IXL | Use parallel structure | 7th grade language arts

Complete the sentence.

Creating mnemonic devices, such as acronyms or songs, can make it easier to memorize obscure facts,

may help with test preparation

and can turn a grueling study session into a fun game.

may help with test preparation

help with test preparation

ref_doc_title.

Learn with an example

question

Complete the sentence.

Mandy

were elected to the city council, she would clean up city parks,

would provide assistance

to small businesses, and promote clean-energy policies.

would provide assistance

provide assistance

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 verb phrases, so the missing element must also be a verb phrase. The elements share a helping verb, so the correct answer is provide assistance.

If Mandy were elected to the city council, she would clean up city parks, provide assistance to small businesses, and promote clean-energy policies.

Looking for more? Try this:

$Confetti$

Excellent!

Now entering the Challenge Zone—are you ready?

Questions
answeredQuestions

Time
elapsedTime

hr	min	sec
00	00	06

SmartScore
out of 100
IXL's SmartScore is a dynamic measure of progress towards mastery, rather than a percentage grade. It tracks your skill level as you tackle progressively more difficult questions. Consistently answer questions correctly to reach excellence (90), or conquer the Challenge Zone to achieve mastery (100)! Learn more

Teacher tools

Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

PP.2Identify coordinating conjunctions

PP.1Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions

Excellent! You got that right!

Jumping to level 1 of 1

Excellent!