ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
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Example Questions
Example Question #492 : Word Usage Errors
Adapted from The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1774; trans. Boylan 1854)
Wilhelm, what is the world to our hearts without love. What is a magic-lantern without light? You have but too kindle the flame within, and the brightest figures shine on the white wall; and, were love only to show us fleeting shadows, we are yet happy, when, like mere children, we behold it, and are transported with the splendid phantoms. I have not been able to see Charlotte today. I was prevented by company from which I could not disengage myself. What was to be done? I sent my servant to her house, that I might at least see somebody today whom had been near her. Oh, the impatience with which I waited for his return! Oh, the joy with which I welcomed him. I should certainly have caught him in my arms and kissed him, if I had not been ashamed.
It is said that the Bonona stone, when placed in the sun, attracts its rays and for a time appears luminous in the dark. So was it with me and this servant. The idea that Charlotte's eyes had dwelt on his countenance, his cheek, his very apparel, endeared it all inestimably to me so that, at that moment, I would not have parted from him for a thousand crowns. His presence made me so happy! Beware of laughing at me, Wilhelm. Can that be a delusion which makes us happy?
Which of the following is the best form of the underlined selection, "with me and this servant"?
NO CHANGE
with this servant and I
with I and this servant
with this servant and me
with this servant and me
There are two things to note for this question. First, the appropriate personal pronoun to use is "me"—even though you might be tempted to use "I." If you are confused, remove everything else and keep only the preposition and the pronoun. You would never say "with I." Instead, you would say, "with me." Keep "me." The only thing that needs to change is the order. Generally speaking, you should place the first-person pronoun last when referring to yourself in a group. Therefore the better for is "this servant and me" not "me and this servant."
Example Question #1 : Pronoun Case Errors
Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.
Millie and George insisted that Bob visit __________ over the vacation.
him
their
it
them
they
them
Millie and George are insisting that Bob visit Millie and George, so the necessary answer is a plural third-person personal pronoun. "Millie and George" are the subject, and the answer is the object of Bob's visit. "Them" is therefore the correct answer, as it is the plural third-person objective pronoun. "They" is the plural third-person subjective pronoun. "Their" is the possessive case, which is not appropriate here. "Him" is a singular third-person objective pronoun, as is "it."
Example Question #2 : Pronoun Case Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Every Thursday night, Eric, Alex, and me get together to see a movie.
and I
NO CHANGE
and me;
and me,
and I;
and I
The comma usage is correct but “me” must be changed to “I” in order for the sentence to be grammatically correct. A good way to break this down is to use just the last two nouns to see what sounds right (“Alex and me get together” vs. “Alex and I get together”).
Example Question #9 : Subjective And Objective Pronoun Errors
Paul stood waiting, for the meeting with James. He had arrived early at the little alleyway in northern Bramville, waiting to meet the other man at a pub named the “Pick and the Shovel.” The whole situation was extremely strange, for Paul had never met James. Indeed, nobody whom Paul knew had met him. Hitherto, the mysterious man had been nothing more than a voice on the phone and a conversationalist via e-mail.
The making, of the trip to Bramville, was utterly unexpected, and his companions had encouraged him to reconnoiter the situation, record his thoughts, and communicate them within the coming week. Many peoples’ fates rode on the character of this mysterious man, this James. By stroke of luck, Paul was about to meet him.
Although Paul was quite certain that this was the appropriate course of action, he was still quite unnerved. Thousands of miles from his home, far from any friends, and without a cell phone, he could well be the target of a dangerous man. For this reason, he watched very intently as every person passed by, particularly those men who were alone. Many times, he asked himself, “Is that him”?
Thus, Paul watched and waited, somewhat overcome with fear yet also anxious to meet this mysterious man. It was time for a meeting with this man, upon whose mysterious persona were placed so many hopes. Though Paul was nervous to be the person to meet James, he knew that he was the man to whom this task had been appointed by fate.
Which of the following is the best form of the underlined section?
he knew that he was the man to whom's
he knew that he was the man to whose
NO CHANGE
he knew that he was the man to who
NO CHANGE
The relative pronoun "who" should not be used as the object of the preposition "to." In such cases, it is necessary to use the form "whom." So, the sentence is correct as it is written.
Example Question #2 : Pronoun Case Errors
"Whomever (1) wins the game will play in the Megabowl," (2) Paul shouted, and Derek wasnt (3) sure how to respond. He dint (4) particularly care for football generally, (5) or for the Megabowl specifically but (6) he did not want to upset his best friend, whom (7) was obviously excessively (8) excited about the news. He took a deep breath then (9) he said "That's wonderful news (10) Paul. Where is the game be (11) held?" Paul grinned and replied, "In Antarctica!" Derek blinked. "Since when are they having football games in Antarctica" he (12) asked. Paul simply smiled and said, "There had to be some good to come out of global warming, right?"
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake preceding the question number. If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
he
who
whoever
NO CHANGE
who
The relative pronoun is again being used as a subject here, so "who" would be the most appropriate form.
Example Question #11 : Pronoun Usage Errors
Adapted from "The Ephemera: An Emblem of Human Life" by Benjamin Franklin (1778)
You may remember, my dear friend, that when we lately spent that happy day in the delightful garden and sweet society of the Moulin Joly, I stopped a little in one of our walks, and stay some time behind the company. We had been shown numberless skeletons of a kind of little fly, called an ephemera, whose successive generations, we were told, were bred and expired within the day. I happened to see a living company of them on a leaf, who appeared to be engaged in conversation. You know I understand all the inferior animal tongues. My too great application to the study of them is the best excuse I can give for the little progress I have made in your charming language. I listened through curiosity to the discourse of these little creatures; but as they, in their national vivacity, spoke three or four together, I could make but little of their conversation. I found however by some broken expressions that I heard now and then, they were disputing warmly on the merit of two foreign musicians, one a "cousin," the other a "moscheto": in which dispute they spent their time, seemingly as regardless of the shortness of life as if they had been sure of living a month. Happy people! thought I; you are certainly under a wise just and mild government, since you have no public grievances to complain of, nor any subject of contention but the perfections and imperfections of foreign music. I turned my head from them to an old gray-headed one, who was single on another leaf, and talking to himself. Being amused with his soliloquy, I put it down in writing, in hopes it will likewise amuse her to who I am so much indebted for the most pleasing of all amusements, her delicious company and heavenly harmony.
Which is the best form of the underlined section, "to who I am so much indebted"?
who I am so much indebted to
NO CHANGE
to whose I am so much indebted
to whom I am so much indebted
to whom I am so much indebted
The objective relative pronoun "whom" should be used here since it is the object of a preposition.
Example Question #11 : Pronoun Usage Errors
Adapted from “The Nose Tree” in German Fairy Tales and Popular Stories by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. Taylor, ed. 1864)
Then the king made known to all his kingdom, that whomever would heal her of this dreadful disease should be richly rewarded. Many tried, but the princess got no relief. Now the old soldier dressed himself up very sprucely as a doctor, and said he could cure her. Therefore, he chopped up some of the apple, and, to punish her a little more, gave her a dose, saying he would call to-morrow and see her again. The morrow came, and, of course, instead of being better, the nose had been growing on all night as before; and the poor princess was in a dreadful fright. So the doctor then chopped up a very little of the pear and gave it to her. He said that he was sure that it would help, and he would call again the next day. Next day came, and the nose was to be sure a little smaller. However, it was bigger than when the doctor first began to meddle with it.
Then he thought to him, "I must frighten this cunning princess a little more before I am able to get what I want from her." Therefore, he gave her another dose of the apple and said he would call on the morrow. The morrow came, and the nose was ten times bad as before.
"My good lady," said the doctor, "Something works against my medicine and is to strong for it. However, I know by the force of my art that it is this, you have stolen goods about you. I am certain of it. If you do not give them back, I can do nothing for you."
The princess denied very stoutly that she had anything of the kind.
"Very well," said the doctor, "you may do as you please, but I am sure I am correct. You will die if you do not own it." Then he went to the king, and told him how the matter stood.
"Daughter," said he, "send back the cloak, the purse, and the horn, that you stole from the right owners."
Then she ordered her maid to fetch all three and gave them to the doctor, and begged him to give them back to the soldiers. The moment he had them safe, he gave her a whole pear to eat, and the nose came right. And as for the doctor, he put on the cloak, wished the king and all his court a good day and was soon with his two brothers. They lived from that time happily at home in their palace, except when they took an airing to see the world in their coach with their three dapple-grey horses.
What is the best form of the underlined selection, "whomever would heal her of this dreadful disease"?
he whom healed her of this dreadful disease
NO CHANGE
whoever would heal her of this dreadful disease
whomever could heal her of this dreadful disease
whoever would heal her of this dreadful disease
The error with the sentence as written is its improper use of the objective form of "whoever." When "who" is the object of a verb or a preposition, it takes the form "whom." (For example: "The man to whom the shirt was given . . . ") The same holds true for "whoever" and "whomever." Here, the word "whomever" is being incorrectly used as the subject of the relative clause, when it the sentence says that whoever heals her will be rewarded.
Example Question #11 : Subjective And Objective Pronoun Errors
Adapted from The Discourse on Method by René Descartes (1637; 1899, ed. Eliot)
From my childhood, I have been familiar with letters; and as I was given to believe that by their help a clear and certain knowledge of all that is useful in life might be acquired, I was ardently desirously for instruction in them. But as soon as I had finished the entire course of study, at the close of which it is customarily to be admitted into the order of the learned, I completely changed my opinion. I found myself involved in so many doubts and errors and was convinced that I had not advanced in all my attempts at learning. At every turn, ignorance and unknowing was to be discovered. And yet, I was studying in one of the most celebrated Schools in Europe. I thought there must be learned men in it, at least if such were anywhere to be found. I had been taught all that others learned there. However, not contented with the sciences actually taught us, I had, in addition, read all the books that had fallen into my hands, studying those branches that are judged to be the most curious and rare. I knew the judgment that others had formed of me. I did not find that I was considered inferior to my fellows, although there were among them some whom were already marked out to fill the places of our instructors. And, finally, our era appeared to me as flourishing and fertile with powerful minds as any preceding one. I was thus led to take the liberty of judging of all other men by myself. Furthermore, I concluded that there was no science in existence that was of such a nature as I had previously been given to believe.
Which of the following is the best form of the underlined selection "some whom were already marked out to fill the places of our instructors"?
some whom was already marked out to fill the places of our instructors
some who was already marked out to fill the places of our instructors
some who were already marked out to fill the places of our instructors
NO CHANGE
some who were already marked out to fill the places of our instructors
When dealing with relative pronouns, we need to pay attention both to the antecedent and to the function of the pronoun in its relative clause. In this selection, the relative pronoun "whom" has "some" as its antecedent. "Some" is a substantive adjective implying the fuller expression "some people"—a plural antecendent. In the clause itself the "whom" is actually the subject of the verb. The people were marked out for future academic posts. Therefore, the pronoun must be "who," not "whom." Likewise, since relative pronoun is the subject, refering to a plural antecedent, the verb must be plural—i.e. "were."
Example Question #501 : Word Usage Errors
Adapted from The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1774; trans. Boylan 1854)
Wilhelm, what is the world to our hearts without love. What is a magic-lantern without light? You have but too kindle the flame within, and the brightest figures shine on the white wall; and, were love only to show us fleeting shadows, we are yet happy, when, like mere children, we behold it, and are transported with the splendid phantoms. I have not been able to see Charlotte today. I was prevented by company from which I could not disengage myself. What was to be done? I sent my servant to her house, that I might at least see somebody today whom had been near her. Oh, the impatience with which I waited for his return! Oh, the joy with which I welcomed him. I should certainly have caught him in my arms and kissed him, if I had not been ashamed.
It is said that the Bonona stone, when placed in the sun, attracts its rays and for a time appears luminous in the dark. So was it with me and this servant. The idea that Charlotte's eyes had dwelt on his countenance, his cheek, his very apparel, endeared it all inestimably to me so that, at that moment, I would not have parted from him for a thousand crowns. His presence made me so happy! Beware of laughing at me, Wilhelm. Can that be a delusion which makes us happy?
Which of the following is the best form of the underlined selection, "that I might at least see somebody today whom had been near her"?
that I might at least see somebody today who had been near her
so that I might at least see somebody today whom had been near her
NO CHANGE
that I might at least see somebody today, whom had been near her
that I might at least see somebody today who had been near her
As written, the error in the selection is its misuse of the relative pronoun "whom." "Whom" is used when you are designating an object. A simple example is the use of a prepositional phrase: "to whom I gave . . ." In our selection, the relative pronoun is describing a person who would have at least been near Charlotte. It is the servant—the "who"—that is near. Therefore, in the relative clause, "who" designates the subject of the verb, thus requiring "who," not "whom."
Example Question #1281 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
The witness turned and pointed a shaky finger at the person that had fired the gun into the air.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
person who had fired
person which had fired
person that fired
NO CHANGE
person whom had fired
person who had fired
"Who" is used for people. "That" and "which" are used for things. In addition, "person that fired" changes the tense of the verb "fired," and introduces confusion into the sentence.
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