Grammar Focus

Explicación (en español)

La estructura paralela (parallelism) es el uso de la misma forma gramatical para ideas de igual importancia dentro de una oración. Si estás enumerando acciones, todas deben ser verbos en infinitivo; si estás comparando conceptos, todos deben ser sustantivos o adjetivos. En el nivel C1, esto no es solo una cuestión de "gramática correcta", sino de estilo y cohesión. Una estructura paralela permite que el lector procese información compleja sin esfuerzo, algo vital en ensayos académicos o informes profesionales.

Un error muy común entre los hispanohablantes es la falta de consistencia al usar conjunciones como and, but, or, yet. Por ejemplo, tendemos a mezclar un gerundio con un infinitivo en la misma lista (e.g., "I enjoy volunteering and to help people"). En inglés, esto rompe el ritmo. La regla de oro es: si la primera parte de la lista es un sustantivo, todas las demás deben ser sustantivos; si es un gerundio (-ing), todas deben ser gerundios.

En el contexto de la coordinación de oraciones complejas, la estructura paralela se vuelve crucial cuando usamos estructuras correlativas como not only... but also, either... or, y neither... nor. Estas estructuras requieren que lo que sigue a la primera parte sea gramaticalmente idéntico a lo que sigue a la segunda. Si dices "She is not only intelligent but also works hard", estás cometiendo un error de paralelismo porque estás comparando un adjetivo (intelligent) con una cláusula verbal (works hard).

Finalmente, al escribir sobre temas de compromiso cívico, a menudo comparamos procesos o valores. Mantener el paralelismo asegura que tus argumentos sean persuasivos. Si tu argumento es "The goal is to educate the public and promoting equality", el lector sentirá una fricción cognitiva. Lo correcto sería "The goal is to educate the public and to promote equality" (ambos infinitivos) o "The goal is educating the public and promoting equality" (ambos gerundios).

Form — estructura

Examples

1. Volunteering requires dedication, empathy, and time. (El voluntariado requiere dedicación, empatía y tiempo.)
2. The NGO aims to provide clean water, to build schools, and to support local farmers. (La ONG tiene como objetivo proporcionar agua limpia, construir escuelas y apoyar a los agricultores locales.)
3. Not only did they raise funds, but they also organised a community gala. (No solo recaudaron fondos, sino que también organizaron una gala comunitaria.)
4. We should focus on reducing poverty rather than just providing temporary aid. (Deberíamos centrarnos en reducir la pobreza en lugar de simplemente proporcionar ayuda temporal.)
5. Whether you are teaching children or helping the elderly, every action counts. (Ya sea que estés enseñando a niños o ayudando a ancianos, cada acción cuenta.)
6. The committee decided to expand the programme and to recruit more volunteers. (El comité decidió ampliar el programa y reclutar más voluntarios.)
7. Successful civic engagement involves both individual action and collective responsibility. (El compromiso cívico exitoso implica tanto la acción individual como la responsabilidad colectiva.)
8. It is better to lead by example than to simply give orders. (Es mejor liderar con el ejemplo que simplemente dar órdenes.)

Contrast

1. ✗ Incorrect: The volunteers were tired but they were happy. / ✓ Correct: The volunteers were tired but happy. (In a simple list, you don't need to repeat the subject/verb if the adjective is the focus.)
2. ✗ Incorrect: We are interested in fundraising and to educate the public. / ✓ Correct: We are interested in fundraising and educating the public. (Both must be gerunds after the preposition 'in'.)
3. ✗ Incorrect: He is not only a dedicated leader but he also works hard. / ✓ Correct: He is not only a dedicated leader but also a hard worker. (Matches a noun phrase with another noun phrase.)
4. ✗ Incorrect: To volunteer is rewarding, but helping others is more fulfilling. / ✓ Correct: Volunteering is rewarding, but helping others is more fulfilling. (Consistency in using gerunds as subjects.)

Mini-quiz — 10 preguntas

1. Complete the sentence with the correct form: "The community centre focuses on providing shelter, offering meals, and ___ professional advice." a) to give b) giving c) gave

2. Rewrite the sentence to make it parallel: "The project aims to alleviate hunger and the promotion of literacy."

3. Choose the correct option: "Not only did the charity provide food, but it ___ also medical supplies." a) provided b) was providing c) providing

4. Identify the error: "The senator's speech was both inspiring and it was thought-provoking." a) It is a subject-verb agreement error. b) It is a parallelism error. c) It is a tense error.

5. Complete the sentence: "It is more important to build sustainable systems than ___." a) providing quick fixes b) to provide quick fixes c) provide quick fixes

6. Transformation: Rewrite using "not only... but also": "She manages the logistics and she also coordinates the volunteers."

7. Choose the correct option: "We are looking for candidates who are passionate, motivated, and ___." a) have integrity b) possessing integrity c) integrity-driven

8. Complete the sentence: "The volunteers spent the weekend cleaning the park and ___ the local community centre." a) to repair b) repairing c) repaired

9. Which sentence is grammatically parallel? a) To lead a movement requires courage and being selfless. b) Leading a movement requires courage and selflessness. c) To lead a movement requires courage and selflessness.

10. Fill in the blank: "The goal is not just to donate money, but ___ to make a lasting impact." a) to empower communities b) empowering communities c) community empowerment

Respuestas: 1. b | 2. The project aims to alleviate hunger and to promote literacy. (or: ...aims at alleviating hunger and promoting literacy) | 3. a | 4. b | 5. b | 6. She not only manages the logistics but also coordinates the volunteers. | 7. c | 8. b | 9. b | 10. a