IXL | Use parallel structure | 10th grade language arts

Complete the sentence.

In the early 1900s, most deaths in the United States were caused either by pneumonia or

by influenza

which spread quickly in overcrowded cities.

influenza

by influenza

ref_doc_title.

Learn with an example

question

Complete the sentence.

The river, swollen after days of torrential rains, raged through the canyons, over the cliffs, and

flooded into the reservoir

into the flooded reservoir

flooded into the reservoir

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.

The modal verb applies to all of the elements.

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

red X symbol, Leslie is neither tall nor is she particularly athletic.

The first element is an adjective. The second element is a clause.

green checkmark, Leslie is neither tall nor particularly athletic.

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

solution

Look at the other elements in the series. They are prepositional phrases, so the missing element must also be a prepositional phrase. The correct answer is into the flooded reservoir.

The river, swollen after days of torrential rains, raged through the canyons, over the cliffs, and into the flooded reservoir.

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Teacher tools

Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

R.2Use parallel structure

N.3Identify sentences with parallel structure

PP.2Identify coordinating conjunctions

II.1Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions

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