ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
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Example Questions
Example Question #93 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the correct form of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as written, choose "no change."
The plants on the windowsill in the kitchen are ours'.
The plants on the windowsill in the kitchen are ours.'
The plants on the windowsill in the kitchen are ours's.
NO CHANGE
The plants on the windowsill in the kitchen are our's.
The plants on the windowsill in the kitchen are ours.
The plants on the windowsill in the kitchen are ours.
"Ours" is a possessive pronoun. When using a possessive pronoun, a possessive apostrophe is not needed.
Example Question #645 : Punctuation 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 most horrifying element of the procedure has proved to be it's lengthy recovery time.
its lengthy recovery time.
it's lengthy recovery time.
that's lengthy recovery time.
it's lengthy recovery times.
in lengthy recovery time.
its lengthy recovery time.
The use of "it's" in the underlined sentence is incorrect. "It's" represents only "it is," while the use in the sentence is the possessive, which can only be "its;" therefore, the correct answer is "its lengthy recovery time."
Example Question #95 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Ronald's aunts and uncles all attended Columbia University, and they often travel to New York to attend their class reunions.
there's
their's
his or hers
NO CHANGE
theirs
NO CHANGE
"Their" is the appropriate form of the possessive in this sentence. The antecedent "aunts and uncles" is plural so the singular "his or hers" does not fit. "There's" means "There is" and is thus not possessive.
Example Question #96 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an important womens' rights activist.
important women's rights
important womens rights
important womans' rights
important womens's rights
NO CHANGE
important women's rights
"Women" is already the plural of woman, so to make it plural possessive it is correct to add an apostrophe s, not an s and then an apostrophe.
Example Question #92 : Apostrophe 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."
NO CHANGE
that same peoples' private
those same peoples private
those same peoples' private
NO CHANGE
It is arguable that the demonstrative pronoun "that" could be used for "people." When we refer to a group as a whole, it is taken as a singular "thing." In the option that changes "those" to "that," however, the possessive apostrophe and "s" are improperly placed. The sentence is referring to the goods of the people. Therefore, they are the people's goods.
Example Question #97 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was instrumental in the womens' suffrage movement.
womens's suffrage
women suffrage
NO CHANGE
women's suffrage
womans' suffrage
women's suffrage
To make a plural noun that does not end in "s" possessive, add an apostrophe and then an s. Because women is plural, the apostrophe goes between the "n" and the "s" so the correct possessive form of women is women's.
Example Question #91 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
All of the houses's gardens in my neighborhood are perfectly landscaped.
house's gardens
NO CHANGE
houseses gardens
houses gardens
houses' gardens
houses' gardens
To make a plural noun ending in "s" possessive, put an apostrophe after the s. There is no need to add an additional "s." The singular possessive form "house's" is not correct because the sentence says "all of" and "gardens" necessitating a plural form of house.
Example Question #99 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Alans dog loved to go on long walks with him.
Alan's
Alans' dog loved to go for long walks with him.
NO CHANGE
Alan
Alan's
The dog belongs to Alan. Alan has possession of the dog, so you put an "'s" to show possession. just "s" shows plural. There is not multiple Alans, but one Alan with a dog.
Example Question #671 : 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."
Who's dog is chasing the rabbit?
Whos' dog is chasing the rabbit?
NO CHANGE
Whos dog is chasing the rabbit?
Whose dog is chasing the rabbit?
Whose dog is chasing the rabbit?
There is no need for an apostrophe with this possessive pronoun "whose."
Example Question #672 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Second language acquisition has already been positively correlated to increased cognitive flexibility (1): what has yet to be investigated is the correlation between cultural literacy—as a potential result of second language acquisition—and the facilitation of social relationships on the individual and community levels, academic and career success, and personal cultural enrichment. Cultural literacy may be (2) viewed as a deepest sense of foreign language study, as it encompasses all facets of culture rather than just language. If these positive correlations are accurately established (3), the United State's education system and (4) its lack of priority given to foreign language studies must be reevaluated. Vastly extending foreign language requirements would allow individuals not only the obvious benefit of communicating in more than one language, (5) but also from greater academic success in high school, college, and the workplace, as well as less multicultural tension in social and professional arenas. (6) As the global market continues to be vital to the economic prosperity of nations, and immigration trends change their cultural make-up, (7) both linguistic and cultural understanding and awareness is essential.
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."
; then the United States' education system
NO CHANGE
, then the United State's education system
, then the United States' education system
, then the United States' education system
First, "then" is needed after the comma in order to complete the "if...then" statement. Second, given that the "United States" is plural, the apostrophe must be placed outside of the "s" to indication possession.
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