ACT English : Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
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Example Questions
Example Question #131 : Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 final exam challenged students and there was critical thinking required by it.
and they required critical thinking.
and there was critical thinking required of them.
NO CHANGE
and it was critical thinking.
and required critical thinking.
and required critical thinking.
This is another (more subtle) parallel structure error. The second verb in the sentence needs to be in the same form (past tense) as the first and refer directly to the subject, the final exam itself, not the students. The only answer choice that does this correctly is "and required critical thinking." The choice "and they required critical thinking" may look similar but it actually changes the subject of the sentence and/or introduces an agreement error in number with the original subject.
Example Question #132 : Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence 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 musician was praised not only for her precise technique but also in her expressive interpretation.
but also to interpret expressively.
but also for her expressive interpretation.
but also interpretation.
NO CHANGE
but also in expressiveness.
but also for her expressive interpretation.
This is a parallel structure error. In the first phrase the musician is praised for her technique, so in the second phrase she also needs to be praised for her expressive interpretation (not in it).
Example Question #133 : Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Select the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as is, select "NO CHANGE."
Alanna's busy weekend included visiting her aunt, studying for a test, and to attend a friend's birthday party.
and attended a friend's birthday party.
and the attending of a friend's birthday party.
NO CHANGE
and attendance of a friend's birthday party.
and attending a friend's birthday party.
and attending a friend's birthday party.
The last verb needs to be in the same -ing participle form as the other two items in a list must be parallel in structure.
Example Question #1982 : 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."
The city fathers hope to improve trash collection services, add more patrol officers, and to balance the city's budget by the end of the next fiscal year.
a balanced city budget
balancing the city's budget
NO CHANGE
balance the city's budget
they want to balance the city's budget
balance the city's budget
The sentence has three verb phrases, all of which are signalled by the infinitive, "to." Since the second phrase does not contain the infinitive, it should not be used in the third phrase as it causes the sentence to be not parallel. "Balancing" is a participle and is not parallel. "A balanced city budget" is a noun phrase. "They want to balance the budget" is a clause and is not parallel.
Example Question #1983 : 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."
Anna enjoyed riding camels, swimming, and to go drive through the sand dunes at the desert resort.
and she went driving through the sand dunes
and to go driving through the sand dunes
and to drive through the sand dunes
and driving through the sand dunes
NO CHANGE
and driving through the sand dunes
The sentence presents a list of verbs in participle (-ing) form. Because they are part of a list, all the verbs must be in the same form ("riding," "swimming," "driving").
Example Question #1984 : 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."
At Redwood Park, we hiked, camped, and we were climbing trees.
and were climbing trees.
and were to climb trees.
and went climbing trees.
and climbed trees.
NO CHANGE
and climbed trees.
All of the other verbs in the list are in simple past tense, so you need the simple past tense of "climbed" as well in order to maintain proper parallel structure.
Example Question #1985 : 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."
Anneliese and I are running to the store, seeing a movie, and will go to dinner.
and to go to dinner.
and going to dinner.
and we will go to dinner.
NO CHANGE
and will be going to dinner.
and going to dinner.
This is a parallel structure error. Of the three verbs, two are in the simple present progressive "ing" form, so the third (underlined) should be as well.
Example Question #1986 : Act English
Growing up, I used to find math very tedious. I abhorred algebra, couldn't stand geometry, and 1. was just hating trigonometry. I was sure calculus would be no different. 2. That was until I met, my calculus teacher, Ms. Sweed. 3. Calculus being the subject she taught, she used it to show me how 4. math makes our world go around.
5.Ms. Sweed was very educated, having two master’s and a PhD. 6. I can still remember one day that she talked to me after class after one of the first tests we took in class I had done not as well as I had wanted. When I went to talk to her after class, she told me that she thought I was very smart and could do better if I tried. I began to come to talk to her after class every day for extra study. 7. She only used these extra sessions to not help me understand the math, but showed how math can be used to apply to real life. She showed how math could be used to explain many natural phenomena. 8. However, she showed how math can be used to analyze patterns from studies. I never thought I would say math was my favorite subject, but with Ms. Sweed teaching, it was.
9. (1) Trying to use Mrs. Sweed’s wit, enthusiasm, and dedication, as I tried to inspire other students. (2) I even started to do well enough in math to start tutoring other students. (3) I never would have been able to do so without meeting Ms. Sweed. (4) I was soon one of the top tutors in our school, and I helped dozens of students increase their grades. [10] Thanks to her inspiration, I’ve decided to look into the field of engineering. 11. Now, an engineering major taking many math classes in college. I enjoy every single one of them. 12. Math is a subject everyone can enjoy.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE
just would hate
just hating
just hated
am just hating
just hated
The answer "just hated" is the only option that maintains the sentence's parallel structure. All the other verbs in the list of this sentence are in the past tense as well.
Example Question #1987 : 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."
In order to save money on car repair bills, Sang Lee changed his oil, replaced his spark plugs and he rotated his tires all by himself.
rotated his tires
NO CHANGE
he was rotating his tires
rotating tires
tires were rotated
rotated his tires
In order to main parallel structure, the last phrase should be a past tense verb phrase. He rotated his tires, tires were rotated by him, and he was rotating tires are all clauses and are thus not parallel. Rotating tires is a present-tense verb phrase.
Example Question #1988 : 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."
In order to successfully develop a prototype, Mark's design team needs to update its blueprints, to build a clay model, and conduct tests in a simulator.
NO CHANGE
a clay model should be built,
building a clay model,
build a clay model,
the building of a clay model,
build a clay model,
In order to be parallel with "update its blueprints" and "conduct tests", the correct answer should be a present tense verb phrase. Since the third phrase in the series does not have the infinitive verb "to", it should not be used in the second phrase.
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