英语的动词有很多种，一种是行为动词如：walk, dance, and jump，另一种则是系动词，其表达的意思不是具体做什么而是这种东西是什么，属于什么，最常见的动词是to be，对于这种系动词其本身也有平行的含义，且相当隐晦。下面我们罗列了相关动词：

　　◆ TO BE: is / are / was / were / am / been / being

　　◆ 其它：appear / become / feel / grow / look / remain / represent / resemble / seem / smell / sound / stay / taste / turn

　　当使用系动词时，必须注意主体和宾语的平行。

　　◆ Wrong: The bouquet of flowers WAS a giving of love.

　　系动词was 连接了The bouquet和a giving。而这两部分结构上都没有平行，因此我们可以这样改写句子：

　　◆ Right: The bouquet of flowers WAS a gift of love.

　　我们在使用系动词时要确保系动词所连接的前后意思上同样平行。

　　◆ Wrong: Upon being nominated, this politician REPRESENTS a step forward in urban-rural relations in this country.

　　上例中REPRESENTS连接了the politician 和 a step forward。但是句意上出现了问题，变成了this politician代表了a step forward，实际上从句意的合理度上来说应该是nomination和a step forward的平行。

　　◆ Right: The nomination of this politician REPRESENTS a step forward in urban-rural relations in this country.

　　要注意to te不仅仅可以做为系动词，同时也可以作为表达时态的词，例如过去式，完成时等。