IXL | Identify sentences with parallel structure

Which sentence or sentences have correct parallel structure?

Those who choose to climb Mt. Everest face extreme weather, winds, and altitude.

Those who choose to climb Mt. Everest face frigid weather, high winds, and altitude sickness.

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question

Which sentence or sentences have correct parallel structure?

President Reagan's economic recovery plan, dubbed Reaganomics, sought to lower taxes, increase spending, and create new jobs.

President Reagan's economic recovery plan, dubbed Reaganomics, sought to lower taxes, increase spending, and was intended to create new jobs.

key idea

When two or more words, phrases, or clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction to form a series, those elements must be parallel in structure. Parallel elements have the same grammatical function in the sentence.

red X symbol, The community center is a hub of activity and well equipped for meetings.

The second element is not a noun phrase.

green checkmark, The community center is a hub of activity and a well-equipped meeting space.

Both elements are noun phrases.

For joined verb phrases, each phrase must contain its own helping or modal verb, or the initial helping or modal verb must apply to all of the phrases.

red X symbol, Sarah will order the flowers, pick up the decorations, and might help us set up.

The second element is missing a modal verb.

green checkmark, Sarah will order the flowers, will pick up the decorations, and might help us set up.

All three elements have a modal verb.

green checkmark, Sarah will order the flowers, pick up the decorations, and help us set up.

All three elements share the initial modal verb.

Correlative conjunctions, like both/and, either/or, neither/nor, and not only/but also, must also join parallel elements.

red X symbol, He was not only late, but also made a noisy entrance.

The first element is an adjective. The second element is a verb phrase.

green checkmark, Not only was he late, but he also made a noisy entrance.

Both elements are clauses: "was he late" and "he made a noisy entrance."

solution

The first sentence has parallel structure because the joined elements are all infinitive phrases that share the word to.

green checkmark, President Reagan's economic recovery plan, dubbed Reaganomics, sought to lower taxes, increase spending, and create new jobs.

The second sentence does not have parallel structure.

red X symbol, President Reagan's economic recovery plan, dubbed Reaganomics, sought to lower taxes, increase spending, and was intended to create new jobs.

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

PP.2Identify coordinating conjunctions

II.1Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions

BB.2Identify prepositional phrases

EE.5Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases

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