Mastering Parallelism
This worksheet helps 8th-grade students understand and practice identifying and correcting faulty parallelism in sentences.
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Mastering Parallelism
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Read each section carefully and follow the instructions to demonstrate your understanding of parallelism. Parallelism means using similar grammatical structures for similar ideas.
Understanding Parallelism
Parallelism, also known as parallel structure, is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence or series of sentences. By making sure that phrases or clauses are balanced in construction, you can improve the clarity, rhythm, and impact of your writing. For example, instead of writing 'She likes to hike, to swim, and reading books,' a parallel construction would be 'She likes hiking, swimming, and reading books.' Notice how all three activities are presented as gerunds.
1. Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct parallel structure?
He enjoys running, swimming, and to cycle.
She likes singing, dancing, and playing the piano.
The recipe requires flour, sugar, and you add eggs.
To learn is important, to grow, and achieving goals.
2. Identify the sentence that contains faulty parallelism.
The children were told to clean their rooms, finish their homework, and go to bed.
My goals are to graduate college, find a good job, and to travel the world.
He is a talented musician, a skilled writer, and a dedicated student.
The new phone is sleek, powerful, and easy to use.
Complete the following sentences by adding a phrase that maintains parallel structure.
3. She spent her afternoon reading novels, listening to music, and .
4. The coach told the team to run faster, jump higher, and .
5. Learning a new language involves studying vocabulary, practicing grammar, and .
Rewrite each sentence to correct the faulty parallelism.
6. My dog loves barking at squirrels, chasing cars, and to dig holes in the yard.
7. The new restaurant is known for its delicious food, friendly staff, and the atmosphere is welcoming.
8. He wanted to travel to Paris, visiting Rome, and to see London.
Indicate whether the following statements about parallelism are True or False.
9. Parallelism is only used in lists of three or more items.
True
False
10. Using parallel structure can make your writing clearer and more persuasive.
True
False
11. Write a paragraph (3-5 sentences) describing your favorite hobbies or activities. Make sure to use parallel structure in at least two sentences.