Parallel Structure
Rewrite the following sentences, Improving the parallel structure:
1. Jack is a sports announcer, an alcoholic, and as a son he is very confused.
2. Their relationship raises questions about their ability to communicate and how
much they understand each other.
3. Not only was Smith after the money but also the girl.
4. He asked me about the murder and whether I had an alibi.
5. That young man is either going to reform or his father will cut him out of his
will.
6. This essay has argued that the play is fundamentally flawed and the
characterization is puzzling as well and it contains some good things in it, too.
7. The conflict arises for three reasons: first, Brick's drinking, secondly, because
Maggie is childless, and also that Gooper and Brick hate each other.
8. Put the lamp on the table, the book in the shelf, and then take this tea cup to
the sink in the kitchen.
9. There were a number of different reasons for the accident: the footplate was
icy, because the driver was inexperienced, and that visibility was very poor.
10. The instructions said that we should treat this material with care and it was
really inflammable.
11. Hamlet is suffering either from some inner emotional distress or he is a
coward.
12. The students not only have to understand these regulations but also the
instructors.
13. I do not understand this assignment or how the instructor marked it.
14. The problem arises from what the Israelis believe about their right to the
Holy Land and from the Palestian claims on the land.
15. The decision to purchase the ferries was both financially irresponsible and it
was an engineering fiasco.
Parallel Structure
Answer Key
Rewrite the following sentences, Improving the parallel structure:
1. Jack is a sports announcer, an alcoholic, and as a confused son.
 Items in a series
2. Their relationship raises questions about their ability to communicate and to
understand each other.
Inf. Before and after coord. Conj
3. Smith was after not only the money but also the girl.
Verb Phrase after correlative conj
4. He asked me about the murder and about my alibi.
Coord. Conj prep phrase
5. That young man is either going to reform or cut him out of his will.
Correlative conj. followed by verb phrase
6. This essay has argued that the play is fundamentally flawed and the
characterization is puzzling as well and it contains some good things in it, too.
7. The conflict arises for three reasons: first, Brick's drinking, secondly, Maggie is
childless, and also Gooper and Brick hate each other.
Independent Clauses in a series
8. Put the lamp on the table, put the book in the shelf, and then take the tea cup
to the sink in the kitchen.
 Use verb phrases with the items in a series
9. There were a number of different reasons for the accident: the footplate was
icy, the driver was inexperienced, and the visibility was very poor.
 Use verb phrases with the items in a series
10. The instructions said that we should treat this material with care and it was
really inflammable.
11. Hamlet is suffering either from some inner emotional distress or he is a
coward.
12. The students not only have to understand these regulations but also the
instructors.
13. I do not understand this assignment or how the instructor marked it.
14. The problem arises from what the Israelis believe about their right to the
Holy Land and from the Palestian claims on the land.
15. The decision to purchase the ferries was both financially irresponsible and it
was an engineering fiasco.
Parallel Sentence Structure - Exercise 1
Directions: Rewrite each sentence to fix all parallelism errors.
1. An actor knows how to memorize his lines and getting into character.
2. Tell me where you were, what you were doing, and your reasons for doing it.
3. Clark's daily exercises include running, swimming, and to lift weights.
4. To donate money to the homeless shelter is helping people stay warm in the winter.
5. Jim not only likes working outside but also getting dirty.
6. We followed the path through the forest, over the hill, and we went across the river.
7. The writer was brilliant but a recluse.
8. After the party, we want to either go to a movie or the diner.
9. She told Jake to take out the trash, to mow the lawn, and be listening for the phone call.
10. Marcie studied for the test by reviewing her class notes and she read her textbook.
Directions: Rewrite and correct the following sentences so all the phrases are parallel.
1.
Charlie parked his car, will tell Marie to keep an eye on it, and will have been late for his lunch
date with Rich.
2.
I will go to the library tomorrow, returning the book that is two days late, and apologized for
holding it up for the patron who waits for it.
3.
The Rabbi Michaels will sing, dancing and telling stories from his trips abroad.
4.
Do you like berrying, hunt for mushrooms, or apple picking best?
5.
During W.W.II when Jake served as a medic, he was keeping a journal, later publishing it and
made a sizable profit.
Words and Phrases in a Series: Check Your Work
Original Sentence One:
Charlie parked his car, will tell Marie to keep an eye on it, and will have been late for his lunch date with
Rich. Correct Answer:
Charlie parked his car, told Marie to keep an eye on it, and was late for his lunch date with Rich.
Original Sentence Two:
I will go to the library tomorrow, returning the book that is two days late, and apologized for holding it up
for the patron who waits for it.
Correct Answer:
I will go to the library tomorrow, return the book that is two days late, and apologize for holding it up for
the waiting patron.
Original Sentence Three:
The Rabbi Michaels will sing, dancing and telling stories from his trips abroad.
Correct Answer:
The Rabbi Michaels will sing, dance, and tell stories from his trips abroad.
Original Sentence Four:
Do you like berrying, hunt for mushrooms, or apple picking best?
Correct Answer:
Do you like berrying, hunting for mushrooms, or apple picking best?
Original Sentence Five:
During W.W.II when Jake served as a medic, he was keeping a journal, later publishing it and made a
sizable profit.
Correct Answer:
During W.W.II when Jake served as a medic, he kept a journal, and later published it, making a sizable
profit.