平行结构有助于使句子更加清晰，避免歧义，并提高句子的表达力。
| The English, | the Germans, | the Dutch and the French | were investing in Britain's former colony. |
| 词组1 | 词组2 | 词组3 And 词组4 | 多者并列(1,2,3 and 4 ...) |
使用了相同或类似的语法形式，以使句子更加清晰、易于理解，或为了强调相关元素之间的平等关系。平行的形容词或副词：当用于修饰同一名词或动词时，应该使用相同的形容词或副词结构。
| 单词平行结构 | ||
|---|---|---|
| The English, | ←它们同时都做主语 平行的成分：词性相同，形式一致 平行的连接：并列连词/逗号 |
were investing in Britain's former colony. |
| The Germans, | ||
| The Dutch | ||
| and The French | ||
| We resolve to | get up earlier each morning, | eat less, | find more time to play with children, | do a thousand and one jobs about the house, | be nice to people we don' t like, | drive carefully, | and take the dog for a walk every day. |
| 引出平行结构 | 事件1 | 事件2 | 事件3 | 事件4 | 事件5 | 事件6 | 事件7 |
当列举或描述一系列项目、动作、或特征时，这些项目应该采用相同的语法结构。
平行的动词时态：在表达同时发生的动作或一系列动作时，时态应该保持一致。
| 平行结构 | |
|---|---|
| We resolve to (我们下定决心要...) |
get up earlier each morning. 每天早起 |
| eat less.吃少点 | |
| find more time to play with children.多花点时间和孩子们一起玩。 | |
| do a thousand and one jobs about the house.做一千零一件与家有关的工作。 | |
| be nice to people we don' t like.善待我们不喜欢的人。 | |
| drive carefully. 小心驾驶 | |
| and take the dog for a walk every day.每天带狗去散步。 | |
平行的从句 当连接两个或多个从句时，这些从句应该使用相同的句法结构。
| 从句平行结构 | |
|---|---|
| I suggest | that you did not catch the 8 o'clock train |
| but that you caught the 8.25 which would still get you to work on time. | |