I was reading explanation of DIAG V87 from OG 2020 in the Navigator, and it is written that ‘correct answer (B) fixes the original parallelism error by matching was, began, and merged. However, there is ‘but’ (a conjunction?) after the comma and should that not break parallelism?
Moreover, in the issue #1 in Navigator, parallelism for option (B) is presented as :
writing was not a rendering, but began as a system, and merged..
why is began highlighted and not but as if but is a part of element X?
GMAT Forum
4 postsPage 1 of 1
- PrashantS209
- Course Students
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:33 am
- Sage Pearce-Higgins
- Forum Guests
- Posts: 1336
- Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2014 4:04 am
Re: Parallelism in verbs
You're right that 'but' is a conjunction. I'd think of it as a 'parallel marker word', i.e it joins together words in a parallel structure. Here are a couple of correct examples:
I love chocolate, but don't care for vanilla.
On her travels, she visited Spain, but not France.
The parallel structure in D87 is a bit more complicated. Here we have 'X, but Y, and Z' in which X, Y, and Z are the parallel elements.
I love chocolate, but don't care for vanilla.
On her travels, she visited Spain, but not France.
The parallel structure in D87 is a bit more complicated. Here we have 'X, but Y, and Z' in which X, Y, and Z are the parallel elements.
- PrashantS209
- Course Students
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:33 am
Re: Parallelism in verbs
This was clear and helpful. Thank you. 
One last question on this topic, is it true that adverbs can come in between parallel structures where the elements are either verbs or adjectives?
In this question above, ‘only later’ is an adverb but comes in front of a verb that is parallel with other verbs.
Another example could be:
He is handsome and very cool. Here ‘very’ is an adverb but I assume this sentence is correct.
So my question is whether this exception applies only to adverbs?
One last question on this topic, is it true that adverbs can come in between parallel structures where the elements are either verbs or adjectives?
In this question above, ‘only later’ is an adverb but comes in front of a verb that is parallel with other verbs.
Another example could be:
He is handsome and very cool. Here ‘very’ is an adverb but I assume this sentence is correct.
So my question is whether this exception applies only to adverbs?
- Sage Pearce-Higgins
- Forum Guests
- Posts: 1336
- Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2014 4:04 am
Re: Parallelism in verbs
Good to hear that.
As for adverbs, I've never thought of the rule that way, but adverbs (and other modifiers) could definitely be present in some elements and missing in others. What I caution you against is "extreme parallelism". Sometimes students, once they understand parallelism, start to reject sentences that, in their view, aren't completely parallel. Sentences such as the following:
1. I went shopping and bought oranges and an apple.
2. She lives in London now, but used to live in Manchester.
3. He will either go quickly home with his family or stay at work.
All of these sentences are fine (don't reject your common sense understanding!), but they mix singular and plural (1), different verb tenses (2), and modifiers (3).
As for adverbs, I've never thought of the rule that way, but adverbs (and other modifiers) could definitely be present in some elements and missing in others. What I caution you against is "extreme parallelism". Sometimes students, once they understand parallelism, start to reject sentences that, in their view, aren't completely parallel. Sentences such as the following:
1. I went shopping and bought oranges and an apple.
2. She lives in London now, but used to live in Manchester.
3. He will either go quickly home with his family or stay at work.
All of these sentences are fine (don't reject your common sense understanding!), but they mix singular and plural (1), different verb tenses (2), and modifiers (3).
4 posts Page 1 of 1