ACT English : Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #141 : 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.
Philosophers believe their musings are deeply valuable to the public but they often put them in such complicated language they are hard to understand.
to the public and they often
to the public, they often
to the public, but they often
to the public they often
to the public but they often
to the public, but they often
The sentence is written as a compound sentence, one that joins two complete thoughts together to show the relationship between them. A compound sentence always needs to be joined either by a comma and a conjunction or a semicolon. "[T]o the public, but they often" is the only answer choice that does this appropriately.
Example Question #192 : Other 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 administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors, they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors, but they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors (they were tired of hearing their demands).
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors, so they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors; they were tired of hearing their demands.
The administrators no longer wanted to listen to the protestors; they were tired of hearing their demands.
The sentence in question contains a comma splice, or two independent clauses connected by a comma. Independent clauses should be connected using a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. We can ignore the answer choice that uses a parenthetical to enclose the second clause because it does not use a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction, and the resulting sentence is awkward. While "protestors, but they" and "protestor, so they" each employ a comma followed by a conjunction, the word "but" sets the two clauses in opposition to one another, which is not an accurate representation of the sentence's content, and the word "so" introduces a cause-and-effect relationship between the two clauses that does not work with the sentence's content either. So, the best answer choice is "protestors; they."
Example Question #141 : 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 quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is—a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage—it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage, it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage; it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage it was also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal, is a tropical bird, that is famous for its vivid plumage it is also important in Mayan mythology.
The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage; it is also important in Mayan mythology.
This sentence is a run-on sentence because it contains two independent clauses, "The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage" and "it is also important in Mayan mythology." To correctly connect these two sentences, you can use a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. (Writing the independent clauses as two separate sentences would also be a way to correct the error.) The only answer choice that correctly uses one of these methods is "The quetzal is a tropical bird that is famous for its vivid plumage; it is also important in Mayan mythology."
Example Question #191 : 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.
He was a renowned scientist, many students that studied with him.
and would many students study with him.
and many students studied with him.
many students that studied with him.
many students for to study with him.
and many students would study with.
and many students studied with him.
A sentence with two independent clauses must have both clauses be able to stand as complete sentences, and be connected to each other in meaning through a conjunction. "And many students studied with him," is the only choice that fits those parameters.
Example Question #194 : Other 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.
Published in 1926, The Weary Blues was the first book written by poet Langston Hughes; and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works in American history.
written by poet Langston Hughes, and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes, it is widely regarded, even today, as one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes; and even today, it is widely regarded to be one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes, even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes; and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works
written by poet Langston Hughes, and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works
The answer choice "written by poet Langston Hughes, and even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works" is correct because it results in a sentence in which two independent clauses are separated by a conjunction followed by a comma.
The original text and answer choice "written by poet Langston Hughes; and even today, it is widely regarded to be one of the most influential works" uses a semicolon incorrectly. Sentences can be combined with a comma followed by a conjunction or with a semicolon, but not with a semicolon followed by a conjunction.
The answer choices "written by poet Langston Hughes, even today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential works" and "written by poet Langston Hughes, it is widely regarded, even today, as one of the most influential works" create run-on sentences and are therefore incorrect.
Example Question #1101 : Improving Sentences
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.
Weddings have become big business in recent years, vendors finding their profits increasing with each event.
vendors finding there profits increasing with each event.
vendors find their profits increasing with each event.
vendors finding their profits increasing with each event.
vendors finding profits increasing with each event.
with vendors finding their profits increasing with each event.
with vendors finding their profits increasing with each event.
The underlined portion of the sentence stands oddly next to the preceding phrase, as it is in no way connected to the preceding phrase. The phrase needs to be changed so that it appropriately links with the first part of the sentence. "With vendors finding their profits increasing with each event" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #191 : 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."
Edgar Alan Poe, widely considered to be the greatest American horror writer, with a dedicated base of fans who treasure each of his stories
Edgar Alan Poe who is widely considered to be the greatest American horror writer.
NO CHANGE
Edgar Alan Poe is widely considered to be the greatest American horror writer,
Edgar Alan Poe considered to be the greatest American horror writer,
Edgar Alan Poe being widely considered to be the greatest American horror writer,
Edgar Alan Poe is widely considered to be the greatest American horror writer,
All of the incorrect answer choices lack a predicate and are thus sentence fragments. The comma after a subject is a signal for a modifying phrase. Participles such as "being" require auxiliary verbs in order to be used as predicates.
Example Question #192 : Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Passage adapted from G. K. Chesterton, What I Saw in America (1922)
Now when I was lecturing in America I was often told, in a radiant and congratulatory manner, that such and such a person was bound to come and hear me lecture. It seemed a very, cruel form of conscription, and I could not understand what authority could have made it compulsory. In the course of discovering my error, however, I thought I began to understand certain American ideas and instincts that lie behind this American idiom. For I have urged before, and shall often urge again, the road to international friendship is through really understanding jokes. It is in a sense through taking jokes seriously. It is quite legitimate to laugh at a man who walks down the street in three white hats and a green dressing gown, because it is unfamiliar; but after all the man has some reason for what he does; and until we know the reason we do not understand the story, or even understand the joke. So the outlander will always seem outlandish in custom or costume; but serious relations depend on our getting beyond the fact of difference to the things wherein it differs. A good symbolical figure for all this may be found among the people who say, perhaps with a self-revealing simplicity, that they are bound to go to a lecture.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded and underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Because I have urged before
For as I have urged before
For I have previously urged
NO CHANGE
For as I have urged before
As written, this is a run-on sentence because independent clauses should be joined by either a semi-colon or a conjunction following a comma. Inserting the conjunction "as" remedies this by subordinating the first two clauses to the final, main clause.
Example Question #192 : 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."
I was going to the store, she was going to the park.
store;
store; and
store
NO CHANGE
store;
This is a common comma splice. "I am going to the store" and "she is going to the park" are both independent clauses. Because of this, they need to either be joined by a coordinating conjunction or made into separate sentences.
Example Question #193 : 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."
Getting in the car.
Getting in the car, Kevin was.
I saw Kevin getting in the car.
NO CHANGE
Kevin getting in the car.
I saw Kevin getting in the car.
This sentence contains no subject and is only a predicate. It is not an imperative sentence as the verb "getting" is acts as a descriptor and not a command.
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