Parallel Structure

Choose the sentence that correctly uses parallel structure.

• He likes to swim, biking, and to run.

• He likes swimming, biking, and running.

• He likes to swim, to bike, and running.

• He likes swimming, to bike, and to run.

Answer explanation

All items in the list should be in the same form (gerund in this case).

Complete the sentence: She wants to learn how to play the guitar, ______, and sing.

• dance

• dancing

• to dance

• danced

Answer explanation

The sentence lists activities she wants to learn. To maintain parallel structure, use 'to dance' like 'to play' and 'to sing'.

True or False: The sentence 'She is not only a great painter but also a talented musician.' uses parallel structure correctly.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

'Not only' and 'but also' are used correctly to maintain parallel structure.

Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure.

• My brother enjoys reading books, to play video games, and baking cookies.

• My brother enjoys reading books, playing video games, and baking cookies.

• My brother enjoys to read books, playing video games, and to bake cookies.

• My brother enjoys reading books, to play video games, and to bake cookies.

Answer explanation

All items in the list are gerunds, ensuring parallel structure.

Complete the sentence: The team practiced every evening, ______, and reviewed their plays.

• watched game footage

• watching game footage

• to watch game footage

• watches game footage

Answer explanation

The verbs in the list should be in the past tense to maintain parallel structure.

Which sentence maintains parallel structure?

• She is responsible for making coffee, answering phones, and to greet visitors.

• She is responsible for making coffee, answering phones, and greeting visitors.

• She is responsible for make coffee, answer phones, and greet visitors.

• She is responsible for to make coffee, to answer phones, and greeting visitors.

Answer explanation

All elements in the list are gerunds, maintaining parallel structure.

True or False: The sentence 'He ran quickly, jumped high, and was landing softly.' uses parallel structure correctly.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The verbs 'ran' and 'jumped' are in past tense, but 'was landing' is not parallel.

Complete the sentence: During summer camp, we will go hiking, ______, and sleep under the stars.

• swimming in the lake

• swim in the lake

• to swim in the lake

• swam in the lake

Answer explanation

All activities in the sentence should be in the base form to maintain parallel structure.

Choose the sentence that is an example of parallel structure.

• She loves drawing, to paint, and writes stories.

• She loves drawing, painting, and writing stories.

• She loves to draw, painting, and writing stories.

• She loves drawing, to paint, and to write stories.

Answer explanation

All verbs are in the gerund form, maintaining parallel structure.

True or False: 'The dog barked loudly, wagged its tail, and ran around the yard.' is an example of parallel structure.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

All verbs are in the past tense, maintaining parallel structure.