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.
(并列介词短语)
为使平行结构清楚明了,随时都可以重复介词、冠词、助动词、不定词标志,或者长的短语或句子的介绍词。
Awkward: I admire Tennyson for the ideals in his poems but not his style.
Improved: I admire Tennyson for the ideals in his poems but not for his style.
Awkward: The sentences are difficult to understand, not because they are long but they are obscure.
Improved: The sentences are difficult to understand, not because they are long but because they are obscure.
Awkward: He explained that the advertising campaign had been successful, business had increased more than forty per cent, and additional capital was sorely needed.
Improved: He explained that the advertising campaign had been successful, that business had increased more than forty per cent, and that additional capital was sorely needed.
在商业和正式文件写作中,越来越多的用到圆点散句。除了更易读之外,它们更能从视觉上引起人们注意。作者需要决定在圆点之后用什么形式来写,是用名词,动词,形容词,副词,还是介词短语,定语从句甚至完整的句子。应该记住的是它们相互间应该保持一致。平行结构较多用。
Examples:
Our recommendations for improving computer-user comfort are as follows:
· Anti-radiation screens should be available for computer monitors.
· Wrist supports should be used to help maintain proper wrist position during computer use and possibly reduce the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
· Employees need adjustable chairs with a stronger back support.
(主谓一致结构)
What makes me different from other job applicants?
· Ability to converse in English, Japanese in addition to my native Mandarin
· Completion of two-month customer satisfaction training
· Impeccable medical report card
· Outgoing personality and eager desire to help