Style: parallel structure
Grade 9: parallel structure in lists, noun and verb phrases, absolute phrases, sentence variety for effect, fix a faulty sentence.
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Free to play. Teams answer on one screen; your phone is the remote. No student devices.
Questions
Which sentence has a parallel list?
- She likes swimming, hiking, and reading.
- She likes swimming, hiking, and to read.
- She likes swimming, to hike, and reading.
- She likes to swim, hiking, and reading.
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She likes swimming, hiking, and reading."We need pens, paper, and to bring rulers" has a parallel list. (True or false?)
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FalseMake the last item parallel: "The team was fast, strong, and had skill." (Answer out loud)
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skilled (or skilful)Which sentence uses parallel verb phrases?
- The coach told us stretching, to drink water, and rest.
- The coach told us to stretch, drinking water, and to rest.
- The coach told us to stretch, to drink water, and resting.
- The coach told us to stretch, to drink water, and to rest.
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The coach told us to stretch, to drink water, and to rest.Which completes the sentence in parallel form? "She wants either to study music or ___."
- a painter
- painting
- she paints
- to paint
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to paintBest fix: "He liked the park for its quiet, its shade, and because it was free."
- for its quiet, its shade, and because it cost little
- for its quiet, its shade, and being not expensive
- for its quiet, its shade, and it was cheap
- for its quiet, its shade, and its low cost
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for its quiet, its shade, and its low costWhich sentence contains an absolute phrase?
- After packing her bag, Mia left for the station.
- Her bag packed, Mia left for the station.
- Mia packed her bag and left for the station.
- Mia, who had packed her bag, left for the station.
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Her bag packed, Mia left for the station.An absolute phrase usually has a noun and a participle and modifies a whole sentence. (True or false?)
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TrueRewrite with an absolute phrase: "Because the rain had stopped, we left." Start: The rain... (Answer out loud)
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The rain having stopped, we left.Why might a writer put a very short sentence after several long ones?
- To emphasise an important point
- To fix a spelling error
- To hide the main idea
- To make the text longer
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To emphasise an important pointWhich sentence is periodic, saving its main idea for the end?
- After six hours of steady climbing, the hikers reached the summit.
- The hikers climbed for six hours and reached the summit.
- The hikers reached the summit after six hours of steady climbing.
- The hikers reached the summit, tired but very happy.
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After six hours of steady climbing, the hikers reached the summit.Starting every sentence with the same word makes writing more varied. (True or false?)
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FalseWhich is the best fix for "I enjoy cooking, to dance, and singing"?
- I enjoy cook, dance, and singing.
- I enjoy cooking, dancing, and singing.
- I enjoy cooking, to dance, and to sing.
- I enjoy to cook, to dance, and singing.
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I enjoy cooking, dancing, and singing.Best fix: "The park is quiet, clean, and it is safe."
- quiet, being clean, and safe
- quiet, clean, and it is a safe place
- quiet, clean, and safe
- quiet, clean, and safety
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quiet, clean, and safeFix the end: "Reading is as good as to watch films." What replaces "to watch films"? (Answer out loud)
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watching filmsWhich fixes: "The manager praised Sam for being punctual and because he worked hard"?
- for being punctual and because he works hard
- for being punctual and hardworking
- for being punctual and he worked hard
- for punctuality and because he worked hard
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for being punctual and hardworking
Play it as a game
Ring the BellEvery team answers every question. A miss costs a heart; the last team standing rings the bell.
High WaterAnswer right to build the class tower 2 floors higher. The sea rises every question: stay dry together!
Tug of WarAnswer right to pull the rope your way. Pull it over the line to win!
Lucky WheelAnswer right to spin the wheel. Win points, double your score, swap with the leader, or play again.