ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #981 : Act English
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.
Hardly any of the senators had even heard of the issue before the committee held it's meeting.
before the committee holds it's meeting.
before the committee held it's meeting.
before a committee held it's meeting.
before that committee held it's meeting.
before the committee held its meeting.
before the committee held its meeting.
The use of "it's" is only correct when "it's" is being used as the contraction of "it is." "Its" is the word to use when you need the possessive form of "it," as in this sentence. Thus, the correct answer choice is "before the committee held its meeting."
Example Question #982 : Act English
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 unrealistic assumptions caused the teams fans to expect more than the team could actually achieve.
causing the teams fans'
causing the teams fans
caused the teams fans'
caused the teams fans
caused the team's fans
caused the team's fans
The only issue with the sentence as it is written is that the word "teams" should be a possesive, when it is written as a simple plural. The word needs to be changed to "team's," making "caused the team's fans" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #63 : Apostrophe 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.
Under the terms of the contract, the company had to pay the fired employee six months salary.
six months' salary.
six month of salary.
six months salary.
six months salaries.
six month's salary.
six months' salary.
The construction of "six months salary" is incorrect, as it refers to the salary of six months, and therefore needs a possesive form. The only answer that contains the correct (plural) possessive form is "six months' salary."
Example Question #64 : Apostrophe 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 last thing a teacher wants is to see one of her student's fail.
The last thing that a teacher wants is to see one of her student's fail.
The last thing a teacher wants, is to see one of her student's fail.
The last thing a teacher wants to see is one of her student's fail.
The last thing a teacher wants is to see one of her students fail.
The last thing a teacher wants is to see one of her student's fail.
The last thing a teacher wants is to see one of her students fail.
In the sentence, "student's" is written as a possesive, when it actually is functioning as a simple plural noun. The only change that needs to be made in the sentence is to remove the apostrophe from "student's," making the correct answer "The last thing a teacher wants is to see one of her students fail."
Example Question #62 : Apostrophe 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 girl was thoroughly embarrassed by her parents actions and comments in front of her friends.
by her parents actions and comments
by her parents actions, and comments
by her parents of actions and comments
by her parents' actions and comments
by her parents, actions and comments
by her parents' actions and comments
The word "parents" in the sentence is used as a possesive, as the "actions and comments" belong to the parents. The word is written, however, as a simple plural. The answer choice that fixes this problem is "by her parents' actions and comments."
Example Question #63 : Apostrophe 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 fighter's had to be held back, as they kept attempting to hit each other before the boxing match had officially begun.
The fighter's had to being held back
The fighter's having to be held back
The fighter's had to have been held back
The fighters had to be held back
The fighter's had to be held back
The fighters had to be held back
The construction of "fighter's" is incorrect, as it is written as a possesive form, but should only be a simple plural. The only correction that needs to be made is that "fighter's" needs to be changed to "fighters." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "The fighters had to be held back."
Example Question #641 : 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.
Most of the students were confused by the schools new regulations about appropriate clothing.
by the school is new regulations
by the schools new regulation's
by the school's new regulations
by, the schools new, regulations
by the schools new regulations
by the school's new regulations
The regulations beiing discussed in the sentence belong to the school, and the sentence should reflect this by making "schools" into the possessive form. Nothing else in the sentence should be changed, making "by the school's new regulations" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #641 : 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 Anderson's were a strange family; even their dog demonstrated a general aversion and distrust of other humans.
The Andersons were a strange family, even their dog demonstrated a general aversion and distrust of other humans.
The Andersons were a strange family; even their dog demonstrated a general aversion and distrust of other humans.
NO CHANGE.
The Anderson's were a strange family, and even their dog demonstrated a general aversion and distrust of other humans.
The Anderson's were a strange family, even their dog demonstrated a general aversion and distrust of other humans.
The Andersons were a strange family; even their dog demonstrated a general aversion and distrust of other humans.
Apostrophes with last names are used to indicate a possessive, not a plural. Anderson's would mean "belonging to an Anderson," not "multiple Andersons." The semicolon in the original sentence is appropriately used to join two independent clauses.
Example Question #642 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
The truth is, I kinda hate my brother. Can you blame me? We're always fighting. Today, he "borrowed" my favorite book and now its ripped in two. Likewise, my brother and I like to play sports together. We both bond over games like volleyball, and basketball. We both play real good. We even were considering trying out for the high school team together.
Which of the following is the correct alternative for the underlined word, "its"?
it
NO CHANGE
it's
its'
it was
it's
The original sentence uses "its," which is used to show ownership or possession; however, the author was trying to say the contraction for "it is." The correct form of this contraction is "it's."
Example Question #622 : Punctuation Errors
Passage adapted from Anna Sewell's Black Beauty (1877)
I was now beginning to grow handsome; my coat had grown fine and soft, and was bright black. I had one white foot and a pretty white star on my forehead. I was thought very handsome; my master would not sell me till I was four years old; he said lads ought not to work like men, and colts ought not to work like horses till they were quite grown up. When I was four years old Squire Gordon came to look at me. He examined my eyes, my mouth, and my legs; he felt them all down; and then I had to walk and trot and gallop before him. He seemed to like me, and said “When he has been well broken in he will do very well.” My master said he would break me in himself, as he should not like me to be frightened or hurt, and he lost no time about it, for the next day he began.
Every one may not know what breaking in is, therefore I will describe it. It means to teach a horse to wear a saddle and bridle, and to carry on his back a man, woman or child; to go just the way they wish, and to go quietly. Besides this he had to learn to wear a collar, a crupper, and a breeching, and to stand still while they are put on; then to have a cart or a chaise fixed behind, so that he cannot walk or trot without dragging it after him; and he must go fast or slow, just as his driver wishes. He must never start at what he sees, nor speak to other horses, nor bite, nor kick, nor have any will of his own; but always do his masters' will, even though he may be very tired or hungry; but the worst of all is, when his harness is once on, he may neither jump for joy nor lie down for weariness. So you see this breaking in is a great thing.
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
will
masters will
master wills
master's will
master's will
This question is asking the reader to choose the answer which shows proper possession of the word "will." Because the passage implies that each horse has only one master, the best option should maintain possession of a singular master. The answer choice "will" implies that it's the horse's will, rather than the master's.
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