Which sentence demonstrates proper parallel structure in a list?

• A. She likes reading, painting, and to write.
• B. She likes reading, writing, and paints.
• C. She likes reading, writing, and to paint.
• D. She likes reading, writing, and painting.

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is keeping items in a list in the same verb form so the sentence reads smoothly. After the verb likes, every item in the list should match grammatically. In this case, using gerunds—reading, writing, painting—maintains a parallel pattern, so the sentence flows evenly: she likes reading, writing, and painting. The other options break the pattern by mixing verb forms—an infinitive with gerunds or a different tense—so the rhythm and clarity suffer. Sticking with all gerunds keeps the structure balanced and easy to follow.