Parallelism problem.

Question

Hi, Im having little problem in parallelism. I know the rules very well, but Im not able to know what words should be parallel.

In 1995 Richard Stallman, a well-known critic of the patent system, testified in Patent Office hearings that, to test the system, a colleague of his had managed to win a patent for one of Kirchhoff's  laws, an observation about electric current first made in 1845 and  now included in virtually every textbook of elementary physics.

Like in the question above, the decision point was the parallelism, but I was trying to to make parallel "an observation......" with "now included......". Which as wrong in the explanation given.

The correct parallelism was with "one of Kirchoff's laws......" and "now included...."
 
I go back and forth and get confuse which one to make parallel from the right hand side. Left one seems is quite easy to identify.

Bunuel · Answer

This question is discussed here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-1995-rich ... 22582.html Hope it helps.

TheUltimateWinner · Answer

In 1995 Richard Stallman, a well-known critic of the patent system, testified in Patent Office hearings that, to test the system, a colleague of his had managed to win a patent for one of Kirchhoff's laws, an observation about electric current first made in 1845 and now included in virtually every textbook of elementary physics. 
In this example,  an observation about electric current first made in 1845 and now included in virtually every textbook of elementary physics  is the modifier. In this modifier, there are 2 things ("first  made  in 1845" and "now  included  in virtually every textbook of elementary physics"). There is a bit parallelism in the underlined part though.

AndrewN · Answer

Hello again,  lakshya14 . I agree with what  Asad  has said above about the parallel part of the modifier. The modifier in question, the entire part of the sentence from  an  on, is called an  appositive   . I write more about this type of modifier in its restrictive and non-restrictive uses in a post on a somewhat related question,  here .

I hope that helps clarify any lingering questions you might have about appositives. Good luck with the question if you attempt it.

- Andrew

EducationAisle · Answer

Curious to know how you concluded this?

Parallelism problem.

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