Parallel Structure Exercise 3 Answer Key

Parallel Structure Exercise 3: Answer Key and Comprehensive Guide

Parallel structure, also known as parallelism, is a fundamental grammatical concept that significantly impacts the clarity, flow, and overall effectiveness of your writing. It involves expressing similar grammatical elements in a similar grammatical form. Mastering parallel structure elevates your writing from merely understandable to elegant and persuasive. This comprehensive guide provides an answer key to a hypothetical Parallel Structure Exercise 3, followed by a detailed explanation of the principles and a range of practice exercises to solidify your understanding.

Understanding Parallel Structure

Before we delve into the answer key, let's revisit the core principles of parallel structure. Parallelism ensures that elements within a sentence or series of sentences maintain a consistent grammatical structure. This consistency applies to various grammatical forms, including:

• Nouns: She enjoys swimming, hiking, and reading. (All are gerunds)
• Verbs: He runs quickly, jumps high, and throws far. (All are present tense verbs)*
• Adjectives: The house is large, spacious, and modern. (All are adjectives)*
• Prepositional phrases: The book is on the table, under the chair, and behind the sofa. (All are prepositional phrases)*
• Clauses: She is a student who studies hard, who participates actively, and who achieves excellent grades. (All are relative clauses)*

Inconsistent parallelism disrupts the reader's flow and can lead to ambiguity. For example, the sentence "I like to swim, hiking, and reading" is incorrect because it mixes a gerund ("swimming") with two participles ("hiking" and "reading"). The correct parallel structure is "I like to swim, hike, and read."

Hypothetical Parallel Structure Exercise 3: Answer Key

Let's assume Parallel Structure Exercise 3 presents the following sentences, each requiring correction for parallel structure:

1. Original Sentence: The chef prepared a delicious meal, carefully plating each dish, and a beautiful presentation.

Corrected Sentence: The chef prepared a delicious meal, carefully plating each dish, and creating a beautiful presentation. (Corrected to maintain parallel verb structure)

2. Original Sentence: She is intelligent, ambitious, and has a kind heart.

Corrected Sentence: She is intelligent, ambitious, and kind. (Corrected to maintain parallel adjective structure)

3. Original Sentence: He enjoys playing video games, listening to music, and to watch movies.

Corrected Sentence: He enjoys playing video games, listening to music, and watching movies. (Corrected to maintain parallel gerund structure)

4. Original Sentence: The students were studying diligently, completing their assignments, and they were also collaborating effectively.

Corrected Sentence: The students were studying diligently, completing their assignments, and collaborating effectively. (Corrected to maintain parallel verb structure)

5. Original Sentence: My goals are to graduate from college, finding a good job, and to travel the world.

Corrected Sentence: My goals are to graduate from college, to find a good job, and to travel the world. (Corrected to maintain parallel infinitive structure)

6. Original Sentence: He is known for his honesty, his integrity, and because he is hardworking.

Corrected Sentence: He is known for his honesty, his integrity, and his hard work. (Corrected to maintain parallel noun structure)

7. Original Sentence: The report highlighted the company's profits, its market share, and the challenges it faced.

Corrected Sentence: The report highlighted the company's profits, its market share, and its challenges. (Corrected to maintain parallel noun structure. While grammatically correct, simplifying for better flow)

8. Original Sentence: She spent the day shopping, relaxing by the pool, and she read a book.

Corrected Sentence: She spent the day shopping, relaxing by the pool, and reading a book. (Corrected to maintain parallel gerund structure)

9. Original Sentence: Learning a new language requires dedication, perseverance, and to be patient.

Corrected Sentence: Learning a new language requires dedication, perseverance, and patience. (Corrected to maintain parallel noun structure)

10. Original Sentence: The concert was loud, exciting, and a memorable experience.

Corrected Sentence: The concert was loud, exciting, and memorable. (Corrected to maintain parallel adjective structure)

Advanced Parallel Structure Considerations

While the above examples illustrate basic parallel structure, mastering the concept requires understanding more nuanced scenarios.

Parallelism with Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions (e.g., both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also) require parallel structure in the phrases or clauses they connect. Incorrect usage can lead to significant grammatical errors.

Example: Not only did she finish the marathon, but she also won the race. (Correct Parallel Structure)

Parallelism with Lists

When creating lists, each item should maintain a consistent grammatical form. This applies to lists introduced by colons or semicolons as well. Pay attention to the consistency of verb tenses, noun forms, and adjective forms within the list.

Parallelism with Comparisons

When using comparative structures like "more…than" or "less…than", ensure parallelism in the elements being compared.

Example: She is more intelligent than she is hardworking. (Correct parallel structure. Note that ‘hardworking’ functions as an adjective comparing to ‘intelligent’)*

Parallelism with Compound Predicates

Compound predicates (verbs sharing the same subject) must be parallel. Ensure consistency in tense, voice, and form.

Practice Exercises to Improve Parallel Structure

This section provides additional exercises to enhance your understanding and skill in applying parallel structure. Try to correct the sentences before checking the answer key below.

Exercise 1:

1. He likes to swim, play tennis, and bike riding.
2. She is kind, compassionate, and shows great empathy.
3. The car is fast, reliable, and looks great.
4. My goals are to travel, to learn, and becoming a better person.
5. The teacher praised the student's intelligence, his creativity, and that he was diligent.

Exercise 2:

1. Not only did he study hard, but he also passed all his exams.
2. Either you finish the project today, or tomorrow you will face consequences.
3. Both the cake and the ice cream were delicious.
4. Neither the students nor the teacher understood the instructions.
5. He is not only intelligent but also a hard worker.

Exercise 3:

1. The restaurant is known for its excellent food, its impeccable service, and because of the ambiance.
2. She spent her vacation relaxing on the beach, reading, and to go hiking.
3. My favorite hobbies are to paint, to read, and listen to music.
4. He is taller, stronger, and a more skilled athlete.
5. She is both intelligent and a talented musician.

Answer Key for Practice Exercises

Exercise 1:

1. He likes to swim, play tennis, and ride his bike.
2. She is kind, compassionate, and empathetic.
3. The car is fast, reliable, and good-looking. (or similar adjective)
4. My goals are to travel, to learn, and to become a better person.
5. The teacher praised the student's intelligence, creativity, and diligence.

Exercise 2: (Mostly correct as written; minor improvements suggested below)

1. (Correct)
2. (Correct)
3. (Correct)
4. (Correct)
5. (Correct)

Exercise 3:

1. The restaurant is known for its excellent food, its impeccable service, and its ambiance.
2. She spent her vacation relaxing on the beach, reading, and hiking.
3. My favorite hobbies are painting, reading, and listening to music.
4. He is taller, stronger, and more skilled as an athlete.
5. She is both intelligent and talented. (simplifying for better flow and parallel structure)

Conclusion

Parallel structure is a crucial element for crafting clear, concise, and impactful writing. By understanding the principles and practicing regularly, you can significantly enhance the quality of your written work. Remember to always strive for consistency in grammatical structure within sentences and across paragraphs. This consistent use of parallelism will improve your writing's readability, strengthen its persuasive power, and showcase a sophisticated understanding of grammar and style. Consistent practice and attention to detail will solidify your grasp of this fundamental grammatical concept, enabling you to produce writing that is both engaging and error-free.