IXL | Identify sentences with parallel structure

Which sentence or sentences have correct parallel structure?

Both short-term comets and long-term comets orbit around the sun, but as their name implies, short-term comets take less time to complete their orbits.

Both short-term and long-term comets orbit around the sun, but as their name implies, short-term comets take less time to complete their orbits.

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question

Which sentence or sentences have correct parallel structure?

Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was one of the most active first ladies in U.S. history: she held press conferences, wrote a daily newspaper column, and she was a tireless advocate for human rights.

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 second sentence has parallel structure because the joined elements are all verb phrases.

green checkmark, Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was one of the most active first ladies in U.S. history: she held press conferences, wrote a daily newspaper column, and advocated tirelessly for human rights.

The first sentence does not have parallel structure.

red X symbol, Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was one of the most active first ladies in U.S. history: she held press conferences, wrote a daily newspaper column, and she was a tireless advocate for human rights.

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Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

PP.2Identify coordinating conjunctions

II.1Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions

Y.2Identify prepositional phrases

AA.5Identify infinitives and infinitive phrases

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