Sentence Consistency and Parallelism (errors in consistency, such as shifts in verb tense or a lack of parallel structure in equivalent sentence parts.
They had spent the last two weeks playing phone tag, leaving short bursts of clever repartee on each other's answering machine.
Avery was lighting the fire and inexplicably flies into a rage when she appears.
Computer disks are not indestructible; it is wise to transport them in special carriers designed for that purpose.
The lustrous earthenware known as Majolica, which flourished in Italy for several centuries, originated on the island of Majorca in Spain.
The error is in verb tenses -- a sentence in which the verb tenses are not consistent.
Focus on the verbs and you'll find it.
its b.
Yes, B.
Sentence Consistency and Parallelism refers to errors in consistency within a sentence, such as shifts in verb tense or a lack of parallel structure in equivalent sentence parts. Let's analyze each sentence and identify any inconsistencies or lack of parallel structure:
1. "They had spent the last two weeks playing phone tag, leaving short bursts of clever repartee on each other's answering machine."
This sentence appears to be consistent and parallel. The subject "They" remains consistent throughout, and the verb tenses ("had spent," "leaving") are also consistent.
2. "Avery was lighting the fire and inexplicably flies into a rage when she appears."
In this sentence, there is a shift in verb tense. The past tense "was lighting" should be followed by a past tense verb, but instead, "flies" is in present tense. To make it consistent, it should be: "Avery was lighting the fire and inexplicably flew into a rage when she appeared."
3. "Computer disks are not indestructible; it is wise to transport them in special carriers designed for that purpose."
This sentence is consistent and parallel. The subject "Computer disks" remains consistent, and the verb tense ("are," "is") is also consistent.
4. "The lustrous earthenware known as Majolica, which flourished in Italy for several centuries, originated on the island of Majorca in Spain."
This sentence is consistent and parallel. The subject "The lustrous earthenware known as Majolica" remains consistent, and the verb tense ("flourished," "originated") is also consistent.