Parallel Structure Worksheet

Name: Mohamed Yasser Date: 12/12/2021
PARALLEL STRUCTURE –
EXERCISE 3
Directions: Choose the option that maintains parallel structure in the sentence. Check
your answers with the interactive version of the exercise.
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. Carlos not only missed his one-year anniversary with Adrianna .
A. but he also forgot his mother's birthday

B. but also forgot his mother's birthday
C. but also forgetting his mother's birthday
12. Teresa was expecting a visit from her mother, so she spent the day cleaning the
shelves of the refrigerator, scrubbing mold from the bathroom tile grout, and
.
A. she removed dog hair from the sofa cushions

B. removing dog hair from the sofa cushions
C. removed dog hair from the sofa cushions
13. When Noodle the poodle realized that the leash meant a bath, not a walk to the
park, he growled, pulled, and .
A. was leaping like a fish on a line

B. he was leaping like a fish on a line
C. leaped like a fish on a line
14. With the humans out of the house, Skeeter had to decide either to shred a roll of
toilet paper or .
A. chew another hole in the sofa arm

B. chewing another hole in the sofa arm
C. if he wanted to chew another hole in the sofa arm
15. Neither nor the ineffective air conditioner rattling in the window will deter
Tiffany from loving the freedom of her first apartment.
A. when the inconsiderate neighbors played loud music

B. the inconsiderate neighbors playing loud music
C. playing loud music by the inconsiderate neighbors
16. We looked everywhere for the car keys—under the sofa cushions, , and on
the counters and tabletops. All along, Andrew had them in the front pocket of his
jeans!
A. our search included the trash can

B. searching for them in the trash can
C. in the trash can
Name: _________________________________ Date: ___________________________
17. Laura and Diane bang on Boen's door when they need heavy furniture moved, after
they have clogged the garbage disposal, and .
A. having discovered a spider in the bathtub

B. upon the discovery of a spider in the bathtub
C. if they find a spider in the bathtub
18. Bathing Noodle, our poodle, requires four arms to hold him in the tub, towels to mop
up the water, and .
A. raincoats which will keep us dry

B. raincoats to keep us dry
C. raincoats as protection against the oncoming deluge
19. We hate having dinner at Aunt Ida's house because she is a vegan health nut. Baked
tofu, , and decaffeinated tea do not make a satisfying meal!
A. vegetables steamed with no oil or seasoning

B. steamed vegetables
C. vegetables that are flavorless
20. Tonia kicked the back of Vincent’s desk, , and poked his arm with her sharp
pencil, but he would not bend to the side so that she could get a glimpse of his quiz
answers.
A. blew on his neck

B. she blew on his neck
C. blowing on his neck
Name: _________________________________ Date: ___________________________
Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have
the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. By
balancing the items in a pair or a series so that they have the same kind of structure, it will
make the sentence clearer and easier to read.
Examples: Peter likes the violin, the flute and the trumpet.
She played tennis, had a breakfast and went to college.
Instruction: Determine the following sentences are parallel in structure. Write (P) if
Parallel and (NP) if not Parallel.
1. Sharon bought a scarf, a teddy bear and a sketchbook. (P)
2. John wanted to travel by car, by train, and then take a bus. (NP)
3. They like playing games, riding bicycles and cooking food. (P)
4. Marianne is a good writer, volleyball player and pianist. (P)
5. The entourage will go to Paris, to London and Chicago. (NP)
6. James sang, performed and then he went outside. (NP)
7. He throws garbage, he grabs wallets, and he runs away. (P)
8. Jenny is in either the classroom or the laboratory. (P)
9. Michael anticipates both to earn a salary and to get a bonus. (P)
10.The weather report was neither accurate nor fair. (P)
11.You can either go with family or friends. (NP)
12.The dogs broke not only their chains but also snarled at the guests. (NP)

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Name: Mohamed Yasser Date: 12/12/2021

A. clutched her stomach

A. but also disliked

A. refuses to scrub the bathtub

A. paying her credit card bill

A. tightened her shoelaces

A. looked on the pantry shelves

A. would drag us around the neighborhood during walks

A. when the violins began to play

A. spend the afternoon playing tennis with his friends

A. but he also forgot his mother's birthday

A. she removed dog hair from the sofa cushions

A. was leaping like a fish on a line

A. chew another hole in the sofa arm

A. when the inconsiderate neighbors played loud music

A. our search included the trash can

A. having discovered a spider in the bathtub

A. raincoats which will keep us dry

A. vegetables steamed with no oil or seasoning

A. blew on his neck

1. Sharon bought a scarf, a teddy bear and a sketchbook. (P)

4. Marianne is a good writer, volleyball player and pianist. (P)

5. The entourage will go to Paris, to London and Chicago. (NP)

6. James sang, performed and then he went outside. (NP)

7. He throws garbage, he grabs wallets, and he runs away. (P)

8. Jenny is in either the classroom or the laboratory. (P)

9. Michael anticipates both to earn a salary and to get a bonus. (P)

10.The weather report was neither accurate nor fair. (P)

11.You can either go with family or friends. (NP)

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