Writing · Free lesson
Parallel lists: keep the same grammatical pattern
“I enjoy drawing, to cycle, and cooking.” The activities are clear, but their forms do not fit together after enjoy.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Write “I enjoy drawing, cycling, and cooking.” The three activities do the same job after enjoy, so give them the same -ing form. Parallel structure means matching grammatical patterns for items doing equivalent jobs.
Read each item after the same opening.
Test the items separately: I enjoy drawing; I enjoy cycling; I enjoy cooking. Each works after enjoy. I enjoy to cycle does not fit this pattern. Then combine the three activities. Keep all three meanings; deleting an awkward item avoids the repair rather than completing it.
Test, then combine
I enjoy drawing.
I enjoy cycling.
I enjoy drawing, cycling, and cooking.
Matching form does not mean identical words. Drawing, cycling and cooking are different activities with a shared grammatical form.
A three-part check
Keep the opening
I enjoy ...
Check each activity
drawing / cycling / cooking
Combine without changing meaning
I enjoy drawing, cycling, and cooking.
Try it now
Keep three activities parallel
Read all answers and explanations
Keep all three activities after enjoy. Which version works?
I enjoy hiking, swimming, and painting.The first keeps all three activities in -ing form. The second mixes forms; the third removes swimming.
Which single item fits after I enjoy?
bakingBaking fits after enjoy. For this meaning, use enjoy doing something.
Which list has three matching infinitives after plan?
I plan to read, to write, and to revise.The last repeats the to + verb pattern. Another valid version is I plan to read, write, and revise; repeating to is not always necessary.
Put it into practice
Repair a hobby description
Keep reading, walking and taking photos as three activities after enjoy.
I enjoy reading, to walk, and taking photos.
See a model answer
I enjoy reading, walking, and taking photos.
A matching list must fit its opening as well as match internally.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Should every list use -ing?
No. Match the form to the surrounding sentence. A list of objects can contain nouns; a plan can contain infinitives.
We need paper, tape, and scissors.
Must I repeat to in an infinitive list?
Not always. To can appear before each verb or only before the first when the shared pattern is clear.
I plan to read, write, and revise.
Take it into your day
Keep the meaning of every item and match its grammatical job.
Your next step · Available on Udemy
Make sentence structure work for your writing.
The English Grammar and English Speaking Master Course covers sentence types and structures. Those broader foundations can support clearer writing; this original editing exercise does not imply the course is a dedicated writing program.
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