ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
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Example Questions
Example Question #13 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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 boys were making trouble for everybody else.
the boys were made trouble
the boys was making trouble
the boys were make trouble
the boys were making troubling
the boys were making trouble
the boys was making trouble
The verb in the sentence, "were," is a plural verb, but the subject of the sentence is "one," a singular noun. Any subject and verb must be in agreement, so the verb has to be changed to the singular form, because "one" is not underlined in the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "the boys was making trouble."
Example Question #71 : 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.
The argument over the scandal and the authority of the governor have intensified greatly.
whether the governor has authority has
what the authority of the governor is has
the governor's authority have
the authority of the governor have
the authority of the governor has
the authority of the governor has
Because the subject of the sentence is the singular noun argument, the verb have is conjugated incorrectly. The sentence also has a list which requires parallel phrasing. The only choice that corrects both problems is "the authority of the governor has".
Example Question #952 : 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.
All of the pack is involved in any nighttime hunt, and every wolf shares in the benefits of the prey.
The pack are
All the pack is
The pack all is
All of the pack are
All of the pack is
All of the pack are
The underlined portion has a very simple error, as "all" is a plural noun, and needs a plural form as the subject of the sentence. "The pack" is singular, but is not the subject of the sentence as it is written. The correct answer is "All of the pack are."
Example Question #1091 : Sentence Correction
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.
Everyone in the villages know that the boy was in trouble from the moment he came home.
know that
knows which
knows that
know of that
know which
knows that
The subject of the sentence "Everyone" is a singular noun, but the verb "know" is plural. A subject and verb have to match in tense, so the verb needs to be in the singular form. The correct answer is "knows that."
Example Question #72 : Word Usage Errors
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam are too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam are too much of me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrows’ exam are too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam are much too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam is too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam are too much for me to remember.
The number of physics principles on tomorrow’s exam is too much for me to remember.
Here, there is a subject-verb agreement problem. The subject is “number”, which is singular. The verb “are” does not match up with “number” because it is plural. We need to say “number…is”.
Example Question #51 : Agreement 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.
Some of the soldiers is still missing years after the war is over.
Some soldiers is still missing
Some soldiers miss
Some of the soldier missing
Some of the soldiers are still missing
Some of the soldiers is still missing
Some of the soldiers are still missing
The use of the phrase "Some of the" always indicates a plural, even when referring to small slice of a larger group. The verb tense for "is" then needs to be changed into a plural form. "Some of the soldiers are still missing," is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #21 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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.
When does the restaurant closes after dinner?
closes
closing
close
should close
will close
close
Becuase the subject, "restaurant," is singluar, the verb must be be singular as well. The verb and the subject in a sentence must always agree with each other.
Example Question #22 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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.
After watching their home team hit the game-winning home run, the group of hometown fans were ecstatic.
the group of hometown fans became ecstatic
the group was ecstatic with hometown fans
the hometown fans in the group was ecstatic
the group of hometown fans was ecstatic
the group of hometown fans were ecstatic
the group of hometown fans was ecstatic
The term "group" is a singular subject; therefore, the verb must be "was," as opposed to "were."
Example Question #2131 : Sat Writing
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.
Due to the elliptical shape of celestial orbits, the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
the distance of the sun to the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun with the planets vary over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets have varied over time.
the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time.
The answer choice "the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time" is correct. It correctly uses a singular verb—"varies"—to match the singular subject, "distance."
All of the other answer choices are incorrect because they contain a subject-verb number agreement error. They use plural verb forms when they should use singular verb forms instead.
Example Question #22 : Correcting Subject Verb Agreement 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.
Due to the fact that newspapers and magazines focus on death, corruption, and other negative matters, the majority of the public believes that the media are pessimistic.
the majority of the public believes that the media is pessimistic.
the majority of the public believe that the media can be pessimistic.
the majority of the public believes that the media are pessimistic.
the majority of the public believes that the medias are pessimistic.
the majority of the public believe that the media are pessimistic.
the majority of the public believes that the media are pessimistic.
No error. The subject “the majority” is singular, so the verb must be “believes.” "The media" is plural because it refers to various sources, so the verb should be “are.”
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