16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardParallel structure in a comparison

Standard English Conventions practice question

Mending the roof will cost less than ____ the whole barn.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. rebuildingCorrect
  2. B. to rebuild
  3. C. if we rebuild
  4. D. a rebuild of

Answer: A. rebuilding

'Mending' pairs with 'rebuilding'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. to rebuild
An infinitive does not match the gerund.
C. if we rebuild
A clause breaks the comparison.
D. a rebuild of
A noun phrase breaks the parallel.

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