Which sentence demonstrates parallel structure?

Which sentence demonstrates parallel structure?

• A. I like hiking, swimming, and to ride a bike.
• B. I like hiking, swimming, and riding a bike.
• C. I like hiking, swimming, and to ride a bike.
• D. I like hiking, swim, and riding a bike.

Answer: (B)

Parallel structure means you keep the same grammatical form when you list items. In this sentence, you’re naming activities you like, so the best choice uses three -ing forms: hiking, swimming, riding a bike. They all function the same way in the sentence and read smoothly as a single unit after the verb like. Options that mix forms break the rhythm: using an infinitive like to ride a bike alongside gerunds disrupts the pattern; using a base verb like swim instead of swimming also mismatches the others. Keeping all items in the same form—gerunds—gives the sentence balance and clarity.

Parallel structure means you keep the same grammatical form when you list items. In this sentence, you’re naming activities you like, so the best choice uses three -ing forms: hiking, swimming, riding a bike. They all function the same way in the sentence and read smoothly as a single unit after the verb like.

Options that mix forms break the rhythm: using an infinitive like to ride a bike alongside gerunds disrupts the pattern; using a base verb like swim instead of swimming also mismatches the others. Keeping all items in the same form—gerunds—gives the sentence balance and clarity.