Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 16-Mar-2005, 02:50
Unregistered
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default about parallel structure

Hello teachers!
I would like to thank you for your constant help .
i wonder if this sentence is grammatically correct : Either you begin to study now or risk failing the exam. Can the phrase, 'you begin to study' and 'risk failing the exam' form a parallel?
i think it's ok because 'you begin' is also a kind of imperative just like 'risk failing'.
But from the view of a native speaker of english, am i right or wrong?

What about using 'Either you begin to study now or your risk failing the exam'
or 'Either you begin to study now or you will risk failing the exam'
I am looking forward your kind answer.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 16-Mar-2005, 06:28
Casiopea's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China
First Language: English
Thanks: 0
Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts
Casiopea is on a distinguished road
Default Re: about parallel structure

Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
Can the phrase, 'you begin to study' and 'risk failing the exam' form a parallel?
A parallel structure would be,

Subject+ verb: either you study or you risk
Verb (Imperative): either study or risk

"you study" and "you risk" are not imperative structures. Consider the third person form, Either she studies or she risks failing the exam. The verbs are conjungated (note, -s).

Try,

If you don't study now, you might fail the exam.

"fail the exam" is a potential consequence of not studying.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
parallel, structure

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
A final question, structure. Crombie Ask a Teacher 1 12-Mar-2005 02:21
Improving dense sentence structure Mic062 Ask a Teacher 1 06-Mar-2005 02:36
sentence structure Joe Ask a Teacher 4 02-Jun-2004 15:10
Parallel Structure Atesttaker General Language Discussions 10 31-May-2004 22:34
structure and prononciation Anonymous Ask a Teacher 8 18-Oct-2003 14:14


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 01:01.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC5
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com