E9: FTCE | General Knowledge | English | What is Parallel Structure?

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Welcome to Episode 9 of FTCE Seminar, the Florida Teacher Certification Exam Podcast, where we talk about testing tips, study strategies, and how to prep to pass the FTCE so you can launch from the campus to the classroom. I'm your host, Mercedes Musto. In today's episode, I'll be talking about the FTCE General Knowledge English Language Skills Subtest. skills subtest. This is a part two of a multi-series review of what you need to know to pass the English language skills section of the GK. Here's an overview of the testing blueprint. There's three competencies of the English language

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skills subtest that cover language structure, vocabulary application, and standard English conventions. You're going to have 40 minutes to complete approximately 30 questions. So let's get started. In this episode, we will review parallel structure, what it is, and how to correct it when you have seen it gone wrong. Concept two, parallel structure. According to Grammarly.com, using parallel structure in your writing is impressive and classy. Cool, huh?

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But let's find out what it is. So, parallel structure is when you have two or more repetitive phrases that share the same grammatical structure, like this. Many people like to spend their time working, exercising, or shopping. It's easy-peasy, right? What will you be tested on is your ability to identify grammatical errors in a given sentence, then select the correctest sentence from the whole multiple choice items things below. And if you need some practice problems, check out FTCESeminar.com where we've posted free study resources. Now here's an example of parallel structure gone awry.

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See if you can hear what's wrong with the sentence. Example 1. Tonight I will cook dinner, shopping online, and exercising afterwards. Tonight I will cook dinner, shopping online, and and oh oh I just can't take it. I will cook and shopping? No this is a mismatch of words indeed. Here's a possible correction. Tonight I will cook dinner, shop online, and exercise, period. Often we can identify a mismatch of words by saying the sentence out loud so we can hear the discrepancy. I know, I know, you're gonna be in a testing center,

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but you can talk out loud when you're completing your practice problems at home. Now, listen for the errors in this next sentence. Example two, the student feeding the dog, walked the dog, and playing with the dog every day after school. Aw, that's so cute. I love dogs. But this poor grammar thing has got to go. So we've got feeding, walked, and playing. What's going on? Let's smooth this out. Here's a possible correction. The student fed, walked, and played with the dog every day after school. Whew, now that's much better.

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Notice we chose one verb tense. Again, you're looking to smooth out a sentence so you can basically make it make more sense. You could have also said the student enjoyed feeding, walking, and playing with the dog every day after school. Fed or feeding, walked or walking, played or playing, I mean your choice entirely. Just make sure it's all well you know parallel right? What Grammarly.com is saying is that there are many many possible sentences that we can construct

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endless possibilities and when we learn to use parallel structure properly we create classy and impressive sentences. Sentences that give our ideas clarity. Let's review. Parallel structures have repetitive phrases. You'll notice because items in a series are like separated by commas. More on that next episode. And you know what else? These phrases can also be connected using a comparison word like as or than.

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Ooh, like in this sentence, I like studying with podcasts more than to read books. Ooh, ooh, ooh, this sentence has errors. See what I did there? How about this corrected sentence, I like studying with podcasts more than reading. Period. Test-taking tip. Look at the sentences on the FTCE GK English language skills subtest and think to yourself, does this make sense? Followed by, how can I clarify this sentence? Next, read all of the answer choices and be mindful of the exact, exact placement of words and the commas that separate them. I hope it also helps your writing become classy and impressive like the gurus at Grammarly.com

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said. Join me again on FTCE Seminar, a Florida teacher certification exam podcast, so you can prep to pass the FTCE. I'd like to thank Kate and Samantha on Tech. This podcast was recorded in the Pekins Multimedia Studio in AXIS at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida. This is your host Mercedes Musto. For more exam prep podcasts, subscribe to your favorite podcast player or to our YouTube channel at FTCE Seminar so you can prep to pass the FTCE.

Transcribed with Cockatoo