ACT English : Word Usage Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Correcting Verb Tense Errors
The tallest boys on the team were always tasked with playing near the rim, no matter how skilled they are at the game.
no matter how skilled they are at the game.
no matter how skilled they were at the game.
not mattering how skilled they are at the game.
no matter how skillful they are at the game.
no matter how skilled they having been at a game.
no matter how skilled they were at the game.
The use of the verb "are," a present tense verb, to describe actions already placed in the past by the use of the verb "were" is confusing and improper. To correct this, the verbs should be made to match; therefore, the correct answer is "no matter how skilled they were at the game."
Example Question #291 : Correcting Usage Errors
While the opposing army sleeps, the general had his troops take positions to make a surprise attack.
While the opposing army sleeping,
While the opposing army sleeps,
The opposing army slept,
The opposing army sleeps,
While the opposing army slept,
While the opposing army slept,
The non-underlined portion of the sentence uses a past tense verb, "took," to describe the general's actions; therefore, the verb in the underlined portion needs to paralllel the form of "took." The correct answer is "While the opposing army slept," as it is the only grammatically correct choice in the past tense.
Example Question #291 : Correcting Word Usage Errors
The boys fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys fighting, every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys fighting for every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys were fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The boy's fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The boys were fighting every single day for the past three weeks.
The use of "fighting," a participle form, in the sentence makes the sentence not have a proper verb. To be a functional verb, the participle must be used with some form of the verb "to be." The only answer choice that does this is "The boys were fighting every single day for the past three weeks."
Example Question #1531 : Act English
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 boy was unlike his brothers, as he has a strong artistic side to his personality.
as he has a strong artistic side to his personality.
as he have a strong artistic side to his personality.
as he has got a strong artistic side to his personality.
as he having a strong artistic side to his personality.
as he had a strong artistic side to his personality.
as he had a strong artistic side to his personality.
The non-underlined portion of the sentence, which is the main body, contains a past tense verb, "was." This means that the underlined portion, a dependent clause, must use the past tense as well. As it is written, the sentence currently contains a present tense verb, "has." The only answer choice that fixes this issue is "as he had a strong artistic side to his personality."
Example Question #401 : Word Usage 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 novel was a long rambling mess that often confuse readers.
The novel was a long rambling mess that often confusing readers.
The novel was a long rambling mess that often confuse readers.
The novel was a long rambling mess that often confused readers.
The novel was a long rambling mess that often was confuse readers.
The novel was a long rambling mess that often confuses readers.
The novel was a long rambling mess that often confused readers.
The use of "confuse" is incorrect, as it is a present tense, plural verb. As the subject of the sentence, "novel," is singular, and the main verb of the sentence, "was," is in past tense, so "confuse" should take on a past tense, singular form. The only answer choice featuring such a form is "The novel was a long rambling mess that often confused readers."
Example Question #1533 : Act English
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 fastest of all the runners receive a special commemorative trophy.
The fastest of all the runners receiving
The fastest of all runners receive
The fastest of all the runners receives
The fastest of any of the runners receive
The fastest of all the runners receive
The fastest of all the runners receives
The use of the plural verb "receive" is incorrect. Even though the verb is next to the plural "runners," it refers to the singular subject, "fastest." The verb needs to be changed to be in agreement with the subject of the sentence. "The fastest of all the runners receives" is the only answer choice that does this, so it is the correct answer.
Example Question #1534 : Act English
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.
For the first half of the show, no performers said any words, but remain completely silent throughout.
but remain completely silent through it.
but remained completely silent throughout.
but remain completely silent throughout.
but remaining completely silent throughout.
but remains completely silent throughout.
but remained completely silent throughout.
The underlined portion of the sentence includes a present tense verb, "remain," while the non-underlined portion of the sentence includes a past tense verb, "said." The two verbs must be in the same tense, as they describe action taking place at the same time. The only answer choice that corrects this issue is "but remained completely silent throughout."
Example Question #294 : Correcting Usage 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.
After the party ended, the two talk for hours and hours, staying up until dawn.
the two talk for hours and hours, stays up until dawn.
the two talk for hours and hours, stay up until dawn.
the two talk for hours and hours staying up until dawn.
the two talked for hours and hours, staying up until dawn.
the two talk for hours and hours, staying up until dawn.
the two talked for hours and hours, staying up until dawn.
The use of the present tense verb "talk" goes against the introductory clause in the sentence, which places the sentence's action in the past. The main verb of the sentence needs to be in the past tense. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "the two talked for hours and hours, staying up until dawn."
Example Question #51 : Correcting Verb 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 new recruit made enough mistakes in basic training that the sergeant believes he would never become a good soldier.
that that sergeant believes he would never
that the sergeant believing he would never
that the sergeant believes he would never
that the sergeant believed he would never
that the sergeant believes he would not ever
that the sergeant believed he would never
The use of the present tense verb "believes" in the underlined portion of the sentence is at odds with the main verb of the sentence, "made," which is in the past tense. "Believes" needs to be changed to the past tense form, making "that the sergeant believed he would never" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1535 : Act English
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.
Even though Georgie was grown up, all of the adults kept calling him by his childhood nickname, which made him so angry that his blood was boiling.
which made him so angry that his blood boil.
which will make him so angry that his blood was boiling.
which made him so angry that his blood boiled.
which made him so angry that was blood boiled.
which made him so angry that his boiling blood.
which made him so angry that his blood boiled.
The sentence calls for the past tense of the verb "to boil" because it uses other past-tense verbs (like "made") to describe the action taking place.
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