大學英語四級寫作技巧：平行結構
精典範例:
Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe1 alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
So let us begin anew, remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and that sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.
Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need2; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are3; but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, a year in and year out "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation," a struggle4 against the common enemies of man: 5 tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you6; ask what you can do for your country.
--美國前總統John F. Kennedy
注意：
(1)劃線部分為平行結構
(2)例 1.頭韻;例2&3. "We need arms"和 "We are embattled"為倒裝結構;例4.同位語;例5.見冒號的用法。
在句中使用 "and" 或"on"時, 須連接結構相同的部分。總的原則是：詞與詞相配, 短語和短語相配,從句和從句相配 ,句子則和句子放在一起。所有這些搭配必須是平行結構，它們應採用相同的形式。
No: My parents went to Tibet, to Mongolia, and they even saw Hong Kong and Macau.
Yes: My parents went to Tibet, to Mongolia, and even to Hong Kong and Macau.
No: Jonathan noticed the way Stephanie talked and how she kept fidgeting with her fingers.
Yes: Jonathan noticed how Stephanie talked and how she kept fidgeting with her fingers.
一些連詞，如 both/and, either/or, neither/nor,和not only/but also.常用於連接平行結構。
No: That conference was both helpful and contained a lot of information.
Yes: That conference was both helpful and informative.
No: Here we either turn left or right, but I forget which.
Yes: Here we turn either left or right, but I forget which.
No: Fu Chong, the pianist, was heavily influenced both by his mentor and his parents.
Yes: Fu Chong, the pianist, was heavily influenced by both his mentor and his parents.
No: Elizabeth’s overcoat is at either the theater or her dormitory.
Yes: Elizabeth’s overcoat is either at the theater or in her dormitory.
(主謂一致結構)
What makes me different from other job applicants?
· Ability to converse in English, Japanese in addition to my native Mandarin
· Completion of two-month customer satisfaction training
· Impeccable medical report card
· Outgoing personality and eager desire to help
(名詞平行結構)
Awkward: At Yi Xin Associates, we have 15 years of combined legal experience in all types of injury cases one can think of. Other areas we handle are wrongful death, automobile accidents and medical malpractice. If you slip and fall in a public building, we can represent you in filing a law suit against the owner. Also, our clients come to seek our help in handicap discrimination and denial of insurance claim cases.
Better: At Yi Xin Associates, we have 15 years of combined legal experience in:
· All injury cases
· Wrongful death
· Automobile accidents
· Medical malpractice
· Slip and fall
· Handicap discrimination
· Denial of insurance claims
Incorrect: The duties of the Executive Secretary of the Administrative Committee are:
· To take minutes of all meetings (不定式短語)
· The Executive Secretary answers all the correspondence; and (句子)
· Writing of month reports. (話題)
Correct: The duties of the Executive Secretary of the Administrative Committee are:
· To take minutes of all meetings;
· To answer all the correspondence; and
· To write monthly reports.
(名詞平行結構)
No: The prisoner was not only found guilty of bribery but also adultery.
Yes: The prisoner was found guilty not only of bribery but also of adultery.
(並列介詞短語)
為使平行結構清楚明瞭，隨時都可以重複介詞、冠詞、助動詞、不定詞標誌，或者長的短語或句子的介紹詞。
