ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors
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Example Question #22 : Comparative And Superlative Adjective And Adverb 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.
Amy drinks lesser water than Johnny, which is why Johnny refills his water bottle more often than Amy does.
fewest
few
least
fewer
less
less
As the question compares two people, a comparative form of the adjective in question must be used, meaning that "few," the regular form of the adjective, and "least" and "fewest," which are each superlative forms, are incorrect. While "fewer" and "less" might each look like a potentially correct answer, "fewer" is used to distinguish between countable nouns, while "less" is used to distinguish between uncountable nouns, like "water." (You can tell if a noun is countable or not if you could precede it with a number, and "seven water" doesn't make sense, given how "water" is used here.) So, "less" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1492 : 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.
Why do you look at me like I am so much lesser intelligently than you are?
much lesser in intelligent
lessly intelligently
much fewer intelligent
much lessly intelligently
much less intelligent
much less intelligent
"Intelligently" is an adverb and adverbs are not used comparatively, so we need to change "intelligently" to "intelligent," an adjective. Also, "lesser," an adjective, needs to be changed to a determiner, "less." So, "less intelligent" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1492 : 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.
The teacher was reluctant to say which of the twin brothers was the worst musician; both were practically tone deaf.
The teacher was reluctant to say which of the twin brothers was the worst of the musicians;
The teacher was reluctant to say which of the twin brothers was the worse of the two musicians;
The teacher was reluctant to say which of the twin brothers was the worst musician;
The teacher was reluctant to say which of the twin brothers was the worse musician;
The teacher was reluctant to say which of the twin brothers was the worsest musician;
The teacher was reluctant to say which of the twin brothers was the worse musician;
If only two things are being compared, the comparative form ("better," "bigger," "smarter," etc.) is correct. If three or more things are being compared, the superlative form ("best," "biggest," "smartest," etc.) is correct. Because there are only the two brothers here, we use the comparative form: “worse” and not “worst.” In addition, because “worse musician” is more concise than “worse of the two musicians,” it is the better answer.
Example Question #701 : 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.
I’m not sure whose garden is of the prettiest: Leah’s, David’s, or Juanita’s.
I’m not sure whose garden is prettiest:
I’m not sure whose garden is prettier:
I’m not sure whose garden is of the prettiest:
I’m not sure whose garden is the most pretty:
I’m not sure whose garden is the most prettiest:
I’m not sure whose garden is prettiest:
If only two things are being compared, the comparative form ("better," "bigger," "smarter," etc.) is correct. If three or more things are being compared, the superlative form ("best," "biggest," "smartest," etc.) is correct. Because there are three gardens here, we use the concise superlative form: “prettiest” and not “prettier,” “most pretty,” or “most prettiest.”
Example Question #1491 : 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.
I've heard that all vitamins are good for you, but of all the different kinds, are there any that are better?
are better
are best
is the better
is better
is the most
are best
When comparing more than two items, you should use superlative adjectives. So, in this case, you should use the word "best."
Example Question #892 : Psat Writing Skills
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.
Less people threw they're support behind the politician as more of his personal issues were revealed.
Less people threw there support
Fewer people threw their support
Fewer people threw they're support
Less peoples threw they're support
Less people through they're support
Fewer people threw their support
The use of "they're" is incorrect in the sentence. "They're" is a contraction for "they are," while the sentence needs the third person plural possessive pronoun, "their." "Fewer people threw their support" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1491 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Erin was the taller of all the girls on the basketball team.
was more tall
was the tallest
NO CHANGE
was taller
was most tallest
was the tallest
When you are comparing more than two things you need the superlative (tallest) instead of comparative (taller) adjective. Taller would be correct if Erin was one of only two basketball players.
Example Question #1492 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Anne is the better cellist in the entire symphony.
the good cellist
the most good cellist
the best cellist
the better of all the cellists
NO CHANGE
the best cellist
Because Anna is being compared to all the cellists in the entire symphony, the superlative adjective "best" is used ("better" would be used for a comparison of two people-if more than two, use the superlative).
Example Question #1493 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
“Democracy—Always a Good Thing?”
In the contemporary world, we tend to think that democracy is always the best form of government. We are enchanted by the idea of self-governance for it seems to affirm the maturity of the citizens of a nation. Instead of being ruled by benign-monarchs or the landed-aristocracy, the citizens of a democracy are people who exercise self-mastery in a fully human manner. Well, at least this is what we tend to think of the matter.
Really, however, democracy is an ambiguous affair. Often, we use such single terms to name two different types of social arrangements. Such an equivocation is understandable. Whenever all (or at least most) of the people take part in political life, it seems like we have a kind of democracy. However, it is important to make a clearer distinction.
On the one hand, there can be a community that aims at the common good. In such a group, the people come together to have a political community that aims to fulfill human goals that could not be done by isolated individuals. Such a group will come together to establish educational institutions to preserve culture, regulate commerce in order to help normalize economic interactions, pass many laws that regulate our social interactions, and undertake many other affairs. Although all of these things benefit the individuals in the given society, such a group of self-governing people do not aim merely at the private satisfaction of the people. This kind of “democracy” works together, for common political goals.
On the other hand, there can be a community that merely aims at the private goods of the citizens. The Greek philosopher Aristotle remarked in his text, the Politics, that democracy was a government by the numerous poor people for the sake of those same people’s private goods. Clearly, he was using “democracy” in this sense. If the people of a nation only come together in order to assure their own private freedom and to receive benefits for themselves, a given society is this kind of so-called democracy.
Of course, it is difficult to say what is the state of any particular nation today. Often, elements of each of these kinds of governance is found in a given country at a particular time. Still, it is important to be aware that such an “equivocation” is possible. Otherwise, we will end up saying rather foolish things like, “Democracy is always a good form of government,” or, “democracy is a horrible form of government.”
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."
However, it is important to make a clearer distinction than what is normally presented.
However, it is important to make a clearer distinction, for this is confusing.
NO CHANGE
However, it is important to make a clearer distinction for those who are confused.
However, it is important to make a clearer distinction than what is normally presented.
Adjectives can be positive, comparative, or superlative. For this sentence, the adjective "clearer" is at issue. We can say "clear," "clearer," and "clearest." When we use a comparative degree adjective like "clearer," we need to say be explicit about the comparison. Thus, we must say that one thing is clearer than something else, whatever that might be.
Example Question #32 : Comparative And Superlative Adjective And Adverb Errors
“Intellectual Virtues”
Whenever someone talks about being “virtuous,” we immediately think of someone whose very moral. Perhaps we even think of people who are a bit boring for virtuous people can appear to have no fun at least in the popular imagination. Whatever the case might be, almost any reader would be surprised to see the expression “intellectual virtues.” What could this expression mean to designate! At best, most people would say, “Such virtues must describe people for who knowledge is combined with devotion and rigorous discipline.” That is; they would seem to describe the person who has a disciplined character in addition to being intelligent.
However, in ancient and medieval philosophy, certain intellectual capacities were considered virtues. These character traits were not quite the same as moral character traits or virtues. To understand this idea, it can be helpul to consider two example people, one whose skills are the fruit of a so-called intellectual virtue and the other whose skills are not.
It is easier to start with the person who does not have a given intellectual virtue. We all know someone who is not very good at math, that is, someone for who math is difficult even though he or she might be quite skilled at many other tasks It makes sense to say that this person doesn’t have an intellectual virtue. Likewise, think of the person who is only able to memorize formulas. Such a person is often very good at working through many problems with deft skill. This person seems to be a “wiz” at geometry and algebra, quickly solving equations and proofs.
However, this latter person might suddenly be presented with a difficult, new problem. When we notice that he or she does not have the creative skill and insight to solve the problem, we realize that he or she does’nt have a so-called “intellectual virtue.” This person merely has a habit—a particular skill that is helpful but does not indicate true and complete mathematical knowledge. The person who is able to understand the mathematics and creatively apply this knowledge to solve new problems. This person has a true intellectual virtue. They have a particular ability for intellectual insight, able to probe the difficult domain of this topic. This is much more noble as the mere habit of being able to balance equations and repeat facts about geometric figures!
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
This is much more nobler as
NO CHANGE
This is much noble as
This is much nobler then
This is much nobler than
This is much nobler than
There are two issues with the comparative form of "noble." Because this word is sufficiently short, you merely need "nobler" instead of "more noble" for the comparison. In addition, the word "as" is not the appropriate comparison preposition. You need the word "than." Note that it is not "then." The word "then" expresses temporality, not comparison.
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