Parallel Structures and Clause Control
About this practice test
Practise C1 Use of English through sentence editing. Build accuracy with parallel structures and complex sentence control.
What you’ll practice
Grammar and vocabulary
Choose forms and words that work together.
Meaning in context
Follow meaning across sentences and texts.
Accurate expression
Use natural phrases and sentence patterns.
What to expect:
12 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- C1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Error correction
How to approach this practice
Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.
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Question 1 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The role involves planning meetings, preparing reports and to manage budgets.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The role involves planning meetings, preparing reports and managing budgets.
The three coordinated objects of involves must be parallel ing forms.
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Question 2 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. We aim to reduce delays and improving reliability.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- We aim to reduce delays and improve reliability. / We aim to reduce delays and to improve reliability.
The coordinated verbs share or repeat the infinitive to.
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Question 3 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The policy applies both to staff and for visitors.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The policy applies both to staff and to visitors. / The policy applies to both staff and visitors.
Both...and should coordinate matching noun phrases or matching prepositional phrases.
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Question 4 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. She is responsible for scheduling, budgeting and supervise the team.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- She is responsible for scheduling, budgeting and supervising the team.
All three complements of for require parallel noun-like ing forms.
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Question 5 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The proposal is not only affordable but also it is practical.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The proposal is not only affordable but also practical. / The proposal isn't only affordable but also practical.
Not only...but also coordinates parallel adjectives in this structure.
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Question 6 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Neither the manager nor the assistants was available.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- Neither the manager nor the assistants were available.
With mixed-number nor-coordination, formal agreement follows the nearer plural assistants.
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Question 7 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The report explains what happened and why did it happen.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The report explains what happened and why it happened.
Embedded questions use statement order.
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Question 8 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Keep the opening participle clause unchanged. Make the auditors the subject of the main clause, keep the past simple tense and do not add new information. Write the complete corrected sentence. Having reviewed the figures, the error became obvious to the auditors.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- Having reviewed the figures, the auditors noticed the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors found the error obvious. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors became aware of the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors recognised the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors recognized the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors saw the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors detected the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors identified the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors discovered the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors found the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors realised the error. / Having reviewed the figures, the auditors realized the error.
The opening participle clause must refer to the auditors, who reviewed the figures. A past simple predicate such as noticed, detected or became aware of makes that relationship clear.
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Question 9 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The aim is improving access without to increase costs.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The aim is improving access without increasing costs.
Without is a preposition and takes an ing form.
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Question 10 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. We need a method that is reliable, transparent and can be repeat.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- We need a method that is reliable, transparent and can be repeated. / We need a method that is reliable, transparent and repeatable.
A passive after can needs be followed by the past participle repeated. Repeatable is also a grammatical parallel adjective with the same meaning.
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Question 11 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The decision depends on whether costs fall and that demand remains stable.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The decision depends on whether costs fall and whether demand remains stable. / The decision depends on whether costs fall and demand remains stable.
The coordinated embedded questions share or repeat whether.
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Question 12 · Error correction
Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.
Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The change was made to improve safety, not reducing costs.
Check answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- The change was made to improve safety, not to reduce costs. / The change was made to improve safety, not reduce costs.
The contrasted purposes require parallel infinitive verb forms.
What to review next
Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.