IXL | Use parallel structure | 8th grade language arts

Complete the sentence.

Badgers have huge foreclaws,

have powerful legs

and sometimes hunt cooperatively with larger animals such as coyotes.

powerful legs

have powerful legs

ref_doc_title.

Learn with an example

question

Complete the sentence.

In its depiction of the dramatic differences in parenting techniques around the world, the documentary film

Babies

is humorous, eye opening, and

educates viewers

quite educational

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 adjectives, so the missing element must also be an adjective or an adjective phrase—an adjective and the words that modify it. The correct answer is quite educational.

In its depiction of the dramatic differences in parenting techniques around the world, the documentary film Babies is humorous, eye opening, and quite educational.

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Teacher tools

Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

PP.2Identify coordinating conjunctions

QQ.1Use the correct pair of correlative conjunctions

R.2Use parallel structure

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