All ACT English Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Semicolon Errors
Thomas placed his quill on the parchment, looking toward the mantel upon which, earlier that morning, he saw the painting of the old monastic saint, Benedict of Nursia. To his surprise, the mantel was empty, not having any items on it’s narrow flat surface. As the image had been a gift from his old schoolmaster; he was concerned at the absence of the item.
He asked himself “Where could it have went?” Then, he gathered together his work and decided to ask one of his officemates about the cherished image. Leaving the room, he entered the foyer and turning to the secretary asked about the whereabouts of the others’.
The secretary looked at Thomas’ imposing figure and answered, “A group of the professors departed earlier for a University meeting; however, I cant recall exactly when they departed.” Although Thomas was not known for being passionate, the young secretary could see that he was agitated than usual.
The older man did not wish to worry his younger coworker. Smiling slightly, he said, “Don’t worry, Reginald. I seem to have misplaced my image of Benedict, though I know not how.” He continued by telling the younger man the chronology of events. Suddenly, the detailed recounting jogged the latters’ memory. He forgot an obvious detail that he only now remembered.
Looking at Thomas in embarrassment, Reginald, said, “Earlier this afternoon, I came in to your working area take the painting. Bonaventure had come to visit and asked to borrow it. You were so engrossed by you’re work that I did not want to disturb you. He will be stopping by to see you and I later today, so we can ask him to return it.”
What is the best form of the bolded selection, "from his old schoolmaster; he was concerned"?
from his old schoolmaster, he was concerned
from his old schoolmaster, he had been concerned
NO CHANGE
from his old schoolmaster; they were concerned
from his old schoolmaster, he was concerned
The main problem with the sentence as written is its improper use of the semicolon to separate "schoolmaster" from "he." The clause, "As the image had been a gift from his old scholmaster," is subordinate to the main clause. It therefore requires a comma. The wrong answer that has a comma but then alters the verb to be "had been" is incorrect because of the odd use of tense. There is nothing in the sentence calling for the use of the past perfect in this manner.
Example Question #23 : Punctuation Errors
As a child the only thing I wanted to be was a race car driver. My mothers family all lived in central Indiana, and I went to the Indianapolis 500 every year growing up. Between the colors on the cars the speed of the race and the enthusiasm of the crowd, nothing in the world seemed more exciting to a child. I would lay awake at night thinking about getting behind the wheel of my own race car. My bedroom walls were adorned with posters of the all great racers from all over the world.
When I was a teenager, I had the opportunity to race go karts on small tracks against other kids my age. Very quickly I realized I am the terrible driver. Any bumping with another driver was too much for me to handle, and I could not take the turns quick enough to keep pace with the best drivers. None of this diminished my love of racing, however, because just being at the track was such a thrill. The noise, the speed, and rushing were all more exciting from the pits than from the grandstand. If I could never be in the driver’s seat, then I would place myself behind the scenes.
With this new focus, I began studying mechanical engineering and automotive design. I might not have been able to drive a race car; but now I could design a car, build a car, and engineer it to win a race. The drivers still get all the credit for the championships, but everyone knows they would never win without the people like myself.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
to drive a race car; and now
to drive a race car. But now
NO CHANGE
to drive a race car, but now
to drive a race car, but now
A compound sentence, like the one that contains the underlined portion, joins two indpendent clauses together into one sentence to show their relationship. A compound sentence can only be properly joined by either a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. As the underlined portion contains a conjunction, "but," the correct answer choice is "to drive a race car, but now."
Example Question #394 : Act English
Adapted from The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1774; trans. Boylan 1854)
That the life of man is but a dream, many a man has surmised heretofore. I, too, am everywhere pursued by this feeling. When I consider the narrow limits within which our active and inquiring faculties are confined, I am silent. Likewise, when I see how all our energies are wasted in providing for mere necessities, which again has no further end than to prolong a wretched existence, I find myself to be silenced. Indeed, discovering that all our satisfaction concerning certain subjects of investigation ends in nothing better than a passive resignation, while we amuse ourselves painting our prison-walls with bright figures and brilliant landscapes—when I consider all this Wilhelm—I am silent. I examine my own being, and find there a world, but a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power. Then, everything swims before my senses, and I smile and dream while pursuing my way through the world.
All learned professors and doctors are agreed that children do not comprehend the cause of their desires; however, nobody is willing to acknowledge that the grown-ups should wander about this earth like children, without knowing whence they come or whither they go, influenced as little by fixed motives but, instead, guided like them by biscuits, sugar-plums, and the rod.
I know what you will say in reply. Indeed, I am ready to admit that they are happiest, who, like children, amuse themselves with their playthings, dress and undress their dolls. They are happiest, who attentively watch the cupboard, where mamma has locked up her sweet things, and, when at last they get a delicious morsel, eat it greedily, and exclaim, "More!" These are certainly happy beings; but others also are objects of envy, who dignify their paltry employments (and sometimes even their passions) with pompous titles, representing them to mankind as gigantic achievements performed for their welfare and glory. However, the man who humbly acknowledges the vanity of all this, who observes with what pleasure the thriving citizen converts his little garden into a paradise, and how patiently even the poor man pursues his weary way under his burden, and how all wish equally to behold the light of the sun a little longer—yes, such a man is at peace, and creates his own world within himself. Indeed, he is also happy precisely because he is a man. And then, however limited his sphere, he still preserves in his bosom the sweet feeling of liberty and knows that he can quit his prison whenever he likes.
What is the best form of the bolded selection?
world, but a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power
world, however, a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power
world; but, a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power
world; however, it is a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power
world; however, it is a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power
The sense of the conjunction "but" in this sentence is clearly meant to draw out the contrast between what one might expect from this "world" (as a "world") and what it really is: an imaginary world, not one of distinctness and power. Since the style itself obscures the meaning, it would be best to set this off with a semi-colon and start a new independent clause, clearly stating the contrast by using "however."
Example Question #21 : Semicolon Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
One morning on the first of September; my grandma surprised me with a visit and a new puppy.
NO CHANGE
September. My
September my
September: my
September, my
September, my
A comma should be used to connect a dependent clause ("One morning on the first of September") with the main clause ("my grandma surprised me with a visit and a new puppy").
Example Question #22 : Semicolon Errors
Select the correct form of the underlined portion of the sentence. If it is correct as it is, select "NO CHANGE."
Last year I visited Barcelona, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey; Oaxaca, Mexico; Xela, Guatemala; Salvador, Brazil; and Dangriga, Belize.
Barcelona, Spain, Istanbul, Turkey, Oaxaca, Mexico, Xela, Guatemala, Salvador, Brazil, and Dangriga, Belize.
Barcelona, Spain: Istanbul, Turkey: Oaxaca, Mexico: Xela, Guatemala: Salvador, Brazil: and Dangriga: Belize.
NO CHANGE
Barcelona Spain; Istanbul Turkey; Oaxaca Mexico; Xela Guatemala; Salvador Brazil; and Dangriga Belize.
Barcelona Spain Istanbul Turkey Oaxaca Mexico Xela Guatemala Salvador Brazil and Dangriga Belize.
NO CHANGE
Since each of the items in this list is a phrase that includes a comma, the items in the list should themselves be separated by semicolons to avoid confusion. That means that this sentence is correct as written.
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.
The new style was loathsome to older designers; but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers, they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers; and they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers so they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers; but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers, but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
The new style was loathsome to older designers, but they all knew the importance of the innovations made by younger stylists.
A compound sentence, like the one written in this question, must have its two independent clauses joined by either a semicolon or a conjunction and a comma. Using a semicolon and a conjunction, like written in the sentence, is never correct, and the semicolon should be replaced by a comma, as done in "The new style was loathsome to older designers, but they all knew the importance of the innovations from younder stylists."
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.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach feels he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation, the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach felt he knew exactly what he wants to do.
Drawn the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation; the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation, the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Although the sentence is written as compound sentence joined by a semicolon, the first portion, "Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation," is actually an introductory clause. As such, the clause should be set apart from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "Drawing the opposing team into an attacking formation, the coach felt he knew exactly what he wanted to do."
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.
I talked to Jenny this morning; who said that it was too cold to go swimming.
morning: who
morning. Who
morning; who
morning—who
morning, who
morning, who
A comma should separate the two clauses of the sentence; the second clause is a dependent clause, and cannot stand alone as its own sentence.
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.
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 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 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 #61 : Correcting Grammatical 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 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, those being red, green, and yellow.
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.
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.