ACT English : Appositive and Interrupting Phrase Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors amazon store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #2071 : Act English

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

Rachel mustered up the courage to ask Davis, the most popular boy in school, to prom.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

Rachel mustered up the courage to ask Davis, the most popular boy in school to prom.

Rachel mustered up the courage to ask Davis the most popular boy in school to prom.

Rachel mustered up the courage to ask Davis: the most popular boy in school, to prom.

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

This sentence is correct as written. Appositives follow the noun they describe and are separated out by commas. There is no reason the other nouns cannot have appositives, though it is not necessary and will likely lead to the sentence being clunky and awkward.

Example Question #11 : Appositive And Interrupting Phrase 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 boy, a new addition to the classroom proved to be quite the disruption to the class that had previously sailed smoothly.

Possible Answers:

The boy a new addition to the classroom, proved to be quite the disruption

NO CHANGE

The boy, who was a new addition to the classroom proved to be quite the disruption

The boy a new addition to the classroom proved to be quite the disruption

The boy, a new addition to the classroom, proved to be quite the disruption

Correct answer:

The boy, a new addition to the classroom, proved to be quite the disruption

Explanation:

Appositives, which rename a noun, should usually be offset by two commas when in the middle of a sentence. Here, "a new addition to the classroom" renames "the boy" and should be enclosed within commas.

Example Question #11 : Appositive Errors

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

Sandra chose mint chocolate chip ice cream, the restaurant's newest flavor for dessert.

Possible Answers:

mint chocolate chip ice cream the restaurant's newest flavor, for dessert.

mint chocolate chip ice cream, the restaurant's newest flavor, for dessert.

NO CHANGE

mint chocolate chip, ice cream the restaurant's newest flavor for dessert.

mint chocolate chip ice cream the restaurant's newest flavor for dessert.

Correct answer:

mint chocolate chip ice cream, the restaurant's newest flavor, for dessert.

Explanation:

This question asks you to correct the punctuation surrounding an appositive phrase. An appositive phrase is a phrase that describes something already introduced in the sentence. In this case, the appositive phrase "the restaurant's newest flavor" describes the "mint chocolate chip ice cream" that has been previously introduced. Appositive phrases should almost always be surrounded by commas on either side.

Example Question #11 : Appositive And Interrupting Phrase Errors

The senator who was more popular in other states gave a rousing speech to a nearly empty auditorium in Ohio. It was truly a depressing spectacle, and one that spoke to the factious, partisan nature of party politics in this century. In the corner of the room, a small, sharp-eyed woman made a discrete check mark in a notebook, then she quietly exited the room. One had to wonder, not what she wrote, but what she knew.

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:

senator who was more popular in other states, gave

senator who was more popular, in other states, gave

senator, who was more popular in other states, gave

NO CHANGE

senator, who was more popular in other states gave

Correct answer:

senator, who was more popular in other states, gave

Explanation:

This sentence asks you to correctly punctuate an interrupting clause. The clause "who was more popular in other states" is a parenthetical element, which means it could be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning. A parenthetical element should be surrounded on either side by commas. 

Example Question #15 : Appositive Errors

“John Adams—A Forgotten American Founder”

Sadly, the great exploits of important [46] men and women is often forgotten in the mists of history. The myths and historical tales of a nation can lead the people to forget [47] some of their most important founders and national heroes. In the United States of America, this kind of forgetfulness has occurred in the case of the Founding Father, John Adams. For a number of reasons, President Adams [48] had been forgotten. Recounting the [49] tales of the nations’ founding, many remember figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. [50] However, during those early years of the republic, Adams was a pivotal figure in assuring independence to the burgeoning nation.

[51] During the debates concerning the Declaration of Independence, Adams was something of a “chief orator,” tirelessly attempting to convince the gathered parties of the importance of declaring independence from England. [52] Adams a temperamental and passionate man, was the perfect person to fill such a role. In contrast to the judicious Franklin and the controlled and quiet Jefferson, he was fit for performing such oratorical shows and bombasts. [53] Although he joined Jefferson and Franklin on the drafting committee for the declaration, his most important work during this time was arguably this long project of oratory.

[54] In addition, many forget the lonely years Adams spent as a minister to France and as the first minister to England. What a difficult affair such posts would have been at the time. [55] As the minister to France, what weight could he have had with the court of such an old European nation? Furthermore, Adams [56] was not temperamentally [57] suited for French courtly customs being a stern and somewhat moralistic man. [58] Then, to be sent to England—how difficult that must have been. As the minister on behalf of a once-rebel nation, how could he stand before the Court of King James? Nevertheless, Adams served his [59] post nobly and deserves great recognition for this devoted service to his young nation.

Choose the answer that best corrects section [52].

Possible Answers:

Adams, a temperamental and passionate man, was the perfect person to fill such a role.

Adams a temperamental and passionate man was the perfect person to fill such a role.

NO CHANGE

Adams a temperamental and passionate man, had been the perfect person to fill such a role.

Correct answer:

Adams, a temperamental and passionate man, was the perfect person to fill such a role.

Explanation:

In this sentence, "Adams" is in apposition to "a temperamental and passionate man." These two words refer to the same "thing" (to the same person, that is—John Adams). Whenever you have an apposition like this, you need to surround the second expression (or word if it is only a word) with commas. As written, the first comma (directly after Adams) is missing.

Example Question #16 : Appositive Errors

Adapted from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley (1855)

Not that Lucy ever proceeded to any such fearful extremities. On the contrary, her boast, and her belief too, was, that she was sent into the world to make poor souls as happy as she could, by lawful means, of course, if possible, but if not—why, unlawful ones were better than none; for she "couldn't a-bear to see the poor creatures taking on; she was too, too tender-hearted." And so she was, to everyone but her husband, a tall, rabbit-faced man, a good deal older than herself.

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

Possible Answers:

And so she was, to everyone but her husband, a tall, rabbit-faced man, a good deal older than herself.

And so she was, to everyone except for her husband; a tall rabbit-faced man a good deal older than herself.

NO CHANGE

And so she was, to everyone but her husband being a tall rabbit-faced man a good deal older than herself.

And so she was, to everyone except for her husband, a good deal older than herself, a tall rabbit-faced man.

Correct answer:

And so she was, to everyone but her husband, a tall, rabbit-faced man, a good deal older than herself.

Explanation:

The phrase "a tall, rabbit-faced man" is an appositive phrase, which contains an appositive (a noun that explains or identifies a previous noun) as well as a few modifiers (the adjectives). The appositive must always appear after the word that it identifies. Also, the appositive phrase must be surrounded by two commas. Also, a comma must be placed between the coordinate adjectives "tall" and "rabbit-faced." A colon is inappropriate here. 

Example Question #17 : Appositive 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 director, he has been preparing for this film for the past four years, has finally been given approval to begin filming this month.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

which has been preparing for this film for the past four years,

preparing for this film for the past four years,

whom has been in preparation for this film for the past four years,

who has been preparing for this film for the past four years,

Correct answer:

who has been preparing for this film for the past four years,

Explanation:

The comma after the subject indicates the need for an appositive phrase.   

A main clause used in this position would create a run-on sentence.

"which" cannot be used to refer to people.

"whom" is the objective form of the pronoun and cannot be the subject of the appositive.

"preparing" would make the time referent of the phrase present.

Example Question #1 : Interrupting Phrase Errors

Adapted from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1890)

As they entered, they saw Dorian Gray who was seated at the piano his back to them, turning over the pages of a volume of Schumann's "Forest Scenes." "You must lend me these, Basil," he cried. "I want to learn them. They are perfectly charming." "That entirely depends on how you sit to-day, Dorian."

"Oh, I am tired of sitting, and I don't want a life-sized portrait of myself," answered the lad, swinging round on the music-stool in a willful, petulant manner. When he caught sight of Lord Henry, a faint blush colored his cheeks for a moment, and he started up. "I beg your pardon, Basil. I did’nt know you had any one with you."

"This is Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian, an old Oxford friend of mine. I have just been telling him what a capital sitter you were, and now you have spoiled everything."

"You have not spoiled my pleasure in meeting you, Mr. Gray," said Lord Henry, stepping forward and extended his hand. "My aunt has often spoken to me about you. You are one of her favorites, and, I am afraid, one of her victims also."

"I am in Lady Agatha's black books at present," answered Dorian with a funny look of penitence. "I promised to go to a club in Whitechapel with her last Tuesday, and I really forgot all about it. We were to have played a duet together: three duets, I believe. I don't know what she will say to me. I am far too frightened to call."

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

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

at the piano with his back to them

at the piano his backing to them

at the piano and his back to them

at the piano his back being to them

Correct answer:

at the piano with his back to them

Explanation:

There are at least two potential options for this sentence, though one of them is not provided. You could write, "at the piano, his back to them." This would make "his back to them" a descriptive subordinate clause. However, given the number of commas already needed in this sentence, this form is likely confusing. Therefore, the correct answer provided is "at the piano with his back to them." The preposition "with" is being used in the sense of in the state of having (his back to them).

Example Question #1 : Interrupting Phrase Errors

My childhood was fairly idyllic. I grew up in southern suburbia, we could play outside nearly year round. We almost played outside every day. Our days were filled with bike rides, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the sprinklers, and also imagination games. Countless afternoons were spent in the side yard of our home, where our imaginations were the limit to our fun. One of our favorite games was “Lost Children.” Oddly enough, the parents in the game were always deceased or fighting in a foreign war. The source of this game likely stemmed from the books we read.

My mother’s old, rusty, orange wheelbarrow was perpetually propped up against the fence, to serve as the base for our makeshift range. The metal braces beneath the wheelbarrow bin provided the perfect resting place for a pair of burners, hastily sketched on a flat board. Old paint buckets became a sink and a stained picnic table was scrubbed to a relative state of cleanliness. Our visitors, who were often kings and queens, were served heaping helpings of mud and grass pie, possibly adorned with a side helping of flowers. Household chores were far more fun to do in our imaginary world, and we would eagerly sweep and dust our humble home. Even covered in leaves, we loved our outdoor kitchen.  

Other days, we would scamper around the neighborhood park, sometimes venturing into the woods to go exploring. One time we borrowed my little sister’s wagon and flew down the sides of the ditch. Although we had a grand time my mother was not pleased when she had to replace the broken axle. On adventurous days, we would pretend to be statues on the entrance sign to our neighborhood. But, the most perfect afternoons were spent biking up to the local corner store. With spending money burning a hole in our pockets, we would peruse the convenience store shelves, and after carefully picking our selections, we would pedal home. Our plastic shopping bags hung from the handlebars, rustling in the wind.

The bite of crisp fall evenings would barely phase our childlike fantasies. But, to our dismay, twilight would inevitably seep into our childhood world. Mother would call us in for dinner and a bath, if needed. Tired, beds were welcomed. I would often fall asleep to the gentle rhythm of my mother’s voice.

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

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

Our visitors, who were often kings and queens

Our visitors who were often kings and queens,

Our visitors who were often kings and queens

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

"Our visitors, who were often kings and queens," is the best choice because “who were often kings and queens” is a parenthetical element and can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Example Question #13 : Appositive And Interrupting Phrase Errors

Known as Prohibition the political fight in the United States to ban the sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol took a long time. The official ratification of the 18th Amendment, which banned alcohol, took place in January of 1919, after Nebraska became the 36th state to have its legislature ratify the amendment. The Amendment had first been passed of the United States Senate in 1917, and needed vigorous political action taken by its supporters just to get the necessary 36 states to ratify it. Its official enactment on January 1, 1920 was met with equal amounts of relief and joy by it’s proponents.

Most of them had been fighting to ban alcohol for decades. The American Temperance Society was founding in 1826. Frances Willard had been running the Women’s Christian Temperance Union for decades by the time a national debate was taking place on Prohibition. Carrie Nation had banded together women in the Midwest since the turn of the century to destroy bars and saloons with her trademark hatchet. The Anti-Saloon league organized thousands of everyday Americans to vote against any politician that did not support Prohibition. A burgeoning movement had grown into a legitimate groundswell, by the late 1910s.

After the ratification of the 18th Amendment, few of these supporters thought that it would be the abject failure it turned out to be. Most Americans did not want the absolute ban of all sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol. The most enterprising Americans found many illicit ways to profit from alcohol’s new illegal status. Americans looking for alcohol were seldom out of options, as every corner had either a speakeasy or a bootlegger selling imported or homemade liquor. Criminal organizations grew in strength thanks to profits from illegal booze, and federal agents were hopelessly outmanned of mobsters and thugs. On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution repealed the 18th Amendment, eliminating the Prohibition of alcohol and turning back the work of all of the Prohibition activists.

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

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

Known as Prohibition, the political fight

Being known today as Prohibition the political fight

Knowing as Prohibition the political fight

Known as Prohibition—the political fight—

Correct answer:

Known as Prohibition, the political fight

Explanation:

The phrase "Known as Prohibition" is an introductory phrase, one that adds information to a sentence but remains outside the sentence's main structure. Any introductory phrase must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. The only answer choice that correctly deploys a comma in such a manner is "Known as Prohibition, the political fight."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors