SKILL 24: USE PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS



The job of the coordinate conjunctions (and, but, or) is to join together equal expressions. In other words, what is on one side of these words must be parallel to what is on the other side. These conjunctions can join nouns, or verbs, or adjectives, or phrases, or subordinate clauses, or main clauses; they just must join together two of the same thing. Here are examples of two nouns joined by a coordinate conjunction:

• I need to talk to the manager or the assistant manager.
• She is not a teacher but a lawyer.
• You can choose from activities such as hiking and kayaking.

Here are examples of two verbs joined by a coordinate conjunction:
• He only eats and sleeps when he takes a vacation.
• She invites us to her home but never talks with us.
• You can stay home or go to the movies with us.

Here are examples of two adjectives joined by a coordinate conjunction:
• My boss is sincere and nice.
• The exam that he gave was short but difficult.
• Class can be interesting or boring.

Here are examples of two phrases joined by a coordinate conjunction:
• There are students in the classroom and in front of the building.
• The papers are on my desk Orin the drawer.
• The checks will be ready not at noon but at 1:00.

Here are examples of two clauses joined by a coordinate conjunction:
• They are not interested in what you say or what you do.
• I am here because I have to be and because I want to be.
• Mr. Brown likes to go home early, but his wife prefers to stay late.



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