ACT English : Word Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #551 : 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.

She and him had known each other for years, but only fell in love recently.

Possible Answers:

She and him had knowing each other for years

She and him had known every other for years

She and him had known each other for years

She and him having known each other for years

They had known each other for years

Correct answer:

They had known each other for years

Explanation:

The use of "him" in the subject of a sentence is incorrect, as "him" is the objective third person pronoun. The pronoun needs to be changed to a subjective pronoun because it appears in the subject of the sentence. The only answer choice that takes care of this problem is "They had known each other for years."

Example Question #552 : 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.

Me and my little sister have always had trouble getting along with each other.

Possible Answers:

Me and my little sister always having trouble getting along with each other.

Me and my little sister have always had trouble getting along with each other.

Me and my little sister have always had trouble getting along with one another.

My little sister and I have always had trouble getting along with each other.

Me and my little sister have always troubled getting along with each other.

Correct answer:

My little sister and I have always had trouble getting along with each other.

Explanation:

The use of "me" as the subject of a sentence is incorrect, as "me" is an objective pronoun and should only be used as the object of a sentence. The only answer choice that takes care of this pronoun issue is "My little sister and I have always had trouble getting along with each other.

Example Question #181 : 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.

Every one of the documents has been reviewed by the president and I.

Possible Answers:

has been reviewing by the president and I.

has been reviewed by I and the president.

has been reviewed for the president and I.

has been reviewed by the president and me.

has been reviewed by the president and I.

Correct answer:

has been reviewed by the president and me.

Explanation:

The use of "I" as the object of the sentence is incorrect, as it can only be used as the subject of a sentence. The pronoun needs to be changed to the objective pronoun form, "me." The only answer choice which uses this form of the pronoun is "has been reviewed by the president and me."

Example Question #61 : Subjective And Objective 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.

Although Paul emphatically declared his innocence, the story he told to Shelley and I was rather hard to believe.

Possible Answers:

he told to Shelley and me was rather hard to believe.

he told to Shelley and I were rather hard to believe.

he tells to Shelley and I is rather hard to believe.

he told to Shelley and I was rather hard to believe.

he told was rather hard to believe to Shelley and me.

Correct answer:

he told to Shelley and me was rather hard to believe.

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in pronoun case. Because "I" is found in a prepositional phrase and is not the subject, it should be changed to "me." Two choices correct this, but one of them creates a clarity problem by changing the word order.

Example Question #553 : 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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.

Me and him were just coming up the hill when we saw it.

Possible Answers:

Me and him were

Him and me were

He and I were

He and I was

Me and him was

Correct answer:

He and I were

Explanation:

Both "me" and "him" are objective pronouns, and as such can only be used as objects; however, in this sentence, they are the subjects. The proper subject forms are "he" and "I," and should be used accordingly. The correct answer is "He and I were."

Example Question #31 : 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 her were going to see if there were any more tickets left for the weekend show.

Possible Answers:

Me and her were going seeing

Me and her were going to see

She and I were going to see

Me and her were gone to see

Me and her was going to see

Correct answer:

She and I were going to see

Explanation:

Because both pronouns are used as subjects of the sentence, "me and her" is incorrect, as they are objective pronouns being used where subjective pronouns are needed. "She and I were going to see" is the only answer choice that uses the right pronouns, so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #1681 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Even though Jack took the credit for returning the lost puppy, most of the neighborhood knew it was actually us who did the good deed.

Possible Answers:

most of the neighborhood knew it was actually we whom did the good deed.

most of the neighborhood knew it was actually us who did the good deed.

most of the neighborhood knew it was actually us whom did the good deed.

most of the neighborhood knew it was actually we who did the good deed.

most of the neighborhood knew it was actually we who done the good deed.

Correct answer:

most of the neighborhood knew it was actually we who did the good deed.

Explanation:

The pronoun "us" in the sentence is a subject complement, because it follows the linking verb "is" and renames the subject "it" in more detail. Pronouns used as subject complements need to be in the subjective form, just like the subjects of sentences. "Us" is the objective form of the first-person plural pronoun, so it is incorrect. Changing "us" to "we," the subjective form of the first-person plural pronoun, corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Even though Jack took the credit for returning the lost puppy, most of the neighborhood knew it was actually we who did the good deed."

Example Question #554 : 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 book was probably only read in full by the author and I.

Possible Answers:

by I and the author.

for the author and I.

by the author and I.

by the author and me.

by its author and I.

Correct answer:

by the author and me.

Explanation:

The use of "I" as the object of the prepositional phrase "by the author and I" is incorrect, as "I" is the subjective form of the first person pronoun. To correct the sentence's error, "I" must be replaced by the objective form of the first person pronoun, "me." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "by the author and me."

Example Question #642 : Sentence Correction

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 author did not tell her husband that she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and he until it was published.

Possible Answers:

she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and he until it was published.

she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and him until it was published.

she had decided on dedicating her latest novel to their daughter and he until it was published.

she had decided that she would dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and he until it was published.

she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to both their daughter and he until it was published.

Correct answer:

she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and him until it was published.

Explanation:

Only the answer choice "she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and him until it was published" correctly uses the pronoun "him," which is the objective case pronoun, as an object of the preposition "to."

All of the other answer choices use the pronoun "he," which is the subjective case pronoun, instead of "him," and are therefore incorrect.

Example Question #1683 : Act English

Rounding the corner, the pedestrian quickly saw the entirety of the cities skyline.

Possible Answers:

of the city's skyline.

of the cities skyline.

of the cities' skyline.

from the cities skyline.

of the cities skylines.

Correct answer:

of the city's skyline.

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence has an issue with the word "cities." The word is actually used as a possessive, instead of the plural form that is written in the sentence. The appropriate form is "of the city's skyline."

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