)

　　No: He retired respected by his associates, admired by his friends, and his employees loved him.

　　Yes: He retired respected by his associates, admired by his friends, and loved by his employees.

　　(并列被动语态)

　　No: As a young man he had been to Shanghai, fighting in the Anti-Japanese War, and following the Nationalist Party to Chongking.

　　Yes: As a young man he had been to Shanghai, had fought in the Anti-Japanese War and had followed the Nationalist Party to Chongking.

　　(并列过去完成时)

　　No: Jane is pretty, with brown hair, and has a graceful manner.

　　Yes: Jane is pretty, brown-haired, and graceful.

　　(形容词平行结构)

　　No: He left the city because of his lack of success in business, the departure of his friends and because his health deteriorated rapidly.

　　Yes: He left the city because of his lack of success in business, the departure of his friends and his rapidly failing health.

　　(作宾语的名词平行结构)

　　No: They bought the house for location and affordability.

　　Yes: They bought the house because of its location and its affordability.

　　(并列名词;注意代词的所有格)

　　No: Why did you make Xiao Zhang feel useless and as if he was unimportant?

　　Yes: Why did you make Xiao Zhang feel useless and unimportant?

　　(形容词的平行结构)

　　No: This could be a problem for both the winners and for those who lose.

　　Yes: This could be a problem for both the winners and losers.

　　(名词平行结构)

　　No: The prisoner was not only found guilty of bribery but also adultery.

　　Yes: The prisoner was found guilty not only of bribery but also of adultery.