ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #511 : 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."
The frigid rainy day made me seriously consider staying home and catching up on my growing pile of unread books.
The frigid rainy day made me seriously consider staying home,
The frigid, rainy day made me seriously consider staying home,
The frigid, rainy day made me seriously consider staying home
The frigid; rainy day made me seriously consider staying home;
NO CHANGE
The frigid, rainy day made me seriously consider staying home
A comma is necessary between "frigid" and "rainy" because they are coordinate adjectives (the order can be reversed and the description still makes sense). A comma is not necessary after "home" because "staying at home and catching up" is effectively a list of two items.
Example Question #511 : 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."
While on the phone with her mother, Elizabeth had to stifle a scream, because she heard an alarming noise coming from outside her window.
While on the phone with her mother Elizabeth had to stifle a scream; because she heard
While on the phone with her mother Elizabeth had to stifle a scream, because she heard
NO CHANGE
While on the phone with her mother Elizabeth had to stifle a scream because she heard
While on the phone with her mother, Elizabeth had to stifle a scream because she heard
While on the phone with her mother, Elizabeth had to stifle a scream because she heard
A comma is necessary after "mother" because "While on the phone with her mother" is an introductory participle phrase. A comma must separate these participle phrases from the main clause of the sentence. A comma is usually not necessary before "because." Only use a comma before "because" when failing to do so would change the meaning of the sentence.
Example Question #362 : Comma Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
To move to the top of his class, Matt studied for three hours every night, which inspired great admiration among his friends.
To move to the top of his class, Matt studied for three hours every night; which inspired
NO CHANGE
To move to the top of his class Matt studied for three hours every night, which inspired
To move to the top of his class, Matt studied for three hours every night which inspired
To move to the top of his class Matt studied for three hours every night which inspired
NO CHANGE
"To move to the top of his class" is an example of an introductory infinitive phrase, which requires a comma at the end of the phrase. A comma is necessary before "which" because "which" marks the beginning of a nonessential clause. A non-essential clause must be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
Example Question #512 : 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."
"We need to buy bananas" said Laura. "The ones we have are rotten".
NO CHANGE
"We need to buy bananas", said Laura. "The ones we have are rotten."
"We need to buy bananas," said Laura. "The ones we have are rotten."
"We need to buy bananas;" said Laura. "The ones we have are rotten".
"We need to buy bananas" said Laura. "The ones we have are rotten."
"We need to buy bananas," said Laura. "The ones we have are rotten."
A comma is necessary after "bananas" because commas must precede quotation marks. A comma is also necessary because the sentence does not end with the dialogue. Like commas, periods must also precede quotation marks.
Example Question #486 : Punctuation Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Twenty-five, shiny quarters, and two nickels were pushed into the vending machine before Elias realized he wasn't going to receive his afternoon treat.
Twenty-five shiny quarters and two nickels were pushed into the vending machine
Twenty-five, shiny quarters, and two nickels, were pushed into the vending machine
Twenty-five; shiny quarters; and two nickels; were pushed into the vending machine
NO CHANGE
Twenty-five shiny quarters, and two nickels, were pushed into the vending machine
Twenty-five shiny quarters and two nickels were pushed into the vending machine
A comma is not necessary between "twenty-five" and "shiny" because they are non-coordinate adjectives. One can only say "twenty-five shiny quarters," not "shiny twenty-five quarters." If the description only makes sense with the adjectives arranged in a certain order, the adjectives are non-coordinate and should not be separated by a comma. A comma is not necessary after "quarters," because the sentence contains a list of only two items: quarters and nickels. A comma does not need to be used with "and" when it is only joining two items.
Example Question #486 : Punctuation Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Jonas was scheduled to take his biology midterm the morning of July 7th; instead he was out joyriding with a friend, a decision that would prove detrimental to his midterm evaluation.
Jonas was scheduled to take his biology midterm the morning of July 7th; instead he was out joyriding with a friend, a decision that would prove detrimental to his midterm evaluation.
Jonas was scheduled to take his biology midterm the morning of July 7th; instead, he was out joyriding with a friend, a decision that would prove detrimental to his midterm evaluation.
Jonas was scheduled to take his biology midterm the morning of July 7th and instead he was out joyriding with a friend, a decision that would prove detrimental to his midterm evaluation.
Jonas was scheduled to take his biology midterm the morning of July 7th, instead, he was out joyriding with a friend, a decision that would prove detrimental to his midterm evaluation.
NO CHANGE
Jonas was scheduled to take his biology midterm the morning of July 7th; instead, he was out joyriding with a friend, a decision that would prove detrimental to his midterm evaluation.
A conjunctive adverb can introduce, interrupt, or conclude a single main clause. In this situation, you will often need commas to separate the conjunctive adverb from the rest of the sentence. Moreover, combining the conjunctive adverb with a coordinating or subordinating conjunction will typically prove unnecessary since conjunctive adverbs already help correlate two sentences independent of an additional conjunction.
Example Question #851 : Act English
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
The Secretary of the Treasury however asserts that additional federal aid is needed in order for educational institutions to meet the federal government's new mandates.
Secretary Thompson, however, asserts that additional federal aid is needed in order for educational institutions to meet the federal government's new mandates.
Secretary Thompson however, asserts that additional federal aid is needed in order for educational institutions to meet the federal government's new mandates.
Secretary Thompson, however asserts that additional federal aid is needed in order for educational institutions to meet the federal government's new mandates.
NO CHANGE
However Secretary Thompson asserts that additional federal aid is needed in order for educational institutions to meet the federal government's new mandates.
Secretary Thompson, however, asserts that additional federal aid is needed in order for educational institutions to meet the federal government's new mandates.
A conjunctive adverb can introduce, interrupt, or conclude a single main clause. In this situation, you will often need commas to separate the conjunctive adverb from the rest of the sentence. This sentence simply places "however" in the middle of a clause with no accompanying punctuation.
Example Question #852 : Act English
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Private investors and benefactors accounted for nearly 75% of the program's budget, consequently, the government denied requests for grants totaling 12 million dollars.
Private investors and benefactors accounted for nearly 75% of the program's budget consequently the government denied requests for grants totaling 12 million dollars.
Private investors and benefactors accounted for nearly 75% of the program's budget. Consequently the government denied requests for grants totaling 12 million dollars.
Private investors and benefactors accounted for nearly 75% of the program's budget yet consequently the government denied requests for grants totaling 12 million dollars.
Private investors and benefactors accounted for nearly 75% of the program's budget consequently, the government denied requests for grants totaling 12 million dollars.
Private investors and benefactors accounted for nearly 75% of the program's budget. Consequently, the government denied requests for grants totaling 12 million dollars.
Private investors and benefactors accounted for nearly 75% of the program's budget. Consequently, the government denied requests for grants totaling 12 million dollars.
A conjunctive adverb can introduce, interrupt, or conclude a single main clause. In this situation, you will often need commas to separate the conjunctive adverb from the rest of the sentence. Moreover, combining the conjunctive adverb with a coordinating or subordinating conjunction will typically prove unnecessary since conjunctive adverbs already help correlate two sentences independent of an additional conjunction.
Example Question #511 : 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."
However, one looks at the situation, the investment firm cannot escape taking a loss in the tens of millions.
However: one looks at the situation,
However one looks at the situation,
However, one looks at the situation;
NO CHANGE
However; one looks at the situation,
However one looks at the situation,
The correct answer will implement the word "however" as an adverb in the phrase "However one looks at it" rather than as a conjunctive adverb "however,". The correct answer choice will implement "However" correctly and combine the resulting modifier with the independent clause that should follow it "However one looks at the situation, the investment firm cannot escape taking a loss in the tens of millions."
Example Question #854 : Act English
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Spending an afternoon with your parents can be delightful or frightful; however, you look at it, it's an opportunity to bond with the people who love you the most.
Spending an afternoon with your parents can be delightful or frightful and, however, you look at it, it's an opportunity to bond with the people who love you the most.
Spending an afternoon with your parents can be delightful or frightful; however you look at it, it's an opportunity to bond with the people who love you the most.
Spending an afternoon with your parents can be delightful or frightful still however, you look at it, it's an opportunity to bond with the people who love you the most.
Spending an afternoon with your parents can be delightful or frightful, however, you look at it, it's an opportunity to bond with the people who love you the most.
NO CHANGE
Spending an afternoon with your parents can be delightful or frightful; however you look at it, it's an opportunity to bond with the people who love you the most.
This is a rather tricky question. In the original sentence, the "however" seems to be functioning as a conjunctive adverb. It is set up as one, with a semi-colon suggesting that it is joining two contrasting sentences. Actually "however" is functioning as a simple adverb in the phrase "however you look at it." the correct answer will omit the comma after however. All of the other answers will present comma splice errors, many of which will actually change the meaning that was originally intended.
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