ACT English : Punctuation Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #343 : Comma Errors
The French philosopher Rene Descartes once went out to dinner at a French restaurant because (1) after all (2) where else would he go to eat? On that occasion (3) he ordered the escargot en beurre, the chicken liver paté, the gratineed scallops (4) and the blanquette de veau. Then he proceeded to order another portion of each dish. The waitress was appeased (5). She had never seen anyone order so much food in one sitting it (6) made her slightly ill to watch him eat it all. What made it worse he had no table manner at all since (7) philosophers tend to be thinking about life and death and (8) not about using a napkin. Finally (9) as he sipped the last of his burgundy (10) Descartes made a motion for the check. The waitress asked (11) "Would you care for any desert, monsieur?" At that point, Descartes replied, "I think not" (12) and promptly vanished.
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake preceding the question number. If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
not,"
NO CHANGE
not;"
not."
not,"
A comma is needed here since the sentence has not ended and since the quotation needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence.
Example Question #482 : Correcting Grammatical 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.
In the intervening years, the old man rarely talked to his children as the pain was too much for him to bear.
rarely talking to his children, as the pain was too much for him to bear.
rarely talking to his children as pain was bearing too much for him.
rarely talked to his children, as the pain was too much for him to bear.
rarely talked to his children, as the pain too much for him to bear.
rarely talked to his children as the pain was too much for him to bear.
rarely talked to his children, as the pain was too much for him to bear.
The underlined portion of the sentence contains a small punctuation problem. Specifically, the phrase "as the pain was too much to bear," is a phrase that explains the sentence, but is not necessary to its construction. All such phrases need a comma to separate them from the body of the sentence. "Rarely talked to his children as the pain was too much for him to bear," is the best answer choice.
Example Question #31 : Correcting Punctuation 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.
Reading writing, and arithmetic have long been considered the most basic building blocks of elementary education.
Reading writing and arithmetic have
Reading, writing, and arithmetic have
Reading, writing, and arithmetic, have
Reading writing and arithmetic, have
Reading writing, and arithmetic have
Reading, writing, and arithmetic have
The list that is the subject of the sentence contains three separate elements, but only appropriately separates two of them. All lists of three or more elements need to have commas between each component. The only answer choice that appropriately does this is "Reading, writing, and arithmetic have."
Example Question #344 : Comma Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Grains proteins and vegetables are all part of a balanced diet.
Grains, proteins, and vegetables are
NO CHANGE
Grains proteins, and vegetables are
Grains, proteins and, vegetables are
Grains, proteins, or vegetables are
Grains, proteins, and vegetables are
Commas should be used to separate individual nouns in a compound subject: in this case, "grains," "proteins," and "vegetables." The conjunction "and" should be used instead of "or," since the items are "all" part of a balanced diet. The best version of this sentence will NOT use a comma to separate a conjunction from the noun that follows it ("and, vegetables"). The correct version of this sentence separates all items in the list with commas, and in the case of the final item a comma preceding the conjunction "and."
Example Question #461 : Punctuation Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
I'm excited about our engagement and I can't wait to tell everyone.
NO CHANGE
I'm excited about our engagement, but
I'm excited about our engagement, and,
engagement, and
I'm excited about our engagement but
engagement, and
A comma with the right coordinating conjunction can be used to join two independent clauses (the other option would be a semicolon with conjunction). In such cases, the comma comes before the conjunction, not after it. You should use the conjunction "and" instead of "but," since the two clauses are complementary rather than contrasting.
Example Question #462 : Punctuation 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 you go to bed make sure all the doors are locked.
go to bed, make sure
NO CHANGE
go, to bed, make sure
go, to bed make sure
go to bed, make, sure
go to bed, make sure
A comma should be used to separate a modifying dependent clause from an independent clause. The independent clause here is the command "make sure all the doors are locked." The dependent, introductory clause "Before you go to bed" tells when to perform the command.
Example Question #463 : Punctuation Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
"We’re so glad you made it” she said.
you made it” she, said.
NO CHANGE
you made, it” she said.
you made it," she said.
you made it”, she said.
you made it," she said.
A comma should be used to separate a quote ("We're so glad you made it") from narration ("she said"). Always put the comma inside the quotation marks! Also, it is correct to use a comma to separate an independent clause ("We're so glad you made it") from a dependent clause ("she said"). Again, always put the comma inside the quotation marks! Do NOT use a comma to separate verb and direct object ("made, it"). and do NOT use a comma to separate subject and verb ("she, said")
Example Question #464 : Punctuation 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 assignment was, in Alison’s opinion, nothing more than busy work.
was in Alison’s opinion, nothing
was in Alison’s opinion nothing
NO CHANGE
was, in Alison’s, opinion, nothing
was, in Alison’s opinion nothing
NO CHANGE
Commas should be used to separate parenthetical phrases ("in Alison's opinion") from a sentence's main clause ("The assignment was nothing more than busy work.") When you see a phrase with commas on either side, see if the sentence works without that phrase! If the commas are being used correctly, you should still have a complete sentence that makes grammatical sense.
Example Question #351 : Comma Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Studying the map, carefully, the general planned his next move
Studying the map carefully, the general,
NO CHANGE
Studying, the map carefully, the general
Studying the map carefully the general
Studying the map carefully, the general
Studying the map carefully, the general
A comma should be used to separate a dependent clause ("Studying the map carefully") from an independent clause ("the general planned his next move"). Commas should not be used to break up a subject and its verb ("the general, planned"). Never use a comma to separate a verb and its direct object ("Studying, the map")
Example Question #352 : Comma Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
To finish the triathlon you must run bike and swim.
NO CHANGE
triathlon you must, run, bike and swim.
To finish the triathlon, you must run, bike, and swim.
triathlon, you must run, bike and, swim.
triathlon, you must run bike, and swim.
To finish the triathlon, you must run, bike, and swim.
Commas should be used to separate a dependent clause ("To finish the triathlon") from an independent clause ("you must run, bike, and swim"). Also, use a comma to separate individual verbs in sequence: in this case, "run, bike, and swim"). Do NOT use a comma to separate a helping verb from its main verb ("must, run"). The serial comma between the last two verbs ("bike, and swim") is optional, but provides clarity. Also, since all other options are incorrect, you should keep it here.
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