ACT English : Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1394 : 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."
Dr. Brown spent many hours hunched over bee hives, watching the insects leave and return to their nest.
much
NO CHANGE
little
large
plenty
NO CHANGE
This question requires the reader to choose the modifier of the word "hours." "Hours" is a plural, countable noun, therefore we must use a quantifying modifier that is appropriate for countable nouns. From the option choices, "many" is the only appropriate countable modifier. "Plenty" can also be used to modify countable nouns; however, it must be paired with the word "of" to be appropriate.
Example Question #1395 : 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."
I can think of much reasons to bake this afternoon, although I am out of flour.
NO CHANGE
greater
less
some
often
some
"Reasons" is countable, but the example sentence uses the uncountable modifier "much." The only countable modifier provided is "some."
Example Question #25 : 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."
Abruptly, Mrs. Soble addressed her class, "Everyone, please take out a bit of pieces of paper for the impromptu dictation."
NO CHANGE
less
some
few
more
some
This question requires the reader to find an countable modifier that correctly quantifies the noun "pieces," since "pieces" is, indeed, a countable noun. "Some" can be used for countable and uncountable nouns, and is the correct answer in this case.
Example Question #1401 : 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."
Javier proposed to Sara, his fiancé, after much years of great friendship; because of their long history, he wasn't nervous at all.
most
many
great deal of
all
NO CHANGE
many
This question requires the reader to choose the modifier of the word "years." "Years" is a plural, countable noun, therefore we must use a quantifying modifier that is appropriate for countable nouns. From the option choices, "many" is the only appropriate countable modifier.
Example Question #12 : Modifier Word Modified Countability Errors
Maybe your thinking of getting a dog; but you are not sure how it will affect your budget. Don’t worry! It’s possible to enjoy the companionship with a dog without spending too much of your precious dollars.
First, you will want to make a list of all the necessary items needed before you bring Fluffy home. Compare costs at different pet stores, grocery stores and big box stores. You will need to buy food, a leash, and purchase toys for your dog.
When it comes to the many dog food choices, you don’t want to just buy the cheaper option. You will want to do some research to see what is healthiest for your dog! One of the best ways to save money on dog food is to buy it in bulk.
Don’t forget to plan for some other big expenses, the vet consultation, wellness exam, and any treatments your dog needs. When you bring your pet to the vet, they may need shots, which can vary for price. Call different clinics in the area and ask how much they charge for the standard immunizations? You might find that there is a lot of differences between offices.
The key to sticking to your budget is planning everything out! With good preparation and organization, a dog will not cost you more money than you planned for.
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."
a large amount of
a great deal of
too many
NO CHANGE
much
too many
This question asks you to correct a modifier countability error. Since the noun being modified, "dollars," is countable, a countable modifier must be used. It may seem like an uncountable modifier like "too much" should be used since the sentence is discussing money, but since the countable noun "dollars" is used, the correct choice is the countable "too many."
Example Question #1402 : Act English
Are much of your students doing well in physics this year? If not you should definitely try our new computing/studying software, which can increase students' performance sevenfold!
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."
NO CHANGE
many
portion
part
a great deal
many
This question asks you to correct an agreement error in countability between the modifier and the word being modified. The noun being modified, "students," is countable. Therefore, we must use a countable modifier like "many," not an uncountable modifier like "much," "part," or "a great deal."
Example Question #274 : Word Usage Errors
The rainforest in Borneo which is home to a declining orangutan population is in danger because of the slash and burn agriculture practices of palm oil plantations. As a student of environmental science and policy, I had the opportunity to travel to Borneo with a team of scientists and learn more about the situation. It was my first time visiting the rainforest, and I was excited to hike, camp, and learning. At night, we cooked dinner over a small camp stove, but during the day we ate plants along the trail. The biologists's extensive training in botany helped them identify which plants were edible during their trek through the rainforest. I felt very fortunate to see this beautiful, endangered forest. One of the scientists told me that much of the trails in the forest are impassable during the rainy season.
After a few days of trekking, we arrived in a part of the forest that was supposed to be a protected area. However, the local minister of forestry was known for catering to the wishes of large palm oil plantation owners. The minister was determined to support the lucrative palm oil industry, irregardless of the costs. Consequently, he had recently allowed the area’s largest company to conduct slash-and-burn farming within the boundaries of the protected area. The scientists told me that these practices not only harmed orangutan habitats, and they contributed to global warming by releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide when peat burns on the forest floor.
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."
Many of the trails
More of the trails
Alot of the trails
NO CHANGE
Much trails
Many of the trails
When you can count something (in this case, number of trails) use "many" rather than "much." "Alot" is incorrect because it is not one word-it is spelled "a lot." "More" is incorrect in this case because it implies a comparison and there is nothing being compared in this sentence.
Example Question #271 : Word Usage Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
A large amount of animals are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and feed at night.
Much of
Plenty of
Litte of
Few of
NO CHANGE
Plenty of
This question requires the reader to find a quantifying modifier for the word "animals." Animals are countable, therefore the use of the uncountable modifier "a large amount of" is incorrect. "Plenty of" and "Few of" are both possible options, but "plenty of" more closely fits with the original context and meaning of the sentence.
Example Question #1404 : Act English
As a child the only thing I wanted to be was a race car driver. My mothers family all lived in central Indiana, and I went to the Indianapolis 500 every year growing up. Between the colors on the cars the speed of the race and the enthusiasm of the crowd, nothing in the world seemed more exciting to a child. I would lay awake at night thinking about getting behind the wheel of my own race car. My bedroom walls were adorned with posters of the all great racers from all over the world.
When I was a teenager, I had the opportunity to race go karts on small tracks against other kids my age. Very quickly I realized I am the terrible driver. Any bumping with another driver was too much for me to handle, and I could not take the turns quick enough to keep pace with the best drivers. None of this diminished my love of racing, however, because just being at the track was such a thrill. The noise, the speed, and rushing were all more exciting from the pits than from the grandstand. If I could never be in the driver’s seat, then I would place myself behind the scenes.
With this new focus, I began studying mechanical engineering and automotive design. I might not have been able to drive a race car; but now I could design a car, build a car, and engineer it to win a race. The drivers still get all the credit for the championships, but everyone knows they would never win without the people like myself.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
I am the terribly driver
I am a terrible driver
I was the terrible driver
NO CHANGE
I am a terrible driver
The use of the definite article "the" is confusing and strange in the underlined portion of the passage. The indefinite article is better suited to a simple adjective, rather than a superlative, which is when a definite article should be used. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "I am a terrible driver."
Example Question #2 : Other Modifier Word Modified Agreement Errors
“Democracy—Always a Good Thing?”
In the contemporary world, we tend to think that democracy is always the best form of government. We are enchanted by the idea of self-governance for it seems to affirm the maturity of the citizens of a nation. Instead of being ruled by benign-monarchs or the landed-aristocracy, the citizens of a democracy are people who exercise self-mastery in a fully human manner. Well, at least this is what we tend to think of the matter.
Really, however, democracy is an ambiguous affair. Often, we use such single terms to name two different types of social arrangements. Such an equivocation is understandable. Whenever all (or at least most) of the people take part in political life, it seems like we have a kind of democracy. However, it is important to make a clearer distinction.
On the one hand, there can be a community that aims at the common good. In such a group, the people come together to have a political community that aims to fulfill human goals that could not be done by isolated individuals. Such a group will come together to establish educational institutions to preserve culture, regulate commerce in order to help normalize economic interactions, pass many laws that regulate our social interactions, and undertake many other affairs. Although all of these things benefit the individuals in the given society, such a group of self-governing people do not aim merely at the private satisfaction of the people. This kind of “democracy” works together, for common political goals.
On the other hand, there can be a community that merely aims at the private goods of the citizens. The Greek philosopher Aristotle remarked in his text, the Politics, that democracy was a government by the numerous poor people for the sake of those same people’s private goods. Clearly, he was using “democracy” in this sense. If the people of a nation only come together in order to assure their own private freedom and to receive benefits for themselves, a given society is this kind of so-called democracy.
Of course, it is difficult to say what is the state of any particular nation today. Often, elements of each of these kinds of governance is found in a given country at a particular time. Still, it is important to be aware that such an “equivocation” is possible. Otherwise, we will end up saying rather foolish things like, “Democracy is always a good form of government,” or, “democracy is a horrible form of government.”
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."
NO CHANGE
Often, we use a single term
Often, we use single terms
Often we use such single terms
Often, we use a single term
As written, this sentence misuses a plural expression when a singular one is needed. The sentence is discussing how we can misuse one term to name multiple realities. Likely, you were tempted to miss this error because the sentence is stating a general point about how we often use any particular single term in multiple ways (as opposed to this or that particular term). The point remains: We use some one term to designate more than one meaning.
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