Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?

Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?

• A. Victoria likes swimming and riding her bike.
• B. Victoria likes to swim and riding her bike.
• C. Victoria likes swimming and to ride her bike.
• D. Victoria likes swimming and to riding her bike.

Answer: (A)

Parallel structure is keeping the same grammatical form when you list two activities after a verb like likes. After likes, both items should match in form. The sentence that uses two gerunds—swimming and riding—keeps the same form for both activities, and “riding her bike” is a gerund phrase that stays parallel with “swimming.” This balanced, consistent structure sounds natural and correct. The other options mix forms: one uses an infinitive not parallel to the gerund, another pairs a gerund with an infinitive, and another combines a gerund with an awkward form like “to riding.” These mismatches disrupt the rhythm and grammatical harmony of the sentence.

Parallel structure is keeping the same grammatical form when you list two activities after a verb like likes. After likes, both items should match in form. The sentence that uses two gerunds—swimming and riding—keeps the same form for both activities, and “riding her bike” is a gerund phrase that stays parallel with “swimming.” This balanced, consistent structure sounds natural and correct.

The other options mix forms: one uses an infinitive not parallel to the gerund, another pairs a gerund with an infinitive, and another combines a gerund with an awkward form like “to riding.” These mismatches disrupt the rhythm and grammatical harmony of the sentence.