ACT English : Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Modifier Word Modified Number Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Many of the college basketball team's members are planning to become a professional player after graduation.
a player that is professional
professionally players
a player with a profession
NO CHANGE
professional players
professional players
The antecedent "members" is plural, thus the team members wish to become "players" after graduation.
Example Question #261 : Word Usage Errors
Coupons
Are you trying to stick to a budget? Using coupons for [61] purchases, also known as “couponing” is a great way to save money on groceries. [62] Coupons are a little piece of paper that can give you a discount on what you buy. You will be amazed at the [63] great bargains and amazing savings you can get!
It’s easy to get started. [64] When you open up your daily newspaper, one might find a glossy insert full of coupons. [65] Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy, some will be for things you buy all the time. Go through the coupons and [66] chop out the ones you can use.
The key to successful couponing is getting multiple copies of coupon circulars. Ask [67] your friends, your neighbors, and family if they have any extras. Some coupon users even go through the recycling at their office to find more coupons! [68] Completely devoted, these circulars help coupon users to get even more savings.
Couponing might sound like hard work, but for [69] many people, it’s also a hobby. Not only does it help them save hundreds of dollars per year, [70] but instead it gives them a fun challenge every time they do their shopping.
Is there perhaps a greater value to a life lived without constant counting, penny-pinching, and miserliness? [71] But of what value are such savings? [72] At the end of the day; money is a construct, invented by the elite for the sole purpose of controlling the populace. [73] If we accept this fundamental truth, it behooves one to question the monetary structures that control our lives. Indeed, from this perspective, the very practice of couponing might seem a venial distraction from the valuable human endeavor of personal philosophical consideration. [74]
The papers we pore over should be in our books; the pennies we save should be in the currency of our happiness; [75] the budget we have made should have been a budget of our contentment.
A sort of couponing of the soul might ultimately be the solution.
Choose the answer that best corrects section [62].
Coupons are little pieces of paper
Coupons are the little piece of paper
Coupons are that little piece of paper
NO CHANGE
Coupons are little pieces of paper
This question asks you to correct an agreement error. The subject of this sentence is "coupons," which is plural. In order to agree, the phrase describing it, "a little piece of paper," must also be plural. The correct answer fixes this mistake by changing the phrase to the plural form, "little pieces of paper."
Example Question #18 : Modifier Word Modified Number Errors
Are you trying to stick to a budget? Using coupons for purchases, also known as “couponing” is a great way to save money on groceries. Coupons are a little piece of paper that can give you a discount on what you buy. You will be amazed at the great bargains and amazing savings you can get!
It’s easy to get started. When you open up your daily newspaper, one might find a glossy insert full of coupons. Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy, some will be for things you buy all the time. Go through the coupons and chop out the ones you can use.
The key to successful couponing is getting multiple copies of coupon circulars. Ask your friends, your neighbors, and family if they have any extras. Some coupon users even go through the recycling at their office to find more coupons! Have you ever heard of such a thing in your life! Completely devoted, these circulars help coupon users to get even more savings.
Couponing might sound like hard work, but for many people, it’s also a hobby. Not only does it help them save hundreds of dollars per year, but also it gives them a fun challenge every time they do their shopping.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Some coupon users even going through the recycling at their office
Some coupon user even going through the recycling at their office
Some coupon users even go through the recycling at his office
Some coupon users even go through the recycling at their offices
NO CHANGE
Some coupon users even go through the recycling at their offices
This question asks you to correct an agreement error. The subject of this sentence, "coupon users," is plural. The context of this passage gives no indication that all coupon users work together in a single office, so the noun "office" must also be plural to convey the multiple places where this action is occurring.
Example Question #1391 : Act English
Adapted from The Life of Christopher Columbus by Edward Everett Hale (1891 G. L. Howe and Co. ed.)
Santa Fe was half camp, half city. It had been built in what is called the Vega, the great fruitful plain which extends for much miles to the westward of Grenada. The court and army were here as they pressed their attack on that city. Perez de Marchena had ready access to Queen Isabella, and pressed his suit well. He was supported by one of her favorites, the Marquesa de Moya. In reply to their solicitations, she asked that Columbus should return to her, and ordered that twenty thousand maravedis should be sent to him for his traveling expenses.This sum was immediately sent by Perez to his friend. Columbus bought a mule, exchanged his worn clothes for better ones, and started, as he was bidden, for the camp.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE.
a large amount of
many
a great deal of
mostly
many
This question requires the reader to fix the modifier of the noun "miles." Miles are countable; therefore, the quantifying modifier must also be appropriate for countable nouns. The only quantifier that can be used with countable nouns here is "many." "Mostly" is an adverb and is ungrammatical.
Example Question #21 : Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Joana attributed any of her interest in animals to a free-wheeling childhood spent on her grandparents' farm.
NO CHANGE
many
several
much
few
much
This question requires the reader to choose the modifier of the word "interest." Interest is NOT a countable noun, therefore we must use a quantifying modifier that is appropriate for uncountable nouns. From the option choices, "much" is the only appropriate uncountable modifier.
Example Question #1392 : Act English
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Without a great number of guidance, Michael was able to put the crib together himself.
numerous
NO CHANGE
fewer
many
much
much
This question requires the reader to find a quantifying modifier that correctly quantifies the noun "guidance." "Guidance" is uncountable, therefore the countable modifier a "a great number of" is incorrect, and should be replaced with the countable modifier "much."
Example Question #22 : Modifier Word Modified Agreement 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 ordered four coffee at the counter before picking out a muffin.
NO CHANGE
I ordered several coffee
I ordered many coffee
I ordered a few cups coffee
I ordered four cups of coffee
I ordered four cups of coffee
"Coffee" is a substance, which is usually considered uncountable ("coffee keeps me up all night"), but "coffee" can also be used countably if paired with a measurement. In this case,"cups" works to make coffee countable.
Example Question #23 : Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
The farmer's market attracts all sorts of customers every week, including regulars as well as newcomers. By now, I know a great deal of their faces, but I'm terrible at recalling their names.
NO CHANGE.
a great amount of
many of
none of
a little of
many of
This questions requires the reader decide whether the quantifying modifier "a great deal of" is properly used to modify "faces." Faces can be counted, therefore we must choose an alternative that is a countable modifier. The only possible options would be "many of" or "none of" for that reason. "None of" can be used for countable or uncountable nouns. Between these two, only "many of" works in the context of this passage.
Example Question #1393 : Act English
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Are there a bit of cupcakes on the counter for the birthday party? We are expecting 35 guests and I want to make sure everyone gets one.
little
NO CHANGE
more of
much
enough
enough
"Cupcakes" are countable, therefore an uncountable modifier (i.e. a little, a bit, a great amount of, a great deal of) cannot be used. "Enough" can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns, and is the most appropriate option to replace the underlined portion.
Example Question #24 : Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
There are a large amount of theories that try to explain both the history and the fate of the universe. However, they will remain as theories until technology allows for the collection of more data.
a little bit of
a huge amount of
several
a great deal of
NO CHANGE
several
"Theories" are countable, therefore "several" is the best answer. "A large amount of" is used for uncountable nouns, and therefore is not an acceptable alternative.
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