IXL | Use parallel structure | 11th grade language arts

Complete the sentence.

Not only does the brain stem control

reflexes and automatic functions such as heart rate and digestion, but it also controls the movement of eyes, arms, and legs.

The brain stem controls not only

Not only does the brain stem control

ref_doc_title.

Learn with an example

question

Complete the sentence.

Given that he is a full-time restaurant manager and

devoted to raising his five children

my uncle has an overloaded day-to-day schedule.

devoted to raising his five children

a devoted father of five

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 element in the series. It is a noun phrase, so the missing element must also be a noun or a noun phrase—a noun and the words that modify it. The correct answer is a devoted father of five.

Given that he is a full-time restaurant manager and a devoted father of five, my uncle has an overloaded day-to-day schedule.

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Teacher tools

Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

R.2Use parallel structure

M.3Identify sentences with parallel structure

PP.2Identify coordinating conjunctions

II.1Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions

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