ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

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 #1341 : Correcting Grammatical 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:

He and I was

Him and me were

Me and him was

He and I were

Me and him were

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 #1342 : Correcting Grammatical 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.

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 us whom did the good deed.

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

most of the neighborhood knew it was actually we who done 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 we who did 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 #1343 : Correcting Grammatical 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.

by the author and I.

by the author and me.

by its author and I.

for the 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 #1344 : Correcting Grammatical Errors

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

Possible Answers:

of the cities skylines.

of the city's skyline.

of the cities' skyline.

of the cities skyline.

from the cities skyline.

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."

Example Question #1345 : Correcting Grammatical 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.

She and him were trying to show that they were serious players in the financial market.

Possible Answers:

She and him were trying

She and he were trying

Him and she were trying

She and him was trying

Her and him were trying

Correct answer:

She and he were trying

Explanation:

The use of the objective pronoun "him" in the subject of the sentence is incorrect. The word should be changed to the subjective pronoun "he." As this is the only change that needs to be made in the sentence, "She and he were trying" is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #1346 : Correcting Grammatical 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.

Between you and I, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.

Possible Answers:

Between you and I, we couldn’t send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive. 

Between you and I, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.

Between you and me, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive. 

Between you and I, we cannot send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive. 

Between you and I, we could not send you to that private high school for the tuition was so expensive. 

Correct answer:

Between you and me, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive. 

Explanation:

After the preposition "between," one uses the objects pronouns "you" and "me."

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