ACT English : Verb Tense Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #184 : Usage Errors

The house stood, at the bottom of a hill, making it hard to see from the street. The owner wants it that way, as he had no use for any of his neighbors. “Nosy sneaks and cheats” he would to say to his son. Not that his son ever really listening. The old man did not see him very much, either at his home or going anywhere else. Every time he did see him, his son would just complain about how his house was dark musty, and filthy. The old man did not need such criticism, especially from only his blood relative. He had lived in that house for fifty years, and planned to live there as long as he possibly could. While he lived there, his neighbors would never see him or his house if he could help it. He could take care of him, and steadfastly refused to allow anyone to help. In his tiny house, at the bottom of the hill, the old man was content to be alone, and believed he was living perfect.

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:

said to his son

saying to his son

say to his son

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

say to his son

Explanation:

The use of the infinitive form "to say" in this sentence actually makes the sentence not have a verb. An infinitive is a verb form that functions as a noun, adverb, or adjective, and it needs to be changed to the proper form that can function as the verb of the sentence. The correct answer choice, using the present tense active verb, is "say to his son."

Example Question #141 : Verb Tense Errors

Passage adapted from Candide (1759) by Voltaire

The Baron was one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia, for his castle had not only a gate, but even windows, and his great hall was hung with tapestry. He used to hunt with his mastiffs and spaniels instead of greyhounds; his groom served him for huntsman; and the parson of the parish officiated as his grand almoner. He was called "My Lord" by all his people, and he never told a story but everyone laughed at it.

My Lady Baroness, who weighs three hundred and fifty pounds, consequently was a person of no small consideration; and then she did the honors of the house with a dignity that commanded universal respect. Her daughter was about seventeen years of age, fresh-colored, comely, plump, and desirable. The Baron's son seemed to be a youth in every respect worthy of the father he sprung from. Pangloss, the preceptor, was the oracle of the family, and little Candide listened to his instructions with all the simplicity natural to his age and disposition.

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:

NO CHANGE

was weighing

weighted

weighed 

Correct answer:

weighed 

Explanation:

"Weighed" is the correct form of the verb, because this passage is written in the past tense. This is an instance in which the simple past is best in order to agree with the rest of the verbs in this sentence (note that semicolon connects this independent clause to a second independent clause).

Example Question #142 : Verb Tense Errors

Passage adapted from Rose in Bloom (1876) by Louisa May Alcott

Rose and Phebe, sitting side by side on the sofa, had evidently assumed at once the places which they were destined to fill by right of youth, sex, and beauty, for Phebe had long since ceased to be the maid and become the friend, and Rose meant to have that fact established at once.

Jamie occupied the rug, on which Will and Geordie stand at ease, showing their uniforms to the best advantage, for they were now in a great school, where military drill was the delight of their souls. Steve posed gracefully in an armchair, with Mac lounging over the back of it, while Archie leaned on one corner of the low chimneypiece, looking down at Phebe as she listened to his chat with smiling lips and cheeks almost as rich in color as the carnations in her belt.

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:

standing

stood

standed

standily

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

stood

Explanation:

"Stood" is the correct answer, because the sentence is in the past tense. If "Jamie occupied the rug" whatever verb action Will and Geordie performed on that object at the same time should be conjugated so as to match the simple past of "occupied."

Example Question #141 : Verb Tense Errors

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

Since 1987, all community colleges in the state require students to pass proficiency tests in both Math and English before they enter college-level classes.

Possible Answers:

have required

NO CHANGE

will require

requirin

had required

Correct answer:

have required

Explanation:

The word "since" requires the sentence to be in past perfect tense. Present subjunctive ("require"), future tense ("will require"), present participle ("requiring"), and past perfect ("had required") are not appropriate in this sentence.

Example Question #142 : Verb Tense Errors

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

As Anna and Joe climbed the mountain, they had seen marmots, bighorn sheep, and other wildlife.

Possible Answers:

they have seen marmots

they did see marmots

NO CHANGE

they saw marmots

they were seeing marmots

Correct answer:

they saw marmots

Explanation:

The verb tense should match the original past tense (climbed), and past tense of "see" is "saw." In this case, we know the tense should be simple past because Anna and Jane "saw" the animals at the one point in the past when they "climbed the mountain."

Example Question #143 : Verb Tense Errors

“Mathematics and Learning”

What subject should be learned first?  The question rightly troubles anyone who’s interest is in education.  Of course, young children often must learn in a very basic and rote fashion, applying their apt memorization skills to simple tasks that will serve them very well in later years when they go one to apply such knowledge to more complex topics.  However, when the time comes to designing curricula, an important question must be answered for older students, namely “What is most important first topic in these students’s education?”

An argument can be made for the use of mathematics as a tool for teaching students how to reason more clearly.  This is not because mathematics is the basis of all knowledge.  Indeed not.  There are many important subjects including not only the humanities like poetry and history but sciences like biology and physiology too.   These topics are not strictly speaking mathematical in nature, even though mathematics can be used in it in many ways.

Our minds are best geared for learning things that we can sense, things that are visible and tangible.  Although mathematics is abstract, it can begin with this kind of sense derived experience.  Beginning with simple everyday examples, children can be taught the more abstract and difficult skills that must be learned for the sake of the development of mathematical skills.  In the process of learning these topics, the children will begin to learn important rules about reasoning.  He or she will learn how several propositions can serve as the basis for conclusions.  They will learn how certain properties are related to various geometric figures and arithmetical rules.  Although much of this will be memorized at first, with time, they will have the opportunity to see that human reasoning in mathematical subjects is orderly and logical.  On the basis of such “logical experience,” young learners can then begin to be taught the rules of logic that they have been using all along.  As the medievals used to say, they could go from logica utens, logic used in other subjects, to logica docens logic taught, as a unique, and separate subject.

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

Possible Answers:

the rules of logic that they had been using all along

NO CHANGE

the rules of logic that they have used all along

the rules of logic that they were using all along

the rules of logic they have been using all along

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

It might be tempting for you to choose the past perfect form "had been using." Whenever you are discussing something that is more remotely in the past compared to another past action, this is the form you use to express this kind of temporal sequence. Note the main verb in the sentence: "Young learners can then begin." Since this sentence is in the present tense, the "present perfect" form that is already in the sentence is fine.

Example Question #143 : Verb Tense Errors

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

If the team would have spent more time in the weight room, they would have been better prepared to face the massive offensive line of Ridgely High.

Possible Answers:

spent

had spent 

would spend

spends

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

had spent 

Explanation:

The past hypothetical construction requires a past perfect (had spent) in the subordinate clause.

Example Question #144 : Verb Tense Errors

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

After he went to the grocery store, Frank stops at the hardware store to pick up some nails.

Possible Answers:

stopping

will stop

stopped

NO CHANGE

stop

Correct answer:

stopped

Explanation:

This question asks you to correct a verb tense error. The first part of the sentence, "After he went to the grocery store," uses the past tense verb "went." Therefore, the verb in the second part of the sentence should also use the past tense form, "stopped." 

Example Question #145 : Verb Tense Errors

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

Before I took the exam, I purchased several preparation manuals containing both practice tests and review exercises.

Possible Answers:

am purchasing

will purchase

had purchased

NO CHANGE

would purchase

Correct answer:

had purchased

Explanation:

Because the sentence features two past tense actions, "took" and "purchased" that are being presented in the opposite order in which they were completed, it is necessary to use the past perfect "had purchased" to establish that this action was completed first.

Example Question #146 : Verb Tense Errors

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

Billy gone to the ocean once before in his life.

Possible Answers:

had gone

NO CHANGE

going

had went

go

Correct answer:

had gone

Explanation:

This question asks you about the correct tense of a verb. The use of the word "before" in this sentence indicates that the past perfect tense should be used. The past perfect tense is used to show that a past event happened before something else happened. The correct past perfect formation of the verb "to go" is "had gone."

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