Parallel Structure Practice

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What is parallel structure?

Back

Parallel structure, or parallelism, is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. It helps to create balance and clarity in writing.

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Why is parallel structure important in writing?

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Parallel structure enhances readability and flow, making sentences easier to understand and more persuasive.

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Identify the error: 'The students studied, reviewed, and have passed the test.'

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This sentence is not parallel because 'have passed' does not match the past tense of 'studied' and 'reviewed.' It should be 'The students studied, reviewed, and passed the test.'

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Identify the error: 'Glancing over her test after she got it back from the teacher and wondering why she did so poorly, Anna fought back tears.'

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This sentence is parallel as it maintains the same grammatical structure with 'glancing' and 'wondering' both being gerunds.

Front

Identify the error: 'After the prom, Jesse and Jamie went to the Vaughn’s studio for pictures, McDonald’s for burgers, and the Wal-Mart for kicks.'

Back

This sentence is not parallel because 'the Vaughn’s studio for pictures' and 'the Wal-Mart for kicks' do not match the structure of 'McDonald’s for burgers.' It should be 'the Vaughn’s studio for pictures, McDonald’s for burgers, and Wal-Mart for kicks.'

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Identify the error: 'When we go camping, we hike trails, roast marshmallows, and fish every day.'

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This sentence is parallel as it uses the same verb form for all actions: 'hike,' 'roast,' and 'fish.'

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Identify the error: 'Would you rather run in a marathon, participate in an eating contest, or judge in a beauty pageant?'

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This sentence is parallel as it maintains the same structure with 'run,' 'participate,' and 'judge.'

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What is an example of a non-parallel structure?

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An example of non-parallel structure is: 'She likes reading, to jog, and swimming.' It should be 'She likes reading, jogging, and swimming.'

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What is an example of a parallel structure?

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An example of parallel structure is: 'He enjoys hiking, biking, and swimming.' All verbs are in the gerund form.

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How can you fix a non-parallel structure?

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To fix a non-parallel structure, ensure that all elements in a list or series share the same grammatical form.