Name Date
Parallel Structure – Exercise
Directions: Determine whether the sentences below contain errors in parallel structure. Fix
any problems that you find.
1. Monica brewed espresso, steamed milk, and told jokes as she prepared Mike’s latte.
2. Natasha tried holding her breath, chewing a piece of gum, and poking her belly, but she could
not quiet her empty stomach, which rumbled during the chemistry exam.
3. In the restroom, Tishena was brushing her hair, freshened her lip-gloss, and took deep
breaths, trying to work up the courage to walk to her first speech class.
4. Celine looked behind the toilet, in the laundry basket, and checked under the bed, but she could
not find Squeeze, her nine-foot albino python.
5. Not only did Dennis apply an extra layer of deodorant to his armpits, but he also polished each
tooth with special care. He did not want to offend Malinda with any unpleasant odors.
6. For his first date with Malinda, Dennis bought not only a dozen roses but he also purchased
a box of chocolates.
7. Not only did Malinda squeal at the sight of the beautiful bouquet, but she also was tearing
open the box and eating chocolates all the way to the restaurant.
8. Dennis tried to be thoughtful and generous, yet Malinda refused to give him not only a kiss
good night but also a single chocolate from the nut and caramel sampler.
9. Chelsea had to paddle past a school of jellyfish, kick a small sand shark in the nose,
and untangle seaweed from her surfboard before she reached her favorite point break.
10. Spiders that bite, hissing snakes, and squealing rodents fill the aquariums in
Desmond’s basement.
11. Class with Dr. Rogers was a nightmare: the clock seemed stuck in place, the air conditioner blew
inadequate cool, and a fluorescent bulb buzzed overhead.
12. Ernie is too noisy as a seatmate. Crunching on apple slices, slurping hot coffee, and the rings of
his notebook snapped open and shut all contribute to the cacophony.
13. Neither the scowls from her neighbors nor the disapproval of her husband will deter Larissa
from painting her house hot pink with orange and white trim.
14. Larissa will either add a flock of plastic pink flamingos, or she will purchase a family of
ceramic gnomes for the front lawn.
15. Until the Weavers arrived home at 5 p.m., the clock ticked, the refrigerator hummed, and the
dog snoring in the otherwise quiet house.
16. Jessica has found that neither background music nor potato chips make writing her
research essay any easier.
17. Mark looked under the bed, in the hamper, and he even searched his brother’s closet, but
he could not find his favorite University of Florida T-shirt.
18. After you eat tuna salad from the campus cafeteria, not only will your stomach rumble, but
you will also sneeze for hours from the generous addition of MSG.
19. Natalia blinked her eyes, she wiped her glasses, and then squinted at the screen, but she
could not decipher the small text crammed onto the presentation slide.
20. Neither the unhappy man with the cold soup nor the irate woman with an empty glass of iced
tea could get Gloria’s attention, for this waitress was too busy flirting with Jose.
