ACT English : Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #111 : Parallel Structure Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The celebration was extensive all over Spain, but more so in Barcelona than either Seville or Madrid.

Possible Answers:

The celebration was extensive all over Spain, but more so in Barcelona than either in Seville or Madrid. 

The celebration was extensive all over Spain, but more so in Barcelona than in either Seville and Madrid. 

The celebration was extensive all over Spain but more so in Barcelona than either Seville or Madrid. 

The celebration was extensive all over Spain, but more so in Barcelona than either Seville or Madrid.

The celebration was extensive all over Spain, but more so in Barcelona than in either Seville or Madrid. 

Correct answer:

The celebration was extensive all over Spain, but more so in Barcelona than in either Seville or Madrid. 

Explanation:

This sentence contains a parallelism error. When comparing things in sentences, in this case, cities, one must present them in the same way. So, since the first part of the comparison contains the word "in" ("in Barcelona"), the second part of the comparison must also be introduced by "in": "in either Seville or Madrid," instead of "either Seville or Madrid."

Example Question #112 : Parallel Structure Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and staying in a five-star hotel.

Possible Answers:

The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and to stay in a five-star hotel.

The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and also staying in a five-star hotel.

The scholarship allowed Mickey traveling all the way to France and staying in a five-star hotel.

The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and he could also stay in a five-star hotel.

The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and staying in a five-star hotel.

Correct answer:

The scholarship allowed Mickey to travel all the way to France and to stay in a five-star hotel.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in parallelism. The verbs "travel" and "stay" must be in the same form. In the sentence as it is presented, "to travel" and "staying" do not match. The correct answer makes both of these terms infinitives: "to travel" and "to stay."

Example Question #111 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Younger employees often struggle with time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.

Possible Answers:

with time management balancing workloads and file organization.

with time management, workload balancing, and file organization.

with things like time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.

for time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.

with time management, balancing workloads, and file organization.

Correct answer:

with time management, workload balancing, and file organization.

Explanation:

The list in the underlined portion of the sentence, "time management, balancing workloads, and file organization," contains three items which do not describe similar actions with their structure. The three items should match in any list structured like the one in the sentence. The only answer choice that features such a parallel structure is "with time management, workload balancing, and file organization."

Example Question #81 : Correcting Parallel Structure Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The President's speech avoided both the recent scandal and how women were disenfranchised in politics.

Possible Answers:

the recent scandal, as well as how women were disenfranchised in politics.

both the recent scandal and the disenfranchisement of women in politics.

the recent scandal of how women were disenfranchised in politics.

the recent scandal: how women were disenfranchised in politics.

both the recent scandal and how women were disenfranchised in politics.

Correct answer:

both the recent scandal and the disenfranchisement of women in politics.

Explanation:

All elements in a list should be parallel: they should be of the same structure. Choose the answer that keeps elements parallel: "the recent scandal and the disenfranchisement . . ."

Example Question #142 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The new manager came in like a house on fire, changing schedules, switching assignments, and broke old rules.

Possible Answers:

changing schedules, switching assignments, and breaking old rules.

changing schedule, switching assignment, and broke old rule.

changing schedules, switching assignments, and break old rules.

change schedules, switch assignments, and broke old rules.

changing schedules, switching assignments, and broke old rules.

Correct answer:

changing schedules, switching assignments, and breaking old rules.

Explanation:

In any list like the one in the underlined portion of the sentence, all the verbs in the dependent clause need to be in the same form to show the subject is doing similar actions. The only answer choice that appropriately features such parallel structure is "changing schedules, switching assignments, and breaking old rules."

Example Question #143 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Horses, once trained, take quite well to being harnessed, saddled, and riding.

Possible Answers:

being harnessed, saddled, and riding.

be harnessed, saddled, and riding.

being harnessed, saddled, and ridden.

been harnessed, saddled, and riding.

being harnesing, saddling, and riding.

Correct answer:

being harnessed, saddled, and ridden.

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is incorrect, as any series needs to have a parallel structure, where all elements of the series are written in the same form. "Being harnessed, saddled, and ridden" is the only answer choice that is both correct grammatically and parallel in structure.

Example Question #144 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The success of the one-handed touchdown catch was more a result of good luck than by skillful play.

Possible Answers:

good luck than by skillful play

luck being good than by play being skillful

good luck than because of skillful play

good luck than of skillful play

luck being good than because of play being skillful

Correct answer:

good luck than of skillful play

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in parallelism. Specifically, it compares "of good luck" to "by skillful play." The prepositions used in these phrases should match because they are being compared—"more a result of X than by Y" doesn't treat format each item in a consistent manner. The only answer choice that fixes this issue is "good luck than of skillful play," making the corrected sentence "The success of the one-handed touchdown catch was more a result of good luck than of skillful play."

Example Question #91 : Correcting Parallel Structure Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Most people, even highly skilled craftsman, are not excellent at designing, building, and maintenance of a house.

Possible Answers:

designing, building, and maintenance of a house.

designing, build, and maintenance of a house.

designing building and maintaining a house.

designing building and maintenance of a house.

designing, building, and maintaining a house.

Correct answer:

designing, building, and maintaining a house.

Explanation:

Any list like the one in the underlined portion of the sentence needs to have a parallel structure in their word forms, which the sentence does not have as written. Each item in such a list also needs to be separated by commas; therefore, the correct answer choice is "designing, building, and maintaining a house."

Example Question #112 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose “NO CHANGE.”

Making a place safe means not only building physical environments that seem safe, but also fostering policies and practices that create a respectful civic community.

Possible Answers:

foster policies and practices

NO CHANGE

one must foster policies and practices

it is necessary to foster policies and practices

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

This sentence is correct as written. The sentence relies on the pattern of “not only X, but also Y”. In this case, both of the things that the sentence mentions, “building physical environments” and “fostering policies and practices”, are stated in a way that follows the same grammatical pattern. Both of the phrases use gerunds, or words that end in -ing. So, nothing needs to be changed in this sentence.

Example Question #113 : Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors

Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose “NO CHANGE.”

My granddaughter Elizabeth is very helpful around the house. She helps me do the laundry and the lawn is mowed by her.

Possible Answers:

mow the lawn.

mowing the lawn is also something she helps me do.

she helps me in mowing the lawn.

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

mow the lawn.

Explanation:

The last part of this sentence, “the lawn is mown by her”, sounds awkward because it does not follow the same grammatical structure as the first part of the sentence. The sentence wants to say that the granddaughter helps her grandmother do two things: do the laundry and mow the lawn. The most concise way to say this, and the best way to create parallel structure, is “She helps me do the laundry and mow the lawn.”

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