ACT English : Correcting Grammatical Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #131 : Agreement Errors

Passage adapted from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1899) by L. Frank Baum

Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife. Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles. There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which make one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds. Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner, and Dorothy a little bed in another corner. There was no garret at all, and no cellar--except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path. It was reached by a trap door in the middle of the floor, from which a ladder led down into the small, dark hole.

When Dorothy stood in the doorway and looked around, she could see nothing but the great gray prairie on every side. Not a tree nor a house broke the broad sweep of flat country that reached to the edge of the sky in all directions. The sun had baked the plowed land into a gray mass, with little cracks running through it. Even the grass was not green, for the sun had burned the tops of the long blades until they were the same gray color to be seen everywhere. Once the house had been painted, but the sun blistered the paint and the rains washed it away, and now the house was as dull and gray as everything else.

Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

Possible Answers:

were making

made

NO CHANGE

makes

Correct answer:

made

Explanation:

"Made" is the correct choice, because it is in the past tense and agrees with the subject (four walls, a floor and a roof).

Example Question #161 : Word Usage Errors

Select the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as is, select "NO CHANGE."

The tracks in the snow and the scat on the ground provides evidence that deer have visited the yard.

Possible Answers:

was providing evidence that

NO CHANGE

were providing evidence that

provides evidence for

provide evidence that

Correct answer:

provide evidence that

Explanation:

There is no need to change the tense, only the number. The compound subject ("tracks and scat") needs a plural verb, provide.

Example Question #162 : Word Usage Errors

Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

There was a giraffe and a herd of zebras at the zoo.

Possible Answers:

There was giraffes

It was a giraffe

NO CHANGE

There were a giraffe 

It were a giraffe

Correct answer:

There were a giraffe 

Explanation:

The verb precedes the compound subject ("giraffe and a herd of zebras") here, making it tougher to see that you need a plural verb ("were") instead of the singular "was."

Example Question #163 : Word Usage 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 dress and the jacket is in the closet downstairs.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

jacket it is in the closet

jacket they are in the closet

jacket's in the closet

jacket are in the closet

Correct answer:

jacket are in the closet

Explanation:

The compound subject "the dress and the jacket" needs a plural verb "are." If the "and" between the "dress and the jacket" were an "or" then the subject would be singular.

Example Question #161 : Word Usage 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."

Possible Answers:

both linguistic and cultural understanding and awareness are essential.

both linguistic and cultural understanding and awareness is essential.

NO CHANGE

all linguistic and cultural understanding, in addition to awareness, are essential

Correct answer:

both linguistic and cultural understanding and awareness are essential.

Explanation:

The verb "are" must agree with "understanding and awareness," which are modified by the words "linguistic" and cultural."

Example Question #951 : 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."

Stephen, along with two of his sisters, have been designated to serve as trustees for their family's estate.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

were

are being

are 

has been

Correct answer:

has been

Explanation:

The subject of the sentence (Stephen) is singular and is followed by a modifying phrase (along with two of his sisters) that is NOT part of the subject. Thus the sentence must have a singular predicate.

 Are, are being, and were are all plural verbs.

Example Question #952 : 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."

Neither my parents nor their neighbors has any idea how the large tree came to be located, laying across the middle of their street.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

are having

has been having

has had

have

Correct answer:

have

Explanation:

The two subjects separated by the coordinator "neither...nor" are both plural, thus the verb should be plural. "Are having" would change the time referent

Example Question #953 : 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."

Three horses and a cat is living in Mrs. Smith's barn.

Possible Answers:

living

are living

living is

NO CHANGE

living are

Correct answer:

are living

Explanation:

This sentence contains a compound subject. Although the word "cat" is singular, the compound subject of the sentence, "three horses and a cat," is plural. Therefore, the plural verb form "are living" should be used in order for the subject and verb to agree.

Example Question #954 : 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."

Lauren and I am not going to the party.

Possible Answers:

Lauren and I are not going to the party.

Me and Lauren are not going to the party.

Lauren and me are not going to the party.

Lauren and me is not going to the party.

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

Lauren and I are not going to the party.

Explanation:

Since "Lauren and I" is a plural subject, the verb has to be plural as well. Replace "Lauren and I" with "we," and the verb "are" might sound more natural than "am."

Example Question #955 : 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."

Bill and Tiffany's brother buys a round of appetizers for the table.

Possible Answers:

has bought

buying

buy

NO CHANGE

was buying

Correct answer:

buy

Explanation:

This question asks you about subject-verb agreement. When the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must also use a plural form in order to agree. In this case, the compound subject includes two people, "Bill" and "Tiffany's brother," so it is plural. Therefore, the plural form of the verb, "buy," should be used rather than the singular form, "buys."

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