ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Version 7English and Language UsageEasy
A medical assistant is preparing a patient education handout on medication adherence. Which of the following sentences correctly uses parallel structure?
- AYou should take your medication daily, proper storage is key, and understanding side effects.
- BTaking your medication daily, proper storage, and understanding its side effects are important.
- CIt is important to take your medication daily, to store it properly, and for you to understand its side effects.
- DIt is important to take your medication daily, to store it properly, and to understand its side effects.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. It is important to take your medication daily, to store it properly, and to understand its side effects.
Parallel structure requires that items in a list or series have the same grammatical form. Option B correctly uses infinitive phrases ('to take,' 'to store,' 'to understand') for all elements in the list.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This option mixes a verb phrase ('take'), a noun phrase ('proper storage'), and a gerund phrase ('understanding side effects'), violating parallel structure.
- B. This option mixes gerunds ('taking,' 'understanding') with a noun phrase ('proper storage'), breaking parallel structure.
- C. This option mixes infinitive phrases with a prepositional phrase ('for you to understand'), breaking parallel structure.
Parallel Structure
Parallel structure (also called parallelism) is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. By making each compared item or idea in your sentence follow the same grammatical pattern, you create a parallel construction.
- Used for lists, comparisons, and compound structures.
- Enhances clarity, readability, and rhetorical effect.
- Common forms include words, phrases, and clauses.
Memory trick: Like a train, each car must match the one before it.