Sentence Structure & Formation - ACT English

but also. Completes the correlative conjunction 'not only...but also'.

Correct: 'The boy who cries wolf is lying.'. Verb must agree with the singular subject 'boy'.

It connects a dependent clause to an independent clause. Creates complex sentences by showing relationships between clauses.

Incomplete comparison. The comparison needs 'become' or similar to complete the thought.

as. Completes the comparison structure 'as...as'.

A clause that functions as a noun in a sentence. Can serve as subjects, objects, or complements.

Comma splice. Two independent clauses joined incorrectly with only a comma.

Correct: 'The team is winning.'. Collective nouns like 'team' are typically singular.

nor. Completes the correlative conjunction 'neither...nor'.

Subject-verb agreement. 'There' is singular but 'reasons' is plural, creating disagreement.

Correct: 'The book, which was torn, was on the shelf.'. Verb agrees with 'book', not with words inside commas.

A word connecting two equal parts of a sentence (e.g., 'and'). FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Correct: 'She eats pizza only on Fridays.'. 'Only' should modify 'Fridays', not 'eats'.

A phrase beginning with 'to' followed by a verb. Functions as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in sentences.

Dangling modifier. The modifier doesn't logically connect to 'game'.

Comma splice. Two complete thoughts joined incorrectly with just a comma.

Correct: comma after introductory clause: ",". Introductory dependent clauses require comma separation.

Place it immediately before the word or phrase it modifies. Proximity to the modified word prevents ambiguity.

Use commas between items; include a final comma if clarity requires. The final comma prevents confusion in complex series.

Use a comma before the coordinating conjunction. The comma prevents run-on sentences when joining complete thoughts.

A group of words missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought. It lacks one of the three essential elements of a complete sentence.

A group of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone. Needs an independent clause to complete the thought.

Subject + finite verb + complete thought. All three elements must be present for the clause to stand alone.

Independent stands alone; dependent begins with a subordinator and cannot. The subordinator creates dependency by making the clause incomplete.

Use a comma after the introductory dependent clause. The comma signals where the introductory element ends.

The grammatical form after each part must match. Correlative conjunctions require balanced grammatical structures.

Add a period, add a semicolon, or add comma + FANBOYS. These three methods properly separate independent clauses.

Add the logical subject immediately after the modifier. This placement makes the modification relationship clear.

The subject controls the verb. Intervening words between subject and verb don't affect agreement.