Name:________________________ Score:_____________

Grade & Section: ___________________ Date:________________

FAULTY PARALLELISM
PRACTICE EXERCISE 1

1. Janet has packed an orange soda, a blanket, and waters the plants before leaving.

A correct B error in structure

2. During the exam, Mary sucked the ends of her hair, chewed the top of her pencil, and all
the while she was picking at a scab on her elbow, but she could not remember the third
cause of the French Revolution.

A error in structure B correct

3. The sky grew pink, seagulls began to cry, and waves rolled onshore as Diane took her
morning stroll on the beach.

A correct B error in structure

4. Vacuuming under the furniture, dusting the ceiling fans, and scrubbing the tile grout with
a toothbrush, Jerry prepared the house for his ultra-picky mother-in-law.

A correct B error in structure

5. Claude glanced at his watch, took a last sip of coffee, and began his trek to Dr. Grayson’s
three-hour snooze fest on the French Revolution.

A error in structure B correct

6. Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

Phuong Tran has wit, charm, and she has Phuong Tran has wit, charm, and a
A B
an extremely pleasant personality. pleasing personality.

7. Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

Mr. Nguyen kept his store clean, neat, Mr. Nguyen kept his store clean, neat,
A B
and he made it conveniently arranged. and conveniently arranged.
 8. Select the sentence that illustrates the use of proper parallel construction.

The coach told the players that they

The coach told the players that they
should get a lot of sleep, that they should
should get a lot of sleep, that they should
not eat too much, and that they should
not eat too much, and to do some warm-
do some warm-up exercises before the
up exercises before the game.
game.

9. Which sentence uses parallel structure?

Hearing her sing in person was ten times Hearing her sing in person was ten times
better than hearing her on the radio. better than if you heard her on the radio.

10. Which sentence uses parallel structure?

Her excuses bothered me more than her Her excuses bothered me more than her
being absent. absence.

11. Which sentence uses parallel structure?

Original, imaginative, and seeming Original, imaginative, and almost

almost fantastic describe the techniques fantastic describe the techniques of Dali's
of Dali's paintings. paintings.

12. Natasha tried holding her breath, ________ a piece of gum, and
poking her belly, but she could not quiet her empty stomach,
which rumbled during the chemistry exam.

chewing chewed

chews to chew

13. Monica brewed espresso, steamed milk, and ______ jokes as she
prepared Mike’s latte.

will tell was telling

told tells
14. Celine tried looking behind the toilet, ________ in the laundry
basket, and checking under the bed, but she could not find
Squeeze, her nine-foot albino python.

will search searching

searched searches

15. Chelsea had to paddle past a school of jellyfish, kick a small sand
shark in the nose, and _____ seaweed from her surfboard before
she reached her favorite point break.

untangled untangles

untangle untangling

16. Justin was excited about inviting friends over, eating a good meal, and ____________ _.

to play cards. a game of cards.

playing a game of cards.

17. I have always enjoyed reading the book more than ______ _.

I watched the movie version. to watch the movie.

watching the movie.

18. When the weather outside is cold and ________ , I like to be indoors.

starting to get windy getting windy

windy

19. Running, lifting, and________ are three of Ashley's favorite exercises.

a spinning class racquetball

bicycling

20. To protect her delicate hands, Fran will not rake the yard, do the dishes, or _________ _.

scrub the bathtub refuses to scrub the bathtub

won't scrub the bathtub

21. Therapists say I should sit, walk, and ______ _.

A go swimming B go to swim

C swim

22. The grocery store is good for fruit, vegetables, and_____ _.

A meat B buying meat

C to buy meat

23. Smith likes camping, running, and _______ _.

A to drive B drive

C driving

24. To lose weight, eat small portions and ______ _.

A limit second helpings B to limit second helpings

C limiting second helpings

25. He is allergic to the cat's hair and _______ _.

A smell B smelling

C its smell