ACT English : Punctuation Errors
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Example Question #501 : Punctuation Errors
The athlete, a respected team leader was always the first person in the locker room before a game.
The athlete, a respected team leader having been
The athlete a respected team leader was
The athlete, a respected team leader was
The athlete, a respected team leader, was
The athlete, the respected team leader was
The athlete, a respected team leader, was
The phrase "a respected team leader" is what is known as an interrupting phrase, or a phrase that provides information but is unnecessary for the structure of the sentence. All interrupting phrases must be set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas; therefore, the correct answer is "The athlete, a respected team leader, was."
Example Question #502 : Punctuation Errors
Select that answer that best corrects the underlined portion. If the underlined portion is already correct, select NO CHANGE.
Anna knew that blaming her sister, for breaking the dish, was wrong.
sister, for breaking the dish was wrong.
NO CHANGE
sister for breaking the dish, was wrong.
sister for breaking, the dish was wrong.
sister for breaking the dish was wrong.
sister for breaking the dish was wrong.
The sentence does not need any commas-it is all part of the same clause. There is not a part of the sentence you can remove without changing the meaning (so you don't need to offset it with commas).
Example Question #503 : Punctuation Errors
Select the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as is, select "NO CHANGE."
This year, I visited Singapore, Brazil Italy and Malaysia.
NO CHANGE
Singapore; Brazil, Italy, and Malaysia.
Singapore, Brazil Italy, and Malaysia.
Singapore, Brazil, Italy, and Malaysia.
Singapore; Brazil; Italy; and Malaysia.
Singapore, Brazil, Italy, and Malaysia.
Each item in the list should be separated by a comma. Any time there is a series (three or more elements) each element, including the last two, should be separated with a comma.
Example Question #384 : 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."
Our apartment is in an old, crumbling building built in the 20th century.
Our apartment is in an old, crumbling, building built in the 20th century.
Our apartment is an old, crumbling, building built in the 20th century.
Our apartment is in an old crumbling building built in the 20th century.
Our apartment is in an old crumbling, building built in the 20th century.
NO CHANGE
NO CHANGE
In this case, the order of the adjectives ("old" and "crumbling") are interchangeable, so a comma is necessary between the two words. They are describing the building, so no comma is necessary after the second adjective.
Example Question #504 : 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."
Monday the day of the test, arrived with great anticipation.
Monday the day of the test arrived with great anticipation.
Monday, the day of the test arrived with great anticipation.
NO CHANGE
Monday, the day of the test, arrived with great anticipation.
Monday, the day of the test, arrived, with great anticipation.
Monday, the day of the test, arrived with great anticipation.
In this case, "the day of the test" is a nonessential phrase providing additional details about Monday. Nonessential phrases or clauses that occur in the middle of the sentence should be set off by commas.
Example Question #505 : 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."
If you can't come to the party please let us know immediately.
If, you can't come to the party please let us know immediately.
NO CHANGE
If you can't come, to the party please let us know immediately.
If you can't come to the party, please let us know immediately.
If you can't come to the party please let us know, immediately.
If you can't come to the party, please let us know immediately.
When a sentence begins with a dependent clause, the dependent clause must be followed by a comma. This is not necessary when the sentence begins with an independent clause.
Example Question #506 : 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."
At the party, we were served coffee, cake, and pie.
At the party we were served, coffee, cake, and pie.
At the party we were served coffee, cake, and pie.
At the party, we were served coffee, cake and pie.
NO CHANGE
At the, party we were served, coffee, cake, and pie.
NO CHANGE
Commas should be used to separate words in a series of three or more items ("coffee, cake, and pie"). A comma is also necessary after a prepositional phrase ("At the party").
Example Question #507 : 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."
When I went to Oaxaca I took a cooking class.
When I go to Oaxaca,
NO CHANGE
When I go to Oaxaca
When I went to go to Oaxaca,
When I went to Oaxaca,
When I went to Oaxaca,
"When I went to Oaxaca" is a dependent clause (it cannot stand alone as a sentence) and thus needs a comma when it is at the beginning of the sentence. Dependent clauses providing context at the beginning of the sentence are called introductory clauses.
Example Question #508 : 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 can either go to the beach, or go to the mountains.
go to the beach or I could have gone to the mountains.
go to the beach or I could go to the mountains.
NO CHANGE
go to the beach or go to the mountains.
go to the beach or I could be going to the mountains.
go to the beach or go to the mountains.
There are not two independent (could stand on their own) clauses in this sentence so they do not need to be joined by a comma. The comma before "or" needs to be deleted.
Example Question #509 : 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."
Because I have the most outdoor experience I was asked to lead the hike.
Because I am the most experienced
Because I have more outdoor experience
Because my outdoor experience is the most,
Because I have the most outdoor experience,
NO CHANGE
Because I have the most outdoor experience,
The dependent clause (underlined-it cannot stand as a sentence by itself) comes first in the sentence so it needs a comma after it. This kind of dependent clause is known as an introductory clause. Also, note that the subject of an introductory clause must match the subject of the main clause, if they are different this creates a dangling modifier.
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