Unparallel usage: He received a medal for sinking an enemy ship and the capture of its crew
Correct: He received a medal for the sinking of an enemy ship and the capture of its crew
Reason:
the sinking of an enemy ship is a complex gerund phrase
the capture of its crew is a noun phrase
The original sentence was incorrect because it attempted to put a simple gerund phrase (sinking an enemy ship) in parallel with an action noun phrase
My question:
Would the following be correct?
He received a medal for sinking an enemy ship and capturing its crew [here both are simple gerund phrases]
Correct: He received a medal for the sinking of an enemy ship and the capture of its crew
Reason:
the sinking of an enemy ship is a complex gerund phrase
the capture of its crew is a noun phrase
The original sentence was incorrect because it attempted to put a simple gerund phrase (sinking an enemy ship) in parallel with an action noun phrase
My question:
Would the following be correct?
He received a medal for sinking an enemy ship and capturing its crew [here both are simple gerund phrases]












