Do your students write “She likes hiking, to swim, and riding a bike” – mixing gerunds, infinitives, and nouns in the same list? Do they write “The movie was thrilling, funny, and had suspense” – switching from adjectives to a verb phrase? Do they have no idea that “not only…but also” requires parallel structure, or that “either…or” needs balanced forms?

You’re not alone. Faulty parallelism is one of the most common – and most overlooked – errors in student writing. When items in a series or paired with correlative conjunctions are not grammatically parallel, the sentence feels awkward, clunky, and unprofessional. Correcting parallelism is essential for clarity, rhythm, and style.

This resource gives you 40 task cards and 4 worksheets that provide systematic, scaffolded practice with fixing faulty parallelism – from lists and series to verbs in a sequence, correlative conjunctions (not only…but also, either…or, neither…nor), and comparisons.

Perfect for grammar centers, writing workshops, test prep (ACT, SAT), ESL/ELL support, and homeschool.

What’s Inside This Toolkit

Two formats – task cards AND worksheets – with complete answer keys.

Format 1: Task Cards (40 cards)

Each card presents a sentence with faulty parallelism. Students rewrite the sentence so that all parallel elements have the same grammatical form.

Examples of task card tasks (by error type):

Lists mixing nouns, gerunds, and infinitives

• She likes hiking, to swim, and riding a bike. → She likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bike.
• I enjoy reading novels, to write poetry, and painting. → I enjoy reading novels, writing poetry, and painting.
• She likes dancing, to sing, and playing the piano. → She likes dancing, singing, and playing the piano.

Lists mixing adjectives and verb phrases

• The movie was both thrilling and had a lot of humor. → The movie was both thrilling and humorous.
• He is smart, hardworking, and shows kindness. → He is smart, hardworking, and kind.
• The candidate was honest, hardworking, and had charisma. → The candidate was honest, hardworking, and charismatic.
• The software is easy to use, reliable, and doesn’t cost much. → The software is easy to use, reliable, and inexpensive.

Series of verbs (mixed tenses or forms)

• The coach told us to eat well, sleep enough, and practicing daily. → The coach told us to eat well, sleep enough, and practice daily.
• He spent the weekend cleaning the garage, washed the car, and to mow the lawn. → He spent the weekend cleaning the garage, washing the car, and mowing the lawn.
• They decided to leave early, booking a flight, and cancel the hotel. → They decided to leave early, book a flight, and cancel the hotel.

Correlative conjunctions (not only…but also, either…or, neither…nor)

• She is not only famous for her acting but also because she writes books. → She is not only famous for her acting but also for her writing.
• His speech was well organized, persuasive, and had emotion. → His speech was well organized, persuasive, and emotional.

Lists with mixed noun phrases and clauses

• The exam tested grammar, vocabulary, and how well you write. → The exam tested grammar, vocabulary, and writing skill.
• The professor expects us to read the chapters, complete assignments, and that we participate in class. → The professor expects us to read the chapters, complete assignments, and participate in class.
• The job requires attention to detail, working long hours, and to be flexible. → The job requires attention to detail, long hours, and flexibility.

Comparisons and verb sequences

• To succeed, you need talent, luck, and working hard. → To succeed, you need talent, luck, and hard work.
• He failed because he was lazy, unmotivated, and arriving late. → He failed because he was lazy, unmotivated, and late.
• To be healthy, you should exercise, eat well, and sleeping enough. → To be healthy, you should exercise, eat well, and sleep enough.

All 40 cards cover a wide range of parallelism errors – from simple lists to complex sentences with correlative conjunctions.

Format 2: Worksheets (4 sections + bonus)

Section 1 – Identify the Fault (5 sentences)
Read each sentence and identify what is breaking the parallel structure (e.g., mixing adjectives and verb phrases, mixing gerunds and infinitives).

Section 2 – Rewrite the Sentences (10 sentences)
Rewrite each sentence so that all parts are parallel. Keep the meaning the same.

Section 3 – Write Your Own (5 prompts)
Write original sentences using: three gerunds in a list, two infinitives connected by “and,” “not only…but also” with two adjectives, three past tense verbs in a series, and “either…or” with parallel structure.

Bonus Challenge
Correct a challenging sentence with multiple parallel breaks.

Answer Keys

Complete answer keys for all task cards and all worksheet sections. For open‑ended writing, sample answers are provided.

Key Skills Covered

This resource targets every essential skill for mastering parallel structure:

• Parallelism in lists and series – all items must have the same grammatical form (nouns, verbs, adjectives, or phrases)
• Parallel structure with gerunds – hiking, swimming, biking
• Parallel structure with infinitives – to read, to write, to edit
• Parallel structure with adjectives – smart, hardworking, kind
• Parallel structure with verbs in a sequence – ate, slept, left (all past tense)
• Correlative conjunctions – not only…but also, either…or, neither…nor, both…and – each side must be parallel
• Faulty parallelism – mixing forms (e.g., “likes hiking, to swim, and riding”)
• Sentence rewriting – correcting errors while preserving meaning
• Original writing – applying parallelism in creative contexts

Why This Resource Is a Grammar Game‑Changer

Two Formats for Flexible Teaching
Use the 40 task cards for active learning – Scoot, centers, or partner work. Use the worksheets for independent practice, homework, or assessment. Mix and match – task cards for guided practice, worksheets for summative checks.

Covers All Common Parallelism Errors
Unlike resources that focus only on lists, this set includes gerunds/infinitives, adjectives/verbs, correlative conjunctions, and comparisons – everything students need.

Realistic, Grade‑Appropriate Sentences
Sentences are engaging and reflect real student writing – from hobbies and movies to job applications and academic expectations.

No‑Prep & Ready to Use
Print and go – everything is black‑and‑white for easy copying. Answer keys included for quick grading or student self‑checking.

Perfect for a Variety of Settings

• Grammar centers and stations
• Small group instruction
• Whole‑class Scoot or gallery walks
• Morning work or bell ringers
• Early finisher bins
• Sub plans
• Test prep (ACT, SAT, SBAC, PARCC, STAAR)
• ESL/ELL support
• Homeschool co‑ops

Aligned to Common Core & State Standards

• CCSS L.6.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
• CCSS L.7.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
• CCSS L.8.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
• CCSS L.9-10.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
• Supports CCSS W.6.5, W.7.5, W.8.5, W.9-10.5 (revising for clarity, consistency, and sentence fluency).

Builds Stronger, More Fluent Writers
Once students master parallel structure, their writing becomes smoother, clearer, and more professional. Lists will flow naturally, correlative conjunctions will be balanced, and sentences will sound polished. This skill is essential for both creative and academic writing.

What Teachers Are Saying (Sneak Peek)

⭐ “Finally, a resource that tackles faulty parallelism in a systematic way. My students used to write ‘She likes hiking, to swim, and riding a bike’ all the time. Now they know to match grammatical forms. The task cards are perfect for a gallery walk.”

⭐ “The correlative conjunctions section was exactly what my students needed. They had no idea that ‘not only…but also’ requires parallel structure – now they do.”

⭐ “I used the worksheets for independent practice and the task cards for a game of Scoot. The ‘write your own’ section showed me who really understood parallelism.”

⭐ “This resource made parallel structure click for my English learners. They finally understand why ‘to eat, sleeping, and practice’ is wrong – and how to fix it.”

Help Your Students Fix Faulty Parallelism – and Write Smooth, Balanced Sentences

Stop reading “She likes hiking, to swim, and riding a bike.” Start reading “She likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bike.”

Add to cart now and make parallel structure the easiest part of your grammar and writing unit.