平行結構：讓 TOEFL Writing 聽起來乾淨的小文法技巧
你正在收尾一篇 Academic Discussion 回答。立場明確、例子具體，你想強而有力地收尾。你打出：「Universities should focus on teaching critical thinking, helping students collaborate, and to prepare them for the workforce.」按下送出。評分者讀到這句時感覺到那個小小的卡頓——兩個 -ing 片語，然後一個 to-不定式，全在同一個列表裡。想法沒問題，節奏卻斷了。歡迎來到平行結構——文法主題裡最小、產生的精緻度擺幅卻最大的那一個。
平行性是讓句子顯得專業的關鍵。當列表或比較中的成分共享同樣的文法形式時，讀者的耳朵會鎖進那個模式，快速吸收意思。當某個成分打破模式，讀者就會絆一下——往往自己都不知道為什麼。在 TOEFL iBT 2026 的時間壓力下，平行結構是最早會滑掉、也最容易修好的事之一。
為什麼這在 TOEFL iBT 2026 很重要
TOEFL Writing 評分標準明文獎勵「句法多樣性與恰當的字詞選擇」。平行結構是這個訊號的一半。列表、比較、相關連接詞在學術寫作中到處都是，乾淨的平行層次就是細心寫作者的可見標記。
Reading 中，平行結構是理解的輔助工具。學術文章常在一句裡呈現三、四個例子——平行形式就是它們屬於同一組的提示。看出模式能加快閱讀速度。
Speaking 中——尤其是 Take an Interview——一個平行三段組（「I want to study abroad to learn the language, to experience the culture, and to build international contacts」）在十二秒內聽起來有自信又有條理。評分者會注意到。
Writing 中，平行性在 TOEFL 2026 的 Write an Email 該怎麼寫？ 任務裡發揮最大作用，因為客氣的措辭常成對或成三出現；在 Academic Discussion 回答中也是，列舉理由或例子是預設動作。
陷阱
平行結構在時間壓力下會在三個可預測的地方斷掉。
列表中的項目。 當你舉兩三個例子時，它們應共享文法形式。三個 -ing 片語、三個 to-不定式、三個名詞片語。錯誤是混用形式：「reading, swimming, and to hike」。前兩個是 -ing 動名詞；第三個是不定式。修成「reading, swimming, and hiking」或「to read, to swim, and to hike」。哪一種都行——重點是一致。
相關連接詞。 英文有幾組成對的字，必須連接平行結構：either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, both…and, whether…or, not…but。在第一個字之後出現的成分，必須與第二個字之後的成分形式相符。「She is not only intelligent but also works hard」打破平行：intelligent 是形容詞，works hard 是動詞片語。修成「She is not only intelligent but also hardworking」或「She not only is intelligent but also works hard」。
比較。 當你比較兩件事，比較兩端的文法形式必須相符。「Writing essays is harder than to give speeches」混用了動名詞與不定式。修成「Writing essays is harder than giving speeches」。as…as 比較也是同樣道理：「Reading is as useful as to listen」應該是「Reading is as useful as listening」。
還有三個子陷阱值得點名。
動詞時態的平行性。 「She studied for the test, attended every class, and is doing extra problems」混用過去簡單與現在進行式。挑一個時態，列表中一致到底。
冠詞與介系詞的平行性。 如果列表第一項含介系詞或冠詞，其他項要嘛全有、要嘛全無。「She works in the lab, library, and the office」漏氣，因為 the 出現在 office 卻沒在 lab 或 library。要嘛每次都重複冠詞，要嘛只用一次：「She works in the lab, the library, and the office」或「She works in the lab, library, and office」。
長句中的主詞與動詞平行。 含多個動詞的長句有時會中途切換語態或主詞。「The committee approved the budget, the schedule was reviewed, and the chair announced the next meeting」混用主動與被動結構。對齊語態——全主動或全被動——句子才會顯得連貫。
Wrong / Better / Why
| Wrong | Better | 為什麼 |
|---|---|---|
| She enjoys reading, swimming, and to hike on weekends. | She enjoys reading, swimming, and hiking on weekends. | 列表中的三項必須共享同樣的文法形式。 |
| He is not only intelligent but also works hard. | He is not only intelligent but also hardworking. | Not only…but also 兩邊需要同樣的詞類。 |
| Writing essays is harder than to give speeches. | Writing essays is harder than giving speeches. | 比較兩端需要同樣的形式。 |
| The professor asked us to read the article, taking notes, and write a summary. | The professor asked us to read the article, take notes, and write a summary. | 三個不定式在第一個之後省略 to——但形式（動詞原形）必須一致。 |
| Universities should value critical thinking, collaboration, and being creative. | Universities should value critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. | 三個名詞片語保持平行；being creative 打破列表。 |
| She studied for the test, attended every class, and is doing extra problems. | She studied for the test, attended every class, and did extra problems. | 三個動詞需要同樣的時態。 |
| Either you submit the assignment tonight or accept a late penalty. | Either you submit the assignment tonight or you accept a late penalty. | Either…or 兩邊需要相符的子句結構。 |
| She works in the lab, library, and the office. | She works in the lab, the library, and the office. | 冠詞與介系詞在列表中的各項要一致。 |
哪裡會出現
Academic Discussion 回答。 大部分強回答至少用一個三段組——三個理由、三個例子或三個好處。每個三段組都是平行性測試。在收尾句打破平行是常見漏洞：「We should focus on access, affordability, and improving quality」混了兩個名詞片語與一個動詞片語。
Write for an Academic Discussion。 連續摘要兩三個 lecture 重點，幾乎一定需要平行結構：「The lecturer challenges the first claim by noting X, citing Y, and arguing Z.」讓三個 -ing 動詞保持平行，就是乾淨摘要與零碎摘要之間的差別。
Write an Email。 客氣措辭靠平行對：「I would like to confirm the date and to ask about the agenda」或「I would like to confirm the date and ask about the agenda」——挑一個模式，貫徹到底。客氣 email 中的混用形式會讀起來像粗心。
Take an Interview。 平行三段組是高效益的口說動作：「I want to take the course because it builds analytical skills, because it covers real cases, and because the professor is excellent.」重複能加強短口說回答中的清晰度。
Fast Fix
每當你在寫作中看到列表、比較或相關連接詞對，跑一次三步檢查。
第一，找出連接詞或比較字：and, or, but, as…as, more than, both…and, either…or, not only…but also。這些字幾乎總是引入平行對或列表。
第二，讀出被該字連接的每一項的文法形式。第一項是動名詞嗎？第二項也應該是動名詞。第一項是以 the 開頭的名詞片語嗎？第二項也應該是——或者兩邊都把 the 拿掉。
第三，改寫斷掉的那一項讓它相符。幾乎每個平行修正都是一個字的變更：把 to hike 換成 hiking，把 works hard 換成 hardworking，把 being creative 換成 creativity。
額外的小訣竅：拿不準時，在腦中把列表改寫成垂直項目符號：
- reading
- swimming
- to hike
如果其中一條看起來跟其他不一樣，就修它。這個技巧只要三秒，能抓到幾乎所有平行斷裂。
小練習
- 讓列表平行：She enjoys reading novels, watching films, and to listen to podcasts.
- 修好相關連接詞對：He is not only a strong writer but also speaks well in public.
- 修好比較：Studying with classmates is more effective than to study alone.
- 對齊動詞：The professor reviewed the syllabus, the assignments were explained, and answered our questions.
- 讓介系詞一致：Students were instructed to bring a notebook, pen, and their textbook.
可能的改進版本：(1) She enjoys reading novels, watching films, and listening to podcasts. (2) He is not only a strong writer but also a strong public speaker. (3) Studying with classmates is more effective than studying alone. (4) The professor reviewed the syllabus, explained the assignments, and answered our questions. (5) Students were instructed to bring a notebook, a pen, and a textbook.
送出前要檢查什麼
在按下送出前花三十秒做一次平行結構掃描。在回答中搜尋 and、or、but、both、either、neither、not only、as、than。每一個都標示著兩個或更多成分應該相符的位置。對每個匹配，問問兩邊是否共享同樣的文法形式。如果沒有，把較小的一邊改成跟較大的一邊一致——通常是一個字的修正。然後在腦中朗讀你最長的句子，聽節奏。如果在列表最後一項絆住，那個列表大概破了平行。乾淨的平行層次是 TOEFL 回答能得到的最安靜、最可靠的升級。