ACT English : Word Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #781 : Improving Sentences
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 leader of the football players make all decisions for the entire group.
the football players making all decisions
the football players makes all decisions
the football players were making all decisions
the football players to make all decisions
the football players make all decisions
the football players makes all decisions
The use of the plural verb form "make" is incorrect in this sentence, as the subject, "The leader," is a singular noun. A subject and verb must always be in agreement, meaning the verb needs to be changed to a singular form. Only "the football players makes all decisions" uses the proper verb form, so it is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #11 : Correcting Agreement 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 first of the shows were much tamer than the shows that came later.
the shows were much tamer
the shows were more tamer
the shows were much tamest
the shows was much tamer
the show's were much tamer
the shows was much tamer
The subject of the sentence is a singular noun, "first," but the sentence is written with a plural verb, "were." A subject and the verb that describes its action must always be in agreement, meaning this verb needs to be changed to a singular form. The only answer choice to use the correct verb form is "the shows was much tamer."
Example Question #11 : Correcting Agreement 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 boys were making trouble for everybody else.
the boys was making trouble
the boys were making troubling
the boys were making trouble
the boys were make trouble
the boys were made trouble
the boys was making trouble
The verb in the sentence, "were," is a plural verb, but the subject of the sentence is "one," a singular noun. Any subject and verb must be in agreement, so the verb has to be changed to the singular form, because "one" is not underlined in the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "the boys was making trouble."
Example Question #71 : 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 reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The argument over the scandal and the authority of the governor have intensified greatly.
whether the governor has authority has
what the authority of the governor is has
the governor's authority have
the authority of the governor have
the authority of the governor has
the authority of the governor has
Because the subject of the sentence is the singular noun argument, the verb have is conjugated incorrectly. The sentence also has a list which requires parallel phrasing. The only choice that corrects both problems is "the authority of the governor has".
Example Question #71 : 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 reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
All of the pack is involved in any nighttime hunt, and every wolf shares in the benefits of the prey.
All of the pack are
All of the pack is
The pack all is
All the pack is
The pack are
All of the pack are
The underlined portion has a very simple error, as "all" is a plural noun, and needs a plural form as the subject of the sentence. "The pack" is singular, but is not the subject of the sentence as it is written. The correct answer is "All of the pack are."
Example Question #72 : 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 reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Everyone in the villages know that the boy was in trouble from the moment he came home.
knows which
know which
know of that
knows that
know that
knows that
The subject of the sentence "Everyone" is a singular noun, but the verb "know" is plural. A subject and verb have to match in tense, so the verb needs to be in the singular form. The correct answer is "knows that."
Example Question #72 : Word Usage Errors
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam are too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam are too much of me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrows’ exam are too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam are much too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam is too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam are too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam is too much for me to remember.
Here, there is a subject-verb agreement problem. The subject is “number”, which is singular. The verb “are” does not match up with “number” because it is plural. We need to say “number…is”.
Example Question #21 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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 reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Some of the soldiers is still missing years after the war is over.
Some of the soldier missing
Some soldiers is still missing
Some soldiers miss
Some of the soldiers is still missing
Some of the soldiers are still missing
Some of the soldiers are still missing
The use of the phrase "Some of the" always indicates a plural, even when referring to small slice of a larger group. The verb tense for "is" then needs to be changed into a plural form. "Some of the soldiers are still missing," is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #23 : Correcting Agreement 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.
When does the restaurant closes after dinner?
closing
closes
close
will close
should close
close
Becuase the subject, "restaurant," is singluar, the verb must be be singular as well. The verb and the subject in a sentence must always agree with each other.
Example Question #22 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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 reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
After watching their home team hit the game-winning home run, the group of hometown fans were ecstatic.
the group of hometown fans were ecstatic
the hometown fans in the group was ecstatic
the group was ecstatic with hometown fans
the group of hometown fans was ecstatic
the group of hometown fans became ecstatic
the group of hometown fans was ecstatic
The term "group" is a singular subject; therefore, the verb must be "was," as opposed to "were."
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