ACT English : Usage Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English
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Example Questions
Example Question #72 : Pronoun Usage 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 author did not tell her husband that she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and he until it was published.
she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to both their daughter and he until it was published.
she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and him until it was published.
she had decided on dedicating her latest novel to their daughter and he until it was published.
she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and he until it was published.
she had decided that she would dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and he until it was published.
she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and him until it was published.
Only the answer choice "she had decided to dedicate her latest novel to their daughter and him until it was published" correctly uses the pronoun "him," which is the objective case pronoun, as an object of the preposition "to."
All of the other answer choices use the pronoun "he," which is the subjective case pronoun, instead of "him," and are therefore incorrect.
Example Question #192 : Correcting Usage Errors
Rounding the corner, the pedestrian quickly saw the entirety of the cities skyline.
of the cities' skyline.
from the cities skyline.
of the city's skyline.
of the cities skyline.
of the cities skylines.
of the city's skyline.
The underlined portion of the sentence has an issue with the word "cities." The word is actually used as a possessive, instead of the plural form that is written in the sentence. The appropriate form is "of the city's skyline."
Example Question #41 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case
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.
She and him were trying to show that they were serious players in the financial market.
She and him was trying
She and him were trying
Her and him were trying
She and he were trying
Him and she were trying
She and he were trying
The use of the objective pronoun "him" in the subject of the sentence is incorrect. The word should be changed to the subjective pronoun "he." As this is the only change that needs to be made in the sentence, "She and he were trying" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1682 : Act English
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.
Between you and I, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.
Between you and I, we could not send you to that private high school for the tuition was so expensive.
Between you and I, we cannot send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.
Between you and I, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.
Between you and I, we couldn’t send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.
Between you and me, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.
Between you and me, we could not send you to that private high school because the tuition was so expensive.
After the preposition "between," one uses the objects pronouns "you" and "me."
Example Question #184 : Correcting Pronoun 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.
Me and the general always took a stroll in the morning.
Me and the general
The general, I
The general and I
I and the general
The general and me
The general and I
The underlined portion is an incorrect usage of "me." A good rule of thumb, and the best way to find the answer, is to see which pronoun is appropriate alone, "me" or "I." "The general and I" is the correct answer.
Example Question #45 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case
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.
She and him do not dance under any circumstances.
She and him do not
They does not
She and he do not
They do not
She and him does not
They do not
Using "she and him" is always incorrect, as "she" is a subject and "him" is an object. The best way to fix this is to use "they" and its correct verb usage, "do not."
Example Question #81 : Pronoun Usage 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.
Me and my best friend always went down to the river on Saturdays in the summer.
My best friend and I
Me and my best friend
My best friend and me
I and my best friend
My best friend and us
My best friend and I
The use of "me" as a subject in a sentence is always incorrect. As a subject, "I" is the correct first person singular pronoun, and should always be the final subject when more than one is mentioned; therefore, "My best friend and I" is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #42 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case
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.
Our dad's detailed lectures were rarely understood by my brother and I.
by my brother and I.
by I and my brother.
for my brother and I.
by me and my brother.
by my brother and myself.
by me and my brother.
The key issue in the underlined portion of the sentence is the use of the first person pronoun, "I." "I" is the subjective form, but is used as an object in the sentence. Thus, it needs to be changed to the object form "me," making "for me and my brother" the correct answer choice.
Example Question #42 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case
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.
The negotiations were specifically targeted to attack he and I.
to attack him and I.
to attack he and I.
for attacking he and I.
to attack me and him.
to attack he and me.
to attack me and him.
The use of both "he" and "I" is absolutely incorrect, as both pronouns are subjective pronouns that should only be used as the subject of the sentence. Both pronouns should be changed to the objective forms. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "to attack me and him."
Example Question #201 : Correcting Pronoun 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.
For he and I, the most important issue is the debate over voting rights.
For him and I,
For he and I,
For he and me,
For me and him,
For I and he,
For me and him,
The underlined introductory phrase features two subjective pronouns, "he" and "I," but an introductory phrase does not contain the subject of the sentence. Both pronouns need to be changed to the appropriate objective pronouns, making "For me and him" the correct answer choice.
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