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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.
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Re: about parallel structure

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.
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