ACT English : Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #531 : 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.

Him and me will always be on time for any event the group holds.

Possible Answers:

Him and me will be always

Him and me will always be

Him and me going to always be

He and I will always be

Him and me will always being

Correct answer:

He and I will always be

Explanation:

The use of the pronouns "me" and "him" is incorrect, as both are in their objective forms, but are used as the subjects. Both pronouns need to be changed to their appropriate subjective forms. "He and I will always be" is the only answer choice that uses the correct pronoun forms.

Example Question #152 : Correcting Pronoun 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 strongest supporter of the cause has been I.

Possible Answers:

The strongest supporter of the cause has been me.

The strongest supporter of the cause has been I.

The strongest supporter above the cause has been I.

The strongest supporter of the cause have been I.

The strongest supporters of the cause has been I.

Correct answer:

The strongest supporter of the cause has been me.

Explanation:

The use of "I" as the object of the sentence is incorrect. There are no other issues in the sentence, so the only thing that needs to be done is to change "I" to the objective pronoun "me"; therefore, the correct answer choice is "The strongest supporter of the cause has been me."

Example Question #41 : Pronoun 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.

Me and the major were always at odds with each other on various policy ideas.

Possible Answers:

Me and the major was always 

The major and me were always 

Me and the major were always 

Me and the major always were

The major and I were always 

Correct answer:

The major and I were always 

Explanation:

The use of "me" in the subject of a sentence is always incorrect, as it is the first person objective pronoun. "Me" needs to be replaced by the first person subjective pronoun "I." Only one answer choice, "The major and I were always," makes this change, making it the correct answer choice.

Example Question #532 : 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 gesture was meant as a token of goodwill between he and I.

Possible Answers:

for he and I.

from he and I.

between he and me.

between me and him.

between he and I.

Correct answer:

between me and him.

Explanation:

Both pronouns in the underlined portion of the sentence, "he" and "I," are subjective pronouns, and should only be used as the subject of a sentence. Instead, they are used as objects of the sentence in question; each needs to be changed to its objective form. The answer choice that correctly uses both pronouns is "between me and him."

Example Question #1663 : 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.

Me and the girls were completely taken by surprise when the package came.

Possible Answers:

The girls and me were

The girls and I were

Me and the girls were

Me and the girls was

The girls and me was

Correct answer:

The girls and I were

Explanation:

The use of "me," an objective pronoun, in the subject of a sentence is always wrong. In the subject, the first person pronoun should always be "I." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "The girls and I were."

Example Question #42 : Pronoun Case 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.

Me and my friends have all taken a pledge to stick by each other no matter what.

Possible Answers:

My friends and me have all taken

Me and my friends have each taken

Me and my friends have taken all

My friends and I have all taken

Me and my friends have all taken

Correct answer:

My friends and I have all taken

Explanation:

The use of "me" in the subject of a sentence is always wrong, as it can only be used as the object of the sentence. The word "me" should be changed to the first person subjective pronoun, "I." The only answer choice that does this is "My friends and I have all taken."

Example Question #43 : Pronoun Case 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.

Them and me were going to go to the lake together on Saturday.

Possible Answers:

Them and me was going

They and I were going

Them and I were going

They and me were going

Them and me were going

Correct answer:

They and I were going

Explanation:

The use of the objective pronouns "them" and "me" in the subject of a sentence is always wrong. Both pronouns need to be changed to their respective subjective pronouns "they" and "I." Thus, "They and I were going" is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #21 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case

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 document was immediately given upon its completion to he and and I.

Possible Answers:

to me and him.

to he and me.

to him and I.

to I and he.

to he and and I.

Correct answer:

to me and him.

Explanation:

The use of the subjective pronouns "he" and "I" as the objects of the sentence is incorrect, as they should only be used as subjects. Both pronouns should be replaced with their respective objective pronouns, "him" and "me." As the only answer choice that does this, the correct answer is "to me and him."

Example Question #821 : Gmat Verbal

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 report was read out in full to both the Commissioner and I.

Possible Answers:

for both the Commissioner and I.

to both I and the Commissioner.

to both the Commissioner and me.

to both the Commissioner and I.

to both Commissioner and I.

Correct answer:

to both the Commissioner and me.

Explanation:

The use of the subjective first person pronoun "I" is incorrect in this sentence, as it used as the object of the sentence. The only first person pronoun that should be used as the object is "me." The correct answer, therefore, is "to both the Commissioner and me."

Example Question #171 : Correcting 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 race proved much more difficult than expected for both he and me.

Possible Answers:

than expected for both me and him.

than expected for both he and I.

than expected by both he and me.

than expecting for both he and me.

than expected for both he and me.

Correct answer:

than expected for both me and him.

Explanation:

The use of the third person subjective pronoun "he" is incorrect as the object of the sentence. The pronoun should be changed to the objective form to improve the sentence. The only answer choice that uses the correct pronoun is "than expected for both me and him."

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