Parallel Structure Exercise 3 Answers - Fill and Sign Printable ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each question one by one. The goal is to pick the option that uses parallel structure — meaning all parts of a list or comparison should be in the same grammatical form (like all verbs ending in -ing, or all nouns, etc.).

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Question 1:
> When Dianne realized that her father had made lima beans and rice for dinner, she ________ from the table. The bag of macadamia nuts was soon well under her view.

Options:
- A. pushed her stomach
- B. did nothing her stomach
- C. did what her stomach
- D. did as her stomach

Wait — none of these make sense with “from the table.” Let’s look again.

Actually, looking at the sentence:
“she ________ from the table” — we need a verb phrase that fits logically and grammatically.

But wait — maybe there’s a typo? Let me re-read.

Ah! Actually, looking at the original image text (which I can’t describe but am solving based on), the correct version likely says:

“She ________ from the table” — and the options are probably meant to complete the action.

Looking at standard parallel structure exercises, this is likely testing verb forms.

Actually — let’s check the actual intended sentence. In many versions of this exercise, it’s:

“When Dianne realized that her father had made lima beans and rice for dinner, she did as her stomach told her and excused herself from the table.”

So option D: “did as her stomach” — implies “did as her stomach [told her]”, which is idiomatic and matches the structure.

Also, “pushed her stomach” doesn’t make sense. “Did nothing her stomach” is ungrammatical. “Did what her stomach” is incomplete.

✔ So best answer: D. did as her stomach

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Question 2:
> Not only did Hank despise the way June chewed with her mouth open, ________, finding her wet towels all over the bathroom floor.

Options:
- A. but also disliked
- B. but also disliking
- C. but he also disliked
- D. but he also disliking

This is a “not only... but also...” structure. Both parts must be parallel.

“Not only did Hank despise...” → past tense verb

So the second part should match: “but also disliked” → also past tense verb.

Option A: “but also disliked” — perfect parallelism.

Option B: “disliking” — gerund, not parallel.

Option C: “but he also disliked” — adds “he”, which breaks parallelism because first part doesn’t have subject repeated.

In formal writing, when using “not only... but also...”, if you start with “did Hank despise”, then “but also disliked” keeps the subject implied.

Actually, let’s think:
“Not only did Hank despise X, but also disliked Y” — this is acceptable if the subject is the same.

But sometimes it’s clearer to say “but he also disliked”.

However, in strict parallel structure tests, they prefer matching verb forms without adding extra subjects unless necessary.

Looking at common usage:
“Not only did he run, but also jumped” — awkward. Better: “Not only did he run, but he also jumped.”

Wait — actually, the most grammatically correct and parallel version is:

“Not only did Hank despise..., but he also disliked...”

Because “did Hank despise” has auxiliary + subject + verb, so the second part should mirror: “but he also disliked” — subject + adverb + verb.

Option C: “but he also disliked” — yes, that’s parallel.

Option A: “but also disliked” — missing subject, might be considered less parallel.

In many textbooks, for full parallelism with “not only did [subject] [verb]”, the second part should be “but [subject] also [verb]”.

✔ So best answer: C. but he also disliked

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Question 3:
> To prepare for debate finals, Fran will take the post, do the dishes, or ________.

Options:
- A. vacuum to scrub the bathtub
- B. scrubbed the bathtub
- C. scrub the bathtub

The list is:
- take the post (base verb)
- do the dishes (base verb)
- ??? → must be base verb too for parallelism.

Option A: “vacuum to scrub” — two verbs, not parallel.

Option B: “scrubbed” — past tense, not matching “take” and “do”.

Option C: “scrub the bathtub” — base verb, matches “take” and “do”.

✔ Answer: C. scrub the bathtub

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Question 4:
> When Diane takes her beagle for a walk, Sammy enjoys sniffing for edible garbage, ________, and howling at bicyclists.

Options:
- A. barks at bicyclists
- B. barking at bicyclists
- C. howl at bicyclists

The list is:
- sniffing for edible garbage (gerund/-ing form)
- ???
- howling at bicyclists (gerund/-ing form)

So middle item must also be -ing form.

Option A: “barks” — present tense verb, not parallel.

Option B: “barking at bicyclists” — gerund, matches.

Option C: “howl” — base verb, not matching.

✔ Answer: B. barking at bicyclists

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Question 5:
> After Amanda cashes her paycheck, the money goes to her savings account, apportioned fund, and ________.

Options:
- A. credit card balance
- B. used credit card balance
- C. could credit balance

We’re listing where the money goes:
- savings account (noun phrase)
- apportioned fund (noun phrase)
- ??? → must be noun phrase.

Option A: “credit card balance” — noun phrase, good.

Option B: “used credit card balance” — adjective + noun, still a noun phrase, but “used” might imply something else — not wrong, but let’s see.

Option C: “could credit balance” — “could” is modal verb, doesn’t fit.

Between A and B — “apportioned fund” suggests a specific allocated fund, so “credit card balance” is fine. “Used credit card balance” sounds odd — like the balance itself is used, not that it’s being paid.

Probably A is intended.

But wait — “apportioned fund” is a bit unusual. Maybe it’s “allocated fund”? Anyway, grammatically, both A and B are noun phrases.

But “used credit card balance” isn’t standard phrasing. Usually we say “pays off credit card balance”.

So safest: A. credit card balance

✔ Answer: A. credit card balance

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Question 6:
> In preparation for her run, Alicia ________, applied sunscreen, and increased the volume on her iPod.

Options:
- A. tightened her shoelaces
- B. was tightening her shoelaces
- C. and tighten her shoelaces

List of actions:
- ???
- applied sunscreen (past tense verb)
- increased the volume (past tense verb)

So first item must also be past tense verb.

Option A: “tightened her shoelaces” — past tense, perfect.

Option B: “was tightening” — past continuous, not parallel.

Option C: “and tighten” — base verb, and starts with “and”, which would make it “Alicia and tighten...” — nonsense.

✔ Answer: A. tightened her shoelaces

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Now, compiling all answers:

1. D
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. A
6. A

Final Answer:
1. D
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. A
6. A