ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
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Example Questions
Example Question #113 : Pronoun Usage Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
The lizard bobbed it's head up and down in a mating display.
bobbed they're head
NO CHANGE
was bobbing it's head
bobbed their head
bobbed its head
bobbed its head
The possessive form of "it" does not have an apostrophe (but you still need to use the singular "it" to modify "lizard").
Example Question #121 : Pronoun Usage Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
You need to pick up you're clothes from the dry cleaner.
get you're clothes picked up
be picking up you're clothes
pick up they're clothes
NO CHANGE
pick up your clothes
pick up your clothes
The possessive form of "you" does not have an apostrophe, it is simply "your." "You're" always stands in for "you are."
Example Question #122 : Pronoun Usage Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
They moved into they're new house yesterday.
NO CHANGE
theyre new house
they new house
there new house
their new house
their new house
The correct possessive form of they is "their." They're is the conjunction "they are." Anytime you see "they're" you should be able to replace it with "they are" and maintain the flow and structure of the sentence.
Example Question #111 : 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."
The owl ruffled its feathers, startled by the sound of a wolf howling in the distance.
NO CHANGE
it's
it is
it
its'
NO CHANGE
This question asks you to choose the grammatically correct form of a possessive pronoun. In this sentence, the feathers belong to the owl, so a possessive form should be used for the pronoun that replaces the subject, "owl." The correct possessive form of the pronoun "it" is "its." The form "it's" should only be used as a contraction of "it is," not as a possessive pronoun. "Its'" is not a word at all. Replacing the possessive form with a non-possessive pronoun, "it," or with a pronoun and verb, "it is," would not make sense in this sentence.
Example Question #1734 : Act English
Josh suffered from a fear of dogs ever since he is a little boy. He would shiver in his boots thinking of a dog barking at him, biting him, or that could chase him. He had never met a single dog he liked. The scarier dog he had ever seen was Mr. Green’s dog, whom he had to pass every day. On his way to school. This dog barked so loudly it made Josh’s hairs stand on end.
She said that there was no need to be afraid. Josh’s mom told him that dogs only barked because they were excited to see him. She told him that he just needed to be confident and not act afraid of this dogs’ barking, and speak in a reassuring tone. Then the dog would quiet down and act more friendly.
Josh felt that neither confidence or a reassuring tone would make any difference. He didn’t think he would ever get over his fear. However, one day he had enough. Barking for hours, he realized the dog was bored and just needed a friend. He wasn’t sure if his mother’s advice would prove true? Hiding his fear, he approached the dog and spoke to it in a reassuring tone. To his surprise, the dog wagged it’s tail and quieted down right away.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
his
its'
its
her
NO CHANGE
its
This question asks you about the correct possessive form of a pronoun. In this passage, we do not know the gender of the dog, so it is correct to use a neutral pronoun, "it," rather than the possessive forms "his" or "hers." The correct possessive form of the pronoun "it" is "its." The form "it's" should only be used as a contraction of "it is," and "its'" is not a word at all.
Example Question #124 : Pronoun Usage Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, select “NO CHANGE.”
Did you get your ice cream yet? I am still waiting to get my one.
mine
mine one.
NO CHANGE
my
it
mine
This question asks you about the correct use of a possessive pronoun. In this sentence, the pronoun is replacing the noun group, "my ice cream." The correct possessive first-person pronoun is "mine." The use of "my one" in the original sentence is awkward. Using "it" rather than a possessive pronoun is confusing in this context, incorrectly suggesting that the narrator is waiting for the other person's ice cream.
Example Question #122 : Pronoun Usage Errors
“The Dark Ages?” by Matthew Minerd (2016)
There are two different ways to consider the so-called “Dark Ages.” On the one hand, you can think of the period directly after the fall of the Roman Empire, when civilization began to collapse throughout the Western Empire. On the other hand, you can consider the period that followed this initial collapse of society. It is a gross simplification too use the adjective dark to describe the civilization of either of these periods.
As regards the first period it is quite a simplification to consider this period to be a single historical moment. It is not as though the civilization switched off like a lightbulb. At one moment light and then, at the next, dark. Instead, the decline of civilization occurred over a period of numerous decades and was, in fact, already occurring for many years before the so-called period of darkness. Thus, the decline of civilization was not a rapid collapse into barbarism, but instead, was a slow alteration of the cultural milieu of a portion of Europe. Indeed, the Eastern Roman Empire retained much of it’s cultural status during these years of decline!
More importantly, the period following the slow collapse of the Western Empire was much less “dark” than almost every popular telling states. Indeed, even during the period of decline, the seeds for cultural restoration was being sown. A key element of this cultural revival were the formation of monastic communities throughout the countryside of what we now know as Europe. Although these were not the only positive force during these centuries, the monasteries had played an important role in preserving and advancing the cause of culture through at least the thirteenth century and arguably until the Renaissance.
How should the underlined selection be changed?
NO CHANGE
Indeed, the Eastern Roman Empire retained much of it’s cultural status, during these years of decline!
Indeed, the Eastern Roman Empire retained much of its cultural status during these years of decline!
Indeed, the Eastern Roman Empire retained much of it’s cultural status, during these years of decline.
Indeed, the Eastern Roman Empire retained much of it’s cultural status during these years of decline.
Indeed, the Eastern Roman Empire retained much of its cultural status during these years of decline!
As written, the sentence misuses "it's," which is the contracted form of "it is." In the sentence, "its" is a possessive pronoun describing "cultural status." Therefore, it should be in the possessive form "its," not the contracted form of "it is," "it's."
Example Question #21 : Possessive Pronoun Errors
The committee decided to grant Larry a scholarship, despite him not having completed one of the sections of the application. It was a scandalous event in the Admissions Committee, and one that would be discussed for years to come.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded and underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
despite
in spite of
even though
despite his
NO CHANGE
despite his
This question asks you about the correct use of a possessive pronoun. A possessive pronoun should be used before a gerund (-ing) verb like "having," since a gerund is a verb in noun form. The correct possessive form, therefore, is "his." The sentence cannot be corrected simply by removing the word "him," since that structure incorrectly suggests that it was the committee, not Larry, who forgot to fill out a section.
Example Question #1735 : Act English
On the weekends, I enjoy hiking, baking, dancing, and to spend time with my friends. Most of all, however, I love to run. I never thought of myself as a talented runner. However, when Jenna moved to my neighborhood, she inspired me to join the track team and find my stride. We met when we were both walking to class, and when I asked Jenna about her elective classes, she enthusiastically began talking about the track team. “You should join”! she exclaimed. I told her I’m not a very good runner, and she responded that anybody could be a decent runner with enough practice and the right attitude.
We started practicing after school and on weekends, and eventually I decided to try out for the team. To my surprise, I made the cut. Even though everybody else had a faster finish time than me, I enjoyed being part of the first race of the semester.
Because she is both dedicated and naturally talented, Jenna is the better runner on the entire team. Despite her success, she is never arrogant and always willing to help others develop their athletic skills. When all of the high schools in the state send they’re top three runners to the championship, everyone on the team travel to support Jenna.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded and underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE
it's top three runners
there top three runners
their top three runners
its top three runners
their top three runners
The possessive form of "they" is "their." "They're" means "they are" and "there" implies location. It's and its are both incorrect because they are singular, and all of the high schools (plural) are the ones performing the action, so they need a plural possessive pronoun.
Example Question #121 : Pronoun Usage Errors
Over winter break, our AP Spanish class took a trip to South America to practice the language and learn more about different Spanish-speaking cultures. Before we left, every student had to get their vaccinations for yellow fever and typhoid. Our first stop was Bolivia. When we landed at El Alto airport the highest in the world, we could see the city of La Paz sprawling up the hillsides in the shadow of the Andes. The first day in La Paz, we went to the Witches’s Market, run by local yatiri. The yatiri are medical practitioners who perform healing rituals in they’re communities. At the market, we saw dried frogs, llama fetuses, herbs, and seeds, used in various rituals. After we visited La Paz, we traveled to Cochabamba. Cochabamba is Bolivia’s culinary capital, with delicious specialties such as salteñas and rellenos. In Cochabamba, we also climbed 1400 steps to see the Cristo de La Concordia statue, the tallest of it’s kind in South America. Next, we visited the salt flats of Uyuni. Several lagoons dotted the high desert landscape, some of who were full of flamingos!
On our way out of Bolivia, we stopped at Lake Titicaca on the Peruvian border. Because the lake’s elevation is over 12,000 feet, some of my classmates experienced a bit of altitude sickness. Despite the altitude sickness, everyone said they loved seeing the beautiful scenery and visiting the mysterious “floating islands” made of reeds. When we crossed the border into Peru, one of my classmates thought she had lost her passport. I would of had a panic attack! She ended up finding it buried in a pocket of her backpack and we were on our way.
My favorite part of Peru was our trek to the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu. We spent four days hiking in the Andes on a trail to the ruins. Our guides, whom spoke Spanish, English, and Quechua, were very knowledgeable about the history, flora, and fauna in the region. Upon waking up the next morning, a beautiful sunrise greeted us and cast the mountains in its soft pink glow. After we explored the ruins, we took a train ride back to Cuzco. The next day, we flew to Lima and prepared to return home. I was sad to leave, but I know I would be back some day!
Select the answer choice that best corrects the bolded, underlined portion of the passage. If the sentence is correct as written, select NO CHANGE.
healing rituals in its communities
healing rituals in their communities
healing rituals in there communities
healing rituals in it's communities
NO CHANGE
healing rituals in their communities
Yatiri is plural, so it needs the possessive plural pronoun "their." The incorrect answer choices are either singular pronouns, or incorrect spellings/usage of "their" in the possessive form ("there" implies location and "they're" means "they are").
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