ACT English : Usage Errors
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Example Question #12 : Possessive Pronoun Errors
Passage adapted from Under The Lilacs (1878) by Louisa May Alcott
The elm-tree avenue was all overgrown, the great gate was never unlocked, and the old house had been shut up for several years.
Yet voices were heard about the place, the lilacs nodded over the high wall as if they said, "We could tell fine secrets if we chose," and the mullein outside the gate made haste to reach the keyhole, that it might peep in and see what was going on. If it had suddenly grown up like a magic bean-stalk, and looked in on a certain June day, it would have seen a droll but pleasant sight, for somebody evidently was going to have a party.
From the gate to the porch went a wide walk, paved with smooth slabs of dark stone, and bordered with the tall bushes which met overhead, making a green roof. All sorts of neglected flowers and wild weeds grew between their stems, covering the walls of this summer parlor with the prettiest tapestry. A board, propped on two blocks of wood, stood in the middle of the walk, covered with a little plaid shawl much the worse for wear, and on it a miniature tea-service was set forth with great elegance. To be sure, the tea-pot had lost its spout, the cream-jug its handle, the sugar-bowl its cover, and the cups and plates were all more or less cracked or nicked; but polite persons would not take notice of these trifling deficiencies, and none but polite persons were invited to this party.
On either side of the porch was a seat, and here a somewhat remarkable sight would have been revealed to any inquisitive eye peering through the aforesaid keyhole. Upon the left-hand seat lay seven dolls, upon the right-hand seat lay six; and so varied were the expressions of their countenances, owing to fractures, dirt, age, and other afflictions, that one would very naturally have thought this a doll's hospital, and these the patients waiting for their tea.
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."
NO CHANGE
it's spout
the spout
his spout
NO CHANGE
No change is needed because 'its' is the correct possessive pronoun for this phrase.
"His spout" is incorrect because the teapot has no gender. "The spout" is incorrect because a possessive pronoun is needed, not an article. "It's spout" is incorrect because "it's" is a conjunction for "it is," and is not a possessive pronoun.
Example Question #13 : Possessive Pronoun Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Who's dog is in my yard?
Whose dog
NO CHANGE
Whoms dog
To who belongs that dog
Whom's dog
Whose dog
You need the possessive subject form of "who" (vs the object "whom"). The sentence as written forms a conjunction ("who is"). "Whose" is the correct possessive form for "who"
Example Question #14 : Possessive Pronoun Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Elyse and Anna put on his or her boots and went for a hike.
his and her boots
their boots
NO CHANGE
her boots
they're boots
their boots
You need a plural possessive form because you have two people putting on boots. "Their" is correct ("they're" is incorrect as it means "they are" and is not possessive)
Example Question #15 : Possessive Pronoun Errors
Select the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as is, select "NO CHANGE."
Most budgeting guidelines say that nobody should spend more than one third of their income on rent, but some cities are so expensive that this is difficult to do.
more than one third of his or her income
more than one third of there income
more than one third of your income
more than one third of they're income
NO CHANGE
more than one third of his or her income
"Nobody" is singular and needs the singular possessive pronouns "his or her," as a general, plural non-gendered subject is being used
Example Question #16 : Possessive Pronoun 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 lizard bobbed it's head up and down in a mating display.
bobbed they're head
was bobbing it's head
bobbed its head
bobbed their head
NO CHANGE
bobbed its head
The possessive form of "it" does not have an apostrophe (but you still need to use the singular "it" to modify "lizard").
Example Question #17 : Possessive Pronoun Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
You need to pick up you're clothes from the dry cleaner.
get you're clothes picked up
be picking up you're clothes
pick up your clothes
NO CHANGE
pick up they're clothes
pick up your clothes
The possessive form of "you" does not have an apostrophe, it is simply "your." "You're" always stands in for "you are."
Example Question #18 : Possessive Pronoun Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
They moved into they're new house yesterday.
there new house
theyre new house
their new house
they new house
NO CHANGE
their new house
The correct possessive form of they is "their." They're is the conjunction "they are." Anytime you see "they're" you should be able to replace it with "they are" and maintain the flow and structure of the sentence.
Example Question #21 : Possessive Pronoun 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 owl ruffled its feathers, startled by the sound of a wolf howling in the distance.
NO CHANGE
it's
its'
it
it is
NO CHANGE
This question asks you to choose the grammatically correct form of a possessive pronoun. In this sentence, the feathers belong to the owl, so a possessive form should be used for the pronoun that replaces the subject, "owl." The correct possessive form of the pronoun "it" is "its." The form "it's" should only be used as a contraction of "it is," not as a possessive pronoun. "Its'" is not a word at all. Replacing the possessive form with a non-possessive pronoun, "it," or with a pronoun and verb, "it is," would not make sense in this sentence.
Example Question #1734 : Act English
Josh suffered from a fear of dogs ever since he is a little boy. He would shiver in his boots thinking of a dog barking at him, biting him, or that could chase him. He had never met a single dog he liked. The scarier dog he had ever seen was Mr. Green’s dog, whom he had to pass every day. On his way to school. This dog barked so loudly it made Josh’s hairs stand on end.
She said that there was no need to be afraid. Josh’s mom told him that dogs only barked because they were excited to see him. She told him that he just needed to be confident and not act afraid of this dogs’ barking, and speak in a reassuring tone. Then the dog would quiet down and act more friendly.
Josh felt that neither confidence or a reassuring tone would make any difference. He didn’t think he would ever get over his fear. However, one day he had enough. Barking for hours, he realized the dog was bored and just needed a friend. He wasn’t sure if his mother’s advice would prove true? Hiding his fear, he approached the dog and spoke to it in a reassuring tone. To his surprise, the dog wagged it’s tail and quieted down right away.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
his
its'
its
her
NO CHANGE
its
This question asks you about the correct possessive form of a pronoun. In this passage, we do not know the gender of the dog, so it is correct to use a neutral pronoun, "it," rather than the possessive forms "his" or "hers." The correct possessive form of the pronoun "it" is "its." The form "it's" should only be used as a contraction of "it is," and "its'" is not a word at all.
Example Question #124 : Pronoun Usage Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, select “NO CHANGE.”
Did you get your ice cream yet? I am still waiting to get my one.
mine
mine one.
NO CHANGE
my
it
mine
This question asks you about the correct use of a possessive pronoun. In this sentence, the pronoun is replacing the noun group, "my ice cream." The correct possessive first-person pronoun is "mine." The use of "my one" in the original sentence is awkward. Using "it" rather than a possessive pronoun is confusing in this context, incorrectly suggesting that the narrator is waiting for the other person's ice cream.
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