PARALLEL STRUCTURE 
When information in a sentence is given in the form of a list or series, all components must be grammatically parallel or equal. There may be only two components or there may be many components in a list; however, if the first is, for example, an infinitive, the rest must also be infinitives. Consider the following correct and incorrect sentences. Not parallel: Peter is rich , handsome , and
many people like him . adjective / adjective clause Parallel: Peter is rich , handsome , and popular . adjective adjective adjective Not parallel: Mr. Henry is a lawyer , a politician , and he teaches. noun / noun clause Parallel: Mr. Henry is a lawyer , a politician , and a teacher . noun noun noun (R remember that a clause standing alone would be a complete Sentence, meaning it has a subject and a verb.) Not parallel: The soldiers approached the enemy camp slowly and silent . Parallel: The soldiers approached the enemy camp slowly and silently. Not parallel: She likes to fish , swim , and surfing . Parallel: She likes to fish , to swim , and to surf . infinitive infinitive infinitive
OR She likes fishing , swimming , and surfing . /verb + ing] [verb + ing] [verb + ing]

infinitive simple form [verb + ing]
Not parallel:
When teenagers finish high school, they have several choices: going to college , getting a job, of the army . Parallel: When teenagers finish high school, they have several choices: going to college, getting a job, or joining the army . /verb + ing] [verb + ing] [verb + ing] Not parallel: Enrique entered the room, sat down, and is opening his book. Parallel: Enrique entered the room, sat down, and opened his book. STYLE IN WRITTEN ENGLISH Note: If the sentence indicates that the different clauses definitely happ e fl ed or will happen at different times, then this rule does not need to be followed. For example: She is a senior, studies every day, and will graduate a present present future semester early. Exercise 50: Parallel Structure Change the following sentences so that they are parallel. 1. The puppy stood up slowly, wagged its tail, blinking its eyes, and barked. 2. Ecologists are trying to preserve our environment for future generations by protecting the ozone layer, purifying the air, and have replanted the trees that have been cut down. 3. The chief of police demanded from his assistants an orderly investigation, a well-written report, and that they work hard. 4. Marcia is a scholar, an athlete, and artistic. 5. Slowly and with care, the museum director removed the Ming vase from the shelf and placed it on the display pedestal. 6- The farmer plows the fields, plants the seeds, and will harvest the crop. 7- Abraham Lincoln was a good president and was self-educated, hard-working, and always told the truth. • Children love playing in the mud, running through puddles, and g they get very dirty. * Collecting stamps, playing chess, and to mount beautiful jq butterflies are Derrick’s hobbies. Despite America’s affluence, many people are without jobs, on Welfare, and have a lot of debts.