Level 1 — Foundation · Clauses & the First Paragraph
Task 19: Writing a Parallel List and a Comparison
Write one sentence listing three matching items in the same grammatical form, and one sentence comparing two things accurately — including the easily-missed negative 'not as...as.'
Learning Objectives
By the end of this task, you should be able to:
- Write a sentence listing three items in matching grammatical form (all gerunds, all verbs, or all adjectives)
- Write a comparison using 'more...than' or 'as...as' that claims exactly what is true, no more and no less
- Write the negative comparison 'not as...as' correctly, without accidentally reversing its meaning
Introduction
Lesson 19 taught you to spot matching grammatical forms as a signal that several ideas are meant to be read as equal and related. Writing your own parallel list means building that matching shape on purpose — and getting a comparison's exact meaning right is just as much a writing skill as a reading one.
The Rule, for Writing
Core Concept
When you list three items joined by "and," give all three the same grammatical form — three gerunds, three base verbs, or three adjectives, never a mix. For comparisons, "more X than" and "as X as" each make one precise claim; adding "not" in front of "as...as" reverses the whole comparison, so check that word placement carefully before you finish the sentence.
Example
Parallel list: A good supervisor plans the shift, checks the equipment, and briefs the team. Comparison: The new route is not as expensive as the old route. (Meaning: new route costs less — not the same as "as expensive as," which would mean equal cost.)
Your Turn
Your Turn
Write one sentence listing three duties or activities in matching grammatical form (all gerunds or all base verbs). Then write one comparison sentence about two things you know well (two jobs, two routes, two methods), using either "more...than" or "not as...as" — make sure the meaning is exactly what you intend.
Vocabulary in Context
briefverbneutral
to give someone essential information before a task begins (সংক্ষিপ্ত নির্দেশনা দেওয়া)
Often with brief the team, brief on, thoroughly brief
“The supervisor briefs the crew on safety rules before every shift.”
equipmentnounneutral
the tools or machines needed for a particular task (সরঞ্জাম)
Often with safety equipment, heavy equipment, piece of equipment
“All protective equipment must be inspected before use.”
Model Answer
Show a model answer
Parallel list: Learning a language well requires reading regularly, listening carefully, and speaking without fear of mistakes. Comparison: My current job is not as stressful as my previous one.
Self-Check
Self-Check
- Do all three items in your list share exactly the same grammatical form?
- Does your comparison sentence claim precisely what you intended — check "as...as" against "not as...as" carefully?
- Did you avoid slipping in an extra meaning (like "better") that your comparison sentence doesn't actually state?
- Did you write both sentences directly in English, without translating from Bangla first?
Next: Writing 20 — Writing a Mini-Paragraph With Discourse Markers: building a short claim-reason-example-conclusion paragraph, the same architecture Lesson 20 taught you to read.