ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Other Punctuation
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.
Because my aunt lives far away; I do not see her very often.
Although my aunt lives far away; I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives far away; I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives far away, I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives far away. I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives farthest away; I do not see her very often.
Because my aunt lives far away, I do not see her very often.
The two clauses need to be separated by a comma.
Example Question #1 : Improving Sentences
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.
There are three colors in a typical traffic light; red, green, and yellow.
traffic light, red, green, and yellow.
traffic light: red and green and yellow.
traffic light. Red, green, and yellow.
traffic light: red, green, and yellow.
traffic light, those being red, green, and yellow.
traffic light: red, green, and yellow.
A semicolon should only ever be used to seperate two parts of a sentence that could each stand as independent clauses on their own. If you can't take the two parts of the sentence on either side of the semicolon and make them into their own sentences, then you should use something different. In this case, "red, green, and yellow" does not make sense as a sentence on its own, so a semicolon should not be used. A colon makes more sense because a list is being introduced, and colons are often used to introduce lists.
Example Question #1 : Improving Sentences
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 new plan had made a small difference; reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference; reduce costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference; reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan made a small difference; for reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year.
The use of the semicolon in the sentence is incorrect, as a semicolon needs to separate two independent clauses in a compound sentences, instead of separating a dependent clause from the main part of the sentence it is reliant on. The sentence needs to feature a comma separating the two parts, making the correct answer "The new plan had made a small difference, reducing costs and expenditures somehat over the last year."
Example Question #1 : Correcting Semicolon 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 scientist conducted her experiment in the tropical forest; instead of in the desert where the lizard population was flourishing.
desert where
No error
forest; instead
was flourishing
the lizard population
forest; instead
A semi-colon, or a colon, is used to connect two complete sentences: here the second sentence is a fragment.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Semicolon 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.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism; and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement; Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism, and spoke against slavery.
Leading the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson championed individualism and spoke against slavery.
A semi-colon separates two independent clauses. No punctuation between "individualism" and "and" is necessary.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Semicolon 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.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities; but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities; but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities, but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities; and many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities so many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities, but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years.
The sentence as written as a complex sentence, and it joins its two parts with a semicolon and the conjunction "but;" however, a compound sentence needs to be joined either by just a semicolon or a conjunction and comma, but not a semicolon and a conjunctionl; therefore the correct answer choice is "Pensions are a complicated financial problem for many municipalities, but many cities have made changes to their pension programs in recent years."
Example Question #4 : Correcting Semicolon 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.
He worked at the factory for thirty years; but he never once got a promotion.
He worked at the factory for thirty years, but he never once got a promotion.
He worked at the factory for thirty years; and he never once got a promotion.
He worked at the factory for thirty years he never once got a promotion.
He worked at the factory for thirty years; but he never once got a promotion.
He worked at the factory for thirty years or he never once got a promotion.
He worked at the factory for thirty years, but he never once got a promotion.
The sentence is written as a compound sentence, one that joins two independent clauses together to show their relationship. A compound sentence can only be joined by either a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction, but never a semicolon and a conjunction as in the sentence above. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "He worked at the factory for thirty years, but he never once got a promotion."
Example Question #41 : 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.
In the end it became clear, that Jennifer had never liked camping; she only went along on the trips to placate her friends.
In the end it became clear, that Jennifer had never liked camping; she only went along on the trips to placate her friends.
In the end, it became clear that Jennifer had never liked camping; she only went along on the trips to placate her friends.
In the end, it became clear that Jennifer had never liked camping, she only went along on the trips to placate her friends.
In the end it became clear that Jennifer had never liked camping, she only went along on the trips to placate her friends.
In the end it became clear that Jennifer had never liked camping; she only went along on the trips to placate her friends.
In the end, it became clear that Jennifer had never liked camping; she only went along on the trips to placate her friends.
Here, “In the end” is an introductory phrase, so it must be followed by a comma. Because “In the end, it became clear that Jennifer had never liked camping” and “she only went along on the trips to placate her friends” are both independent clauses (in other words, they can stand as complete sentences on their own), they must be separated by a semicolon. Using a comma between the two independent clauses would result in a comma splice, which is grammatically incorrect.
Example Question #32 : Semicolon 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.
You’ve never been a fan of roses, which are many people’s favorite flowers, the flowers seem too fancy for your simple tastes.
You’ve never been a fan of roses, which are many people’s favorite flowers; the flowers seem too fancy for your simple tastes.
You’ve never been a fan of roses, which are many people’s favorite flowers; the flowers seem too fancy, for your simple tastes.
You’ve never been a fan of roses which are many people’s favorite flowers; the flowers seem too fancy for your simple tastes.
You’ve never been a fan of roses, which are many people’s favorite flowers, the flowers seem too fancy for your simple tastes.
You’ve never been a fan of roses which are many people’s favorite flowers, the flowers seem too fancy for your simple tastes.
You’ve never been a fan of roses, which are many people’s favorite flowers; the flowers seem too fancy for your simple tastes.
There are two independent clauses in this sentence—“You’ve never been a fan of roses, which are many people’s favorite flowers” and “the flowers seem too fancy for your simple tastes." They must be separated by a semicolon. Using a comma between the two independent clauses would result in a comma splice, which is a grammatical error.
The words “which are many people’s favorite” are a relative clause that modify “roses,” and since that clause can be removed and still leave a complete sentence (it’s non-essential information, in other words), it must be set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma.
Example Question #33 : Semicolon 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.
Carrie and her cat, Mittens; were having a relaxing afternoon, Mittens was basking in a sunbeam near Carrie's feet.
Carrie and her cat; Mittens, were having a relaxing afternoon. Mittens was basking in a sunbeam near Carrie's feet.
Carrie and her cat, Mittens, were having a relaxing afternoon. Mittens was basking; in a sunbeam near Carrie's feet.
Carrie and her cat, Mittens, were having a relaxing afternoon; Mittens was basking in a sunbeam near Carrie's feet.
Carrie and her cat, Mittens; were having a relaxing afternoon, Mittens was basking in a sunbeam near Carrie's feet.
Carrie and her cat, Mittens, were having a relaxing afternoon. Mittens was basking in a sunbeam; near Carrie's feet.
Carrie and her cat, Mittens, were having a relaxing afternoon; Mittens was basking in a sunbeam near Carrie's feet.
The correct use of a semicolon is connecting two related independent clauses. If a part of a sentence can't stand alone as a sentence, it can't be connected to another part of the sentence with a semicolon. In this case, the correct form is "Carrie and her cat, Mittens, were having a relaxing afternoon; Mittens was basking in a sunbeam near Carrie's feet," which connects the two related sentences with a semicolon.
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