ACT English : Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #822 : 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.

Me and him never go anywhere together, even after all these years.

Possible Answers:

Me and him never goes anywhere together

Me and him never go anywhere together

Him and me never go anywhere together

He and I never go anywhere together

Me and him never goes anywhere together

Correct answer:

He and I never go anywhere together

Explanation:

The pronouns "me" and "him" are both objective pronouns, but are in this sentence used incorrectly as the subjects of the sentence. Both need to be changed to their respective subjective forms. "He and I never go anywhere together" is the only answer choice that uses the correct pronoun.

Example Question #51 : Pronoun Case Errors

Information has been concealed from everyone, including every member of the board and I.

Possible Answers:

including I and every member of the board.

including every member of the board and I.

including every member of the board, and I.

including every member of the board and me.

including each member of the board and I.

Correct answer:

including every member of the board and me.

Explanation:

The use of "I" in the object of a sentence or verbal phrase is always wrong, as it should only be used as a subject. The subjective first person pronoun should be changed to the objective first person pronoun. Thus, the correct answer choice is "including every member of the board and me."

Example Question #51 : 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 her have been working on that routine for years.

Possible Answers:

She and I have been working

Me and her have been worked

Me and her have been working

Me and her have being working

Me and her had been working

Correct answer:

She and I have been working

Explanation:

The use of both "me" and "her" as subjects in the sentence is incorrect, as both of those pronouns are the objective forms. Both need to be changed to their respective subjective forms. "She and I have been working" is the only answer choice to make this change properly.

Example Question #161 : 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 child's gifts were all given directly to she and I.

Possible Answers:

directly to I and she.

direct to she and I.

directly for she and I.

directly to her and me.

directly to she and I.

Correct answer:

directly to her and me.

Explanation:

The use of "she and I" as the object of a sentence is wrong, as both "she" and "I" should only be used as the subjects of a sentence. The pronouns need to be changed to their respective objective forms. The only answer choice that uses the correct pronouns is "directly to her and me."

Example Question #51 : 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.

She and him never got along very well as small children.

Possible Answers:

Him and she never got along

She and him had never got along

She and he never got along

Her and him never got along

She and him never got along

Correct answer:

She and he never got along

Explanation:

The use of "him" in the subject is incorrect, as "him" is the objective third person male pronoun. It needs to be changed to the subjective third person male pronoun, "he." "She and he never got along" is the only answer choice that uses the correct pronouns.

Example Question #541 : 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 delivery was given to her, but it was only supposed to be received by I.

Possible Answers:

supposed to be only received by I

only supposed to be received by me

only supposed to be received by I

only supposed to be received from I

only supposing to be received by I

Correct answer:

only supposed to be received by me

Explanation:

The use of the subjective first person pronoun "I" in this sentence is incorrect, as it is in the position of an object. The pronoun must be changed to the proper objective first person pronoun, "me." The only answer choice that uses the correct pronoun is "only supposed to be received by me."

Example Question #22 : 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 full load was given directly to both the coach and I.

Possible Answers:

for both the coach and I

to both the coach and I

to both the coach and me

to both of the coach and I

to both I and the coach

Correct answer:

to both the coach and me

Explanation:

The use of "I" in the object of a sentence or phrase incorrect. "I" needs to be changed to the objective first person pronoun, "me." The only answer choice that correctly makes this change is "to both the coach and me."

Example Question #23 : 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.

Me and him went to the store yesterday to buy some groceries together.

Possible Answers:

He and I went to the store yesterday

Me and him went on to the store yesterday

Me and him went at the store yesterday

Me and him went to a store yesterday

Me and him went to the store yesterday

Correct answer:

He and I went to the store yesterday

Explanation:

The use of both "me" and "him" in this sentence is incorrect, as they are both objective pronouns used as the subject of the sentence. Both pronouns need to be changed to the respective first and third person subjective pronouns. "He and I went to the store yesterday" is the only answer choice that uses the correct pronouns.

Example Question #542 : 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 entire project was a collaborative effort between the engineers, designers, and I.

Possible Answers:

a collaborative effort between the engineers the designers and I.

a collaborative effort, between the engineers, the designers, and I.

the collaborative effort between the engineers, the designers, and I.

a collaborative effort between the engineers, the designers, and me.

a collaborative effort between the engineers, the designers, and I.

Correct answer:

a collaborative effort between the engineers, the designers, and me.

Explanation:

The use of "I" in the object of a sentence or phrase is incorrect, as it should only be used as the subject of a sentence. The pronoun must be changed to the first person objective form, "me." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "a collaborative effort between the engineers, the designers, and me."

Example Question #543 : 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 report in question was never seen by either he or I.

Possible Answers:

never seen by either he or I.

never seen by neither he or I. 

never seeing by either he or I.

never seen on either he or I.

never seen by either me or him.

Correct answer:

never seen by either me or him.

Explanation:

The use of the pronouns "he" and "I" in the object of a sentence or phrase is incorrect, as they are both subjective pronouns. Each pronoun must be changed to its respective objective form. Thus, the correct answer choice is "never seen by either me or him."

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