Gerunds

Grammar-Quizzes
Parallel Phrasing Framed | Unframed 

 

 

Read & Contrast

 

An unparallel sentence is "like mixing apples with oranges"  –  good in a salad, but not in writing.

mixing apples with oranges

 

UNPARALLEL   incorrect PARALLEL  correct
He is very honest, kind and responsibility.
                   adj          adj            noun?
He is very honest, kind and responsible.
                   
adj          adj           adjective

He enjoys swimming, running and to jog.
                    gerund        gerund          infinitive?

He enjoys swimming, running and jogging.
                    gerund        gerund          gerund
My friend knows how to travel and where he is traveling in comfort.
                              how + infinitive        where + clause?
My friend knows how to travel and where to travel in comfort.
                              how + infinitive        where + infinitive

 

matched cherries on slot machine

 

Solution - lightbulb Answer to Pop-Question

UNPARALLEL   incorrect PARALLEL  correct
We stood in a long line waiting, talking and discussed how to fix this this country. We stood in a long line waiting, talking and discussing how to fix this this country.

 

 

 

Practice 1

 

 

 

school

Check this paragraph carefully for parallel structures, and fragments (incomplete sentences.)  NOTE: Not every sentence has an error.

 

# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK ANSWER

e.g.

Recognizing the problem and find how to fix it is necessary and practically before one can continue.


 

2.

Coming from a large family and that I am the oldest of the children, I have always had certain responsibilities and duty in the home.


 

3.

One of my jobs, because I have "the" alarm clock, has been waking up my younger brothers and sisters, making sure they get dressed, and to see that they get downstairs by 7:20a.m. in time for breakfast.


 

4.

My brother, who is one year younger and very responsibility, and who is tall enough to reach the high shelves in the kitchen, takes down the cereal boxes and putting them on the breakfast table.

 

5.

My second little brother and sister, who are twins.

 

6.

They are always arguing over whose job it is to put the milk and sugar on the table and whose job it is to put them away.

 

7.

My six-year old sister, who is more mature than my brother who is ten, puts spoons and napkins on the table, never complaining and she always completing her job on time.

 

8.

While we are getting the breakfast table ready, Mom, who will later drive us to our schools, which are nearby.

9.

At 7:30a.m., we all sit down to eat, talking and preparation our minds for the day.

 

10.

I really enjoy our mornings together, even though fighting and squabbling.

 

11.

Our family, in which we work hard, cooperatively, and responsibly, and also which we take care and watching out for each other.

Ours is a family in which we work hard, cooperate and act responsibly, and also, take care and watch out for each other.

 

 

Go to Grammar-Quizzes | PreviousNext Page

 

 

 

 

Julie Sevastopoulos - ESL Department - College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA 94402 USA