Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Parallel Structure

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 21mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Janet has packed an orange soda, a blanket, and waters the plants before leaving.
a)
correct
b)
error in structure
2.
During the exam, Mary sucked the ends of her hair, chewed the top of her pencil, and all the while she was picking at a scab on her elbow, but she could not remember the third cause of the French Revolution.
a)
correct
b)
error in structure
3.
The sky grew pink, seagulls began to cry, and waves rolled onshore as Diane took her morning stroll on the beach.
a)
correct
b)
error in structure
4.
Vacuuming under the furniture, dusting the ceiling fans, and scrubbing the tile grout with a toothbrush, Jerry prepared the house for his ultra-picky mother-in-law.
a)
correct
b)
error in structure
5.
Claude glanced at his watch, took a last sip of coffee, and began his trek to Dr. Grayson’s three-hour snooze fest on the French Revolution.
a)
correct
b)
error in structure
6.
Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction. 
a)
Phuong Tran has wit, charm, and she has an extremely pleasant personality.
b)
Phuong Tran has wit, charm, and a pleasing personality.
7.
.  Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction. 
a)
Mr. Nguyen kept his store clean, neat, and he made it conveniently arranged.
b)
Mr. Nguyen kept his store clean, neat, and conveniently arranged.
8.

Which example shows correct parallel structure?

a)

Recommended exercise includes to run, to swim, and cycling.

b)

Recommended exercise includes running, swimming, and cycling.

c)

Recommended exercise includes running, swimming, and to cycle.

d)

Recommended exercise includes running, to swim, and cycling.

9.

Read this sentence.

The customer service representative was asked to deal with customers kindly, professionally, and in a helpful manner.


In this sentence, how is kindly, professionally, and in a helpful correctly written?

a)

as it is

b)

kindly, professionally, and helpfully.

c)

kindly, to be professional, and helpful.

d)

customers kindly, to be professional, and to be helpful.

10.

Read this sentence.

Going to school, riding a bike, and to spend time with friends were little things enjoyed today that Anne Frank could not do, due to her circumstances.


How is this sentence correctly written?

a)

as it is

b)

To go to school, to ride a bike, and spending time with friends were little things enjoyed today that Anne Frank could not do, due to her circumstances.

c)

School, riding bikes, and spending time with friends were little things enjoyed today that Anne Frank could not do, due to her circumstances.

d)

Going to school, riding a bike, and spending time with friends were little things enjoyed today that Anne Frank could not do, due to her circumstances.

11.

Read this sentence.

Scientists and meteorologists are currently studying storms and try to find better ways of predicting them.


How is this sentence correctly written?

a)

Scientists and meteorologists are currently studying storms and to try to find better ways of predicting them.

b)

Scientists and meteorologists are currently studying storms and tried to find better ways of predicting them.

c)

as it is

d)

Scientists and meteorologists are currently studying storms and trying to find better ways of predicting them.

12.

Replace the underlined portion of the sentence with a choice that creates a parallel structure.


There are two ways to get a promotion: working hard or make friends in high places.

a)

to working hard

b)

work hard

c)

no change

d)

worked hard

13.

Replace the underlined portion of the sentence with a choice that creates a parallel structure.


Learning a new language as an adult is more difficult than to learn one as a child.

a)

learning

b)

to learning

c)

learned

d)

no change

14.
Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction. 
a)
The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs. 
b)
The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs. 
15.

I have always enjoyed reading the book more than _________.

a)

I watched the movie version.

b)

watching the movie.

c)

to watch the movie.

16.

Justin was excited about inviting friends over, eating a good meal, and _______________.

a)

a game of cards.

b)

to play cards.

c)

playing a game of cards.

17.

To lose weight, eat small portions and _________.

a)

limit second helpings

b)

limiting second helpings

c)

to limit second helpings

18.

Complete each question by choosing the expression which makes the sentence parallel.


*Volcanoes have inspired both fascination and ________.

a)

people feared them throughout history

b)

fear in people throughout history

19.

The advertisement claims that this toothpaste kills more germs and prevents more cavities than any other toothpaste.

a)

PARALLEL

b)

NOT PARALLEL

20.
Which of the following sentences has correct parallel structure?
a)
After basketball practice, James prefers apples to taking naps.
b)
After basketball practice, James prefers to eat apples rather than taking naps.
c)
After basketball practice, James prefers eating apples to take naps.
d)
After basketball practice, James prefers eating apples to taking naps.
21.

When Delores realized that her father had made lima beans and rice for dinner, she __________, claimed to feel nauseous, and excused herself from the table. The bag of stale popcorn in her room would tide her over until breakfast.

a)

clutched her stomach

b)

was clutching her stomach

c)

did clutch her stomach

22.

Not only did Hank despise the way June chewed with her mouth open, _________ finding her wet towels all over the bathroom floor.

a)

but also disliked

b)

but also disliking

c)

but he also disliked

23.

To protect her delicate hands, Fran will not rake the yard, do the dishes, or __________.

a)

refuses to scrub the bathtub

b)

won't scrub the bathtub

c)

scrub the bathtub

24.

When Diane takes her beagle for a walk, Santana enjoys sniffing for edible garbage, __________, and lunging at squirrels.

a)

howls at bicyclists

b)

howling at bicyclists

c)

she howls at bicyclists

25.

After Amanda cashes her paycheck, the money goes to her savings account, cappuccino fund, and __________.

a)

paying her credit card bill

b)

toward her credit card balance

c)

credit card balance

26.

In preparation for her run, Alicia __________, applied sunscreen, and increased the volume on her iPod.

a)

tightened her shoelaces

b)

was tightening her shoelaces

c)

did tighten her shoelaces

27.

We searched the car trunk, __________, and the top of the refrigerator, but we could not find the box of cornflakes that we remember buying.

a)

looked on the pantry shelves

b)

on the pantry shelves

c)

the pantry shelves

28.

Bonkers, our ninety pound golden retriever, chews on furniture, __________, and snots up the car windows—inconveniences we didn't anticipate when we adopted him.

a)

would drag us around the neighborhood during walks

b)

he drags us around the neighborhood during walks

c)

drags us around the neighborhood during walks

29.

Belinda saw very little of the horror movie, for she shut her eyes __________, when she heard the monster's footsteps in the dead leaves, and when characters started screaming.

a)

when the violins began to play

b)

while listening to the violins play

c)

during the violin music

30.

In Mrs. Curall's office, Ruben feigned the flu. He hoped to be excused from class, get an extension on his paper, and __________.

a)

spend the afternoon playing tennis with his friends

b)

to spend the afternoon playing tennis with his friends

c)

then to spend the afternoon playing tennis with his friends