GRAMMAR AND USAGE
There are 12 grammar and usage questions on the ACT.
NOUNS
Nouns may name a person, place, thing, attribute, or idea. There is a noun to name everything you can think of. The subject of a sentence can contain nouns such as “dog,” “scores,” and “Ed.”
Singular and Plural Nouns
Singular nouns name one thing. Plural nouns name more than one thing. Follow these rules for changing singular nouns to plural nouns
Add s to most singular nouns:
SINGULARPLURAL
studentstudents
computercomputers
monkeymonkeys
CDCDs
televisiontelevisions
Drop the y and add ies when the singular noun ends in y preceded by a consonant:
SINGULARPLURAL
mysterymysteries
skyskies
flyflies
Add es to singular nouns ending in s, sh, ch, x, or z:
SINGULARPLURAL
glassglasses
matchmatches
lashlashes
foxfoxes
waltzwaltzes
Some plurals are special cases. The plural may have a different form than the singular, or
the plural may be the same as the singular:
SINGULARPLURAL
mousemice
zerozeroes or zeros
footfeet
childchildren
cactuscacti
sheepsheep
thiefthieves
PRONOUNS
Pronouns take the place of nouns. Pronouns include the words I, we, she, him, them, my, their, whose. Questions on the ACT involve several different aspects of pronoun usage.
Clear Reference
A pronoun must clearly refer to its antecedent:
Unclear reference: Andy wanted Nathan to use his car.
[The pronoun “his” does not clearly refer to a particular noun.]
Clear reference: Andy wanted Nathan to use his own car.
Or
Andy wanted Nathan to use Andy’s car.
Unclear reference: Ann got them and handed them to Julia.
[The antecedent for the pronoun “them” is not stated.]
Clear reference: Ann got the keys and handed them to Julia.
Case
Pronouns can be in the subjective, objective, or possessive case.
Subjective pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence or a clause, or to refer to
the subject:
Who is supposed to set the table today?
Liz announced it was she.
[The pronoun “she” refers to the subject “Liz.”]
Objective pronouns are the object of a verb or a preposition:
Ingrid decided to help her.
I don’t know if I should help them.
Between us, I don’t think they can win.
Possessive pronouns show ownership:
You should have done your work.
I decided not to run the risk of hurting my back.
Number
A pronoun may be singular or plural.
SingularPlural
SubjectiveObjectivePossessiveSubjectiveObjectivePossessive
Imemy, mineweusour, ours
hehimhisyouyouyour, yours
sheherherstheythemtheir, theirs
itititswhowhomwhose
you youyour, yours
whowhomwhose
Most indefinite pronouns are always singular or always plural, but some can be both:
SingularPluralBoth
anotheranybodyanyonebothall
anythingeacheitherfewany
everybodyeveryoneeverythingmanymore
littlemuchneitherothersmost
nobodyno onenothingseveralnone
oneothersomebodysome
someonesomething
Agreement
Each pronoun must agree in number (singular or plural) and gender (male, female, or
neutral) with the noun, noun phrase, or pronoun it refers to:
Non-agreement: Joan and her sister ran to catch the plane, but she was too late.
Agreement: Joan and her sister ran to catch the plane, but they were too late.
Non-agreement: Everyone went home to get their raincoats.
Agreement: Everyone went home to get his or her raincoat.
Non-agreement: The girls took their car to get her brakes fixed.
Agreement: The girls took their car to get its brakes fixed.
Verbs
Verbs serve one of multiple functions in a sentence: to reveal an action, to reveal a state of being, or to “help” other verbs. “Ran,” “fell,” “sneeze,” and “write” are all action verbs. Action verbs are tensed, telling us when the action occurred (past, present, or future). “Is,” “was,” “am,” “were” are all examples of “to be” verbs and link the subject with an adjective(She is funny).Helping verbs—like “do,” “is,” “have”—must work with a main verb in order to make sense (I have finished my homework).
Tense Shift
Verbs in a sentence should reflect time sequence. If events represented by the verbs occurred at the same time, the verbs should have the same tense:
Correct: The rain splattered on the windshield as I drove to the store.
pastpast
Correct: As I dig the hole, I throw the dirt onto a pile.
present present
Correct: I will get to school early and then I will see my teacher for help.
future future
Some tense shifts are acceptable when the verbs represent events that happened at different times:
Correct: Jean will march in the parade tomorrow, so she is practicing now.
future present
Correct: Ben is fixing the vase he broke last week.
present past
Correct: I will always love dogs because of the years I spent with my dog Monty.
future past
Avoid faulty tense shifts. A faulty shift between present tense and past tense is a common error:
Incorrect: She ran home and eat dinner.
past present
Correct: She ran home and ate dinner.
past past
Incorrect: Just as Pam was putting away her book bag, her dog runs past her.
past present
Correct: Just as Pam was putting away her book bag, her dog ran past her.
past past
Or
Correct: Just as Pam is putting away her book bag, her dog runs past her.
present present
Subject-Verb Agreement
You have already read about singular and plural nouns, pronouns, and verbs. All this leads up to subject-verb agreement, a topic frequently tested on the ACT. The subject and verb of a sentence must agree in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
EXAMPLES:
Singular: Lisa wants to go to the library after school.
Plural: Lisa and Tammy want to go to the library after school.
Singular: The practice test helps me prepare for the ACT.
Plural: The practice tests help me prepare for the ACT.
Singular: The club meets every Saturday.
Plural: The club members meet every Saturday.
Some examples of incorrect and corrected subject-verb agreement are given below:
Incorrect: Chad want to get to the soccer game on time.
Correct: Chad wants to get to the soccer game on time.
Incorrect: The players wants to do their best in the game.
Correct: The players want to do their best in the game.
Incorrect: Everyone are at the door.
Correct: Everyone is at the door.
Subjects and verbs can come anywhere in a sentence, so sometimes you need to look carefully to determine the subjects:
The ACT Practice Test, which Liz took on Saturday, prepared her for the actual test.
What is the verb in this sentence? “Prepared.” Often, the word directly in front of the verb is the subject, but that is not always the case. Did Saturday prepare Liz for the actual test? No, that doesn’t make sense. So what prepared Liz? The Practice Test. So that is the subject.
These kinds of problems on the ACT can be tricky because you need to find the subject to determine if it is singular or plural in order to determine if the verb should be singular or plural:
The person with the highest scores wins an award.
“Scores wins an award.” That’s not correct, so “scores” can’t be the subject. “The person wins an award.” That makes sense, so “person” is the subject. Since “person” is singular, so must the verb be.
Parallel Form
Parallel form places sentence elements in the same or similar form to emphasize the equal importance of the elements:
I like to drive my car and to ride my bike.
I like driving my car and riding my bike.
There are specific instances when you should use parallel form.
Phrases and Clauses Linked by a Coordinating Conjunction (FANBOYS)
Use parallel form when phrases or clauses in a sentence are linked by coordinating conjunctions:
Not parallel: The teacher always threatens a detention yet does not ever give a detention.
Parallel: The teacher always threatens a detention yet never gives a detention.
Not parallel: Have you decided if you are skiing or going skating?
Parallel: Have you decided if you are going skiing or going skating?
Phrases and Clauses Linked by Correlative Conjunctions
Use parallel form when the phrases and clauses in a sentence are linked by conjunctive pairs, such as “either…or,” “neither…nor,” and “not only…but also.”
Not parallel: Neither local streets nor a trip on the highway seemed the best way to get home.
Parallel: Neither local streets nor the highway seemed the best way to get home.
Not parallel: She was not only an A student, but also someone who was responsible.
Parallel: She was not only an A student, but also a responsible person.
Sentence Elements Compared; Parts of a List
Not Parallel: Gail would rather be a waitress in Colorado than to practice law in a big city.
Parallel: Gail would rather be a waitress in Colorado than a lawyer in a big city.
Not Parallel: The dog preferred to eat the chicken snaps than eating the beef snaps.
Parallel: The dog preferred the chicken snaps to the beef snaps.
Not Parallel: The mathematics test included arithmetic, algebra, and the study of geometry.
Parallel: The mathematics test included arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives and adverbs can show comparisons. Use the comparative form to compare two items. Use the superlative form to compare more than two items.
Comparative Form (Two items)
The ending –er and the words “more” and “less” signal the comparative form. The comparative form includes words and phrases such as “warmer,” “colder,” “higher,” “less industrious,” and “more fun.”
INCORRECTCORRECT
Fran is least creative than Liz.Fran is less creative than Liz.
Alaska is cold than Florida.Alaska is colder than Florida.
Ben is proudest than Warren.Ben is prouder than Warren.
Ray is most happy than Jim.Ray is happier than Jim.
Ann is most capable than Amelia.Ann is more capable than Amelia.
Superlative Form (More than two items)
If you can’t tell how many items there are, use the superlative form. The ending –est and the words “most” and “least” signal the superlative form. The superlative form includes words and phrases such as “happiest,” “youngest,” “oldest,” “highest,” “least tired,” and “most interesting.”
INCORRECTCORRECT
Ann has the more experience of any pilot.Ann has the most experience of any pilot.
I was the younger student to enter the contest.I was the youngest student to enter the contest.
Ted was the more energetic boy in kindergarten.Ted was the most energetic boy in kindergarten.
Bob received the higher score on the law exam.Bob received the highest score on the law exam.
Prepositional Idioms
Idioms do not follow the rules of standard English usage, but idioms effectively convey a complete thought. Incorrect idioms on the ACT usually use the incorrect preposition:
INCORRECTCORRECT
I am angry in him.I am angry with him.
I am detached to my parents.I am detached from my parents.
I differ from your view.I differ with your view.
This book differs with that book.This book differs from that book.
Players must be in accordance to the rules.Players must be in accordance with the rules.
My belief is the same with yours.My belief is the same as yours.
This house is occupied with a tenant.This house is occupied by a tenant.
I am occupied by my stamp collection.I am occupied with my stamp collection.
Prior from your visit, be sure to pack well.Prior to your visit, be sure to pack well.
You need to wait to the airport.You need to wait at the airport.
I had to wait on the mail’s arrival.I had to wait for the mail’s arrival.
Tense Shifts
Correct the tense shifts. If the sentence is correct, write C on the line.
_____1. I liked to make money, so I play the stock market.
_____2. Michael wanted to be a great basketball player, so he practices every day.
_____3. Ava runs ten miles a day because she will run in a marathon next month.
_____4. Stephen will load his car because he left for a long trip.
_____5. It was funny to see that the dog barked as he jumps over the couch.
_____6. I already went to the store, but I am going there again.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Correct any subject-verb agreement errors. If the sentence is correct, write C on the line.
_____1. Everyone, including Renee and Louise, need to get in line.
_____2. Over the crest of the ridge ride the lone horseman.
_____3. Robert and Ryan skis as often as they can.
_____4. The class arrange a trip to the science center.
_____5. The 23 members of the team practices each day at 4:00.
_____6. Andrew and Mark were ready to go, but Karen was late.
PARALLEL STRUCTURE
Correct any parallel-form errors. If the sentence is correct, write a C on the line.
_____1. I like to dive and to go swimming when I am at the lake.
_____2. Motorboats, canoes, and sailboats are my favorite forms of water transportation.
_____3. Neither the weather nor the condition of the roads will delay his trip.
_____4. Jim was trying to decide whether to be a newsman or someone who reports the weather.
_____5. Because I expect the evening news to be interesting, I turn off boring reports.
_____6. The clouds are threatening, yet it seems unlikely that a rainy day will follow.
_____7. The day was bright; the weather was cold and crisp.
_____8. The barn which is old stood bravely against the wind, but the new house collapsed.
_____9. His rugged appearance hid the more caring side of his personality.
_____10. On his trip, Mike was biking in Seattle and then to visit relatives in Idaho.
Comparative/Superlative Form
Correct the sentences that do not use the correct form of comparison. If the sentence is correct, write a C on the line.
_____1. Chad was the happier player on the soccer team.
_____2. Members of the winning team were happier than members of the losing team.
_____3. Pat was the faster player on the baseball team.
_____4. She took the lightest of the two grocery bags to the car.
_____5. Cardinals are prettiest than blue jays.
_____6. Lenny was among the more creative students in the school.
_____7. The cheetah is the most fastest predator in Africa.
Idioms
Correct the idiom errors in the following sentences. If the sentence is correct, write a C on the line.
_____1. I could spend endless days occupied with my books.
_____2. The doctor focused his imagination and intelligence to devising a way to solve the problem.
_____3. By his direction, the band received many awards.
_____4. The college professor had a method for calculating grades.
_____5. Steven should have known that Angela’s comment was not meant as an insult.
_____6. Adam walked into the stadium with a chip of his shoulder, obviously wanting a rematch.
_____7. With the dusk of a late summer evening, we strolled along the beach toward the lighthouse.