Parallel Structure Quiz
Standardized tests such as the Digital SAT and the EST are crucial for determining college and job readiness. A key component of these tests is the English section, which often includes questions on grammar and sentence structure. One important aspect of sentence structure is parallelism or the use of similar grammatical structures in a list or series of phrases. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of parallel structure and how it is tested on standardized tests such as the Digital SAT and the EST. We will also provide a quiz to help students practice identifying and correcting errors in parallel structure. By understanding and mastering parallel structure, students can improve their scores on these important standardized tests.
1/8
The new party platform focuses on tax code reform, improving the schools, and repairing relations with the labor unions.
Explanation: The second and third items in the list, improving and repairing, are gerunds, therefore the first item should also be a gerund, as in choice C.
2/8
Good study habits are not so much about working hard, but rather about how wisely you use your time.
Explanation: This sentence uses the standard parallel construction, not so much A as B. Choices A and B are incorrect because they do not use correct idiomatic phrasing. Choice C is incorrect because the second item in the contrast, how wisely you use your time, is not parallel in form to the first item, about working hard. Since the first item is a prepositional phrase, the second should be as well, as in choice D.
3/8
The food here is not only very fresh, but the price is also very reasonable.
Explanation: This sentence uses the standard parallel construction not only A but also B. Choices A and C are incorrect because they do not use correct idiomatic phrasing. Choice D is incorrect because also and as well are redundant.
4/8
The financial crisis was exacerbated by two important factors: the skittishness of investors and the fecklessness of regulators.
Explanation: This sentence gives a binary list, so the items should have parallel grammatical and semantic form. The first item in the list, the skittishness of investors, is a noun phrase defining a personal characteristic of a group of people, so the second item should do the same. Only choice A maintains both the grammatical and semantic parallelism.
5/8
I can’t decide whether I should give Maria the tickets or Caitlyn.
Explanation: Choices A, B, and C are all ambiguous because, with each phrasing, the dilemma is unclear: it could be read to mean that I’m trying to decide between giving the tickets to Maria and giving Caitlyn to Maria, which is of course nonsensical. Only choice D is unambiguous: the choice is between giving the tickets to Maria and giving the tickets to Caitlyn.
6/8
I prefer Liszt’s technical virtuosity, as opposed to Chopin’s romantic beauty.
Explanation: This sentence uses the standard parallel construction prefer A to B. Choices A and B are incorrect because they do not use standard phrasing. Choice D is incorrect because the comma serves no grammatical purpose.
7/8
The festival draws tourists from all over who come not so much for the music but rather because of the free-wheeling, Bohemian atmosphere.
Explanation: This sentence uses the standard parallel construction not so much A as B. Choices A and C are incorrect because neither uses the standard phrasing. Choice D is incorrect because the second item, because of the freewheeling, Bohemian atmosphere, does not have the same grammatical form as the first item, for the music. Choice B is best because it uses the standard phrasing and the items, for the music and for the freewheeling, Bohemian atmosphere, are both prepositional phrases.
8/8
Perhaps the most disappointing thing about the meeting was our agenda item was never even discussed.
Explanation: The subject and verb of this sentence is The (disappointing) thing was. Therefore, the underlined portion should be a noun phrase, and not an independent clause. Therefore, choices A and B are incorrect. Choice C is incorrect because the pronoun they lacks a logical antecedent and the verb should not take the subjunctive mood.
Result: