# Style: parallel structure

> Grade 9: parallel structure in lists, noun and verb phrases, absolute phrases, sentence variety for effect, fix a faulty sentence.

Source: https://olyclass.com/library/language-g9-parallel-structure-en/

- Subject: Reading & writing
- Level: Grade 9
- Practice: 16
- Play it free on one screen (projector, TV or whiteboard): https://olyclass.com/library?play=language-g9-parallel-structure-en
- Copy and edit it: https://olyclass.com/library?copy=language-g9-parallel-structure-en
- Games it plays well in: [Ring the Bell](https://olyclass.com/classroom-games/ring-the-bell/), [High Water](https://olyclass.com/classroom-games/high-water/), [Tug of War](https://olyclass.com/classroom-games/tug-of-war/), [Lucky Wheel](https://olyclass.com/classroom-games/lucky-wheel/)

## Questions

1. 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.)
   Answer: She likes swimming, hiking, and reading.
2. "We need pens, paper, and to bring rulers" has a parallel list.
   Answer: False
3. Make the last item parallel: "The team was fast, strong, and had skill."
   Answer: skilled (or skilful)
4. 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.)
   Answer: The coach told us to stretch, to drink water, and to rest.
5. Which completes the sentence in parallel form? "She wants either to study music or ___." (a painter / painting / she paints / to paint)
   Answer: to paint
6. Best 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)
   Answer: for its quiet, its shade, and its low cost
7. Which 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.)
   Answer: Her bag packed, Mia left for the station.
8. An absolute phrase usually has a noun and a participle and modifies a whole sentence.
   Answer: True
9. Rewrite with an absolute phrase: "Because the rain had stopped, we left." Start: The rain...
   Answer: The rain having stopped, we left.
10. 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)
   Answer: To emphasise an important point
11. Which 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.)
   Answer: After six hours of steady climbing, the hikers reached the summit.
12. Starting every sentence with the same word makes writing more varied.
   Answer: False
13. Which 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.)
   Answer: I enjoy cooking, dancing, and singing.
14. 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)
   Answer: quiet, clean, and safe
15. Fix the end: "Reading is as good as to watch films." What replaces "to watch films"?
   Answer: watching films
16. Which 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)
   Answer: for being punctual and hardworking