Top 20 Unit 18 Student Internet Activities 2E
Unit Eighteen
Exercise Type #
Instructions:
Parallel Structure
One
Parallel Construction & Coordinating Conjunctions:
Sentence Analysis
Some of the following sentences contain errors in parallel structure. For
each sentence, indicate the conjunction used to join various elements, as
well as the elements that are being joined. If the sentence contains an
error in parallel structure, correct it in the space provided. If the
sentence contains no error, write “correct” in the text box.
EXAMPLE:
I love to read mystery books and fishing.
Conjunction:
Joined elements:
Corrected sentence:
1.
and
to read mystery books
fishing
I love reading mystery books and fishing.
or
I love to read mystery books and to go fishing.
My neighborhood is pleasant, safe, and it is inexpensive.
Conjunction:
Joined elements:
2.
Corrected sentence:
The police officer asked me how old I was, where I was going and
for my driver’s license.
Conjunction:
Joined elements:
3.
Corrected sentence:
For dessert, you have a choice: You can eat pie or drink a milk
shake.
Conjunction:
Joined elements:
Corrected sentence:
4.
The cost of a house and where it is located are important factors
Top 20 Unit 18 Student Internet Activities 2E
when buying a home.
Conjunction:
Joined elements:
Corrected sentence:
5.
I am not impressed by what she says or her actions.
Conjunction:
Joined elements:
Corrected sentence:
Top 20 Unit 18 Student Internet Activities 2E
Unit Eighteen
Exercise Type #
Instructions:
Parallel Structure
Two
Correlative Conjunctions
Read the following sentences, each of which uses correlative
conjunctions. Identify the correlatives, decide whether the sentence is
correctly written, and if it is not, rewrite the sentence in the text box.
EXAMPLE:
I neither like coffee nor tea.
Correlative conjunctions:
neither … nor
Correct/incorrect?
Incorrect
Corrected sentence: I like neither coffee nor tea.
1.
Whether you get your doctorate in physics or if you try to get a job
immediately depends on when you want to start earning money.
Correlative conjunctions:
correct
incorrect
corrected version (if necessary)
2.
I will either go to the movies tonight or stay home.
Correlative conjunctions:
correct
incorrect
corrected version (if necessary)
3.
He not only loves baseball but he also watches every game he can.
Correlative conjunctions:
correct
incorrect
corrected version (if necessary)
4.
I love both Picasso and the impressionist paintings of Monet.
Correlative conjunctions:
correct
incorrect
corrected version (if necessary)
Top 20 Unit 18 Student Internet Activities 2E
5.
My son is lazy; he neither makes his bed nor does household chores.
Correlative conjunctions:
correct
incorrect
corrected version (if necessary)
Top 20 Unit 18 Student Internet Activities 2E
Unit Eighteen
Exercise Type #
Instructions:
Parallel Structure
Three
Parallel Structure and Comparisons
Read the following sentences which involve parallel structure and
comparison, and decide if they need editing. If they do, use the text box to
rewrite the sentence more effectively.
EXAMPLE:
She likes Julie better than Harry.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
1.
Real estate prices in the US are much higher than Spain.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
2.
yes
.
It seems that the sophomore college students get along better with new
students than seniors.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
5.
yes
.
Many community college students are not as well-prepared in math as
they are in English.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
4.
yes
.
My nineteenth birthday party was not as much fun as the previous year.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
3.
yes
She likes Julie better than she likes Harry.
or
She likes Julie better than Harry does.
yes
.
I love watching foreign movies much better than my wife.
Top 20 Unit 18 Student Internet Activities 2E
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
yes
.
Top 20 Unit 18 Student Internet Activities 2E
Unit Eighteen
Exercise Type #
Instructions:
Parallel Structure
Four
Parallel Structure and Repetition.
One of the principles of parallel structure is that redundant phrases may
be deleted in structures joined by coordinating conjunctions. In the
following sentences, decide if the sentence is effectively constructed; if it
isn’t, rewrite the sentence in the text box, omitting unnecessary words.
EXAMPLE:
You may order steak, or you may order fish.
Needs editing?
yes
Edited sentence: You may order steak or fish.
1.
The company offers its employees benefits including insurance,
retirement and vacation days.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
2.
The president announced that he would come to New York, that he
would visit the World Trade Center, and that he would deliver an
important speech.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
3.
yes
.
It is time to decide whether to stay in school for two more years or to
go out and find a job.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
4.
yes
.
yes
.
Abraham Lincoln spoke of a government of the people, a government
by the people, and a government for the people.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
yes
.
Top 20 Unit 18 Student Internet Activities 2E
5.
For Christmas, I received a computer, I got a digital camera, and
someone gave me a video game.
Needs editing?
Edited sentence:
yes
.