ACT English : Punctuation Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #651 : 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."

All of the houses's gardens in my neighborhood are perfectly landscaped.

Possible Answers:

houses' gardens

NO CHANGE

house's gardens

houses gardens

houseses gardens

Correct answer:

houses' gardens

Explanation:

To make a plural noun ending in "s" possessive, put an apostrophe after the s. There is no need to add an additional "s." The singular possessive form "house's" is not correct because the sentence says "all of" and "gardens" necessitating a plural form of house.

Example Question #651 : 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."

Alans dog loved to go on long walks with him.

Possible Answers:

Alans' dog loved to go for long walks with him. 

NO CHANGE

Alan's

Alan

Correct answer:

Alan's

Explanation:

The dog belongs to Alan. Alan has possession of the dog, so you put an "'s" to show possession. just "s" shows plural. There is not multiple Alans, but one Alan with a dog. 

Example Question #101 : Apostrophe 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 chasing the rabbit?

Possible Answers:

Whos' dog is chasing the rabbit? 

Whos dog is chasing the rabbit? 

Whose dog is chasing the rabbit? 

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

Whose dog is chasing the rabbit? 

Explanation:

There is no need for an apostrophe with this possessive pronoun "whose."

Example Question #672 : Correcting Grammatical Errors

Second language acquisition has already been positively correlated to increased cognitive flexibility (1): what has yet to be investigated is the correlation between cultural literacy—as a potential result of second language acquisition—and the facilitation of social relationships on the individual and community levels, academic and career success, and personal cultural enrichment. Cultural literacy may be (2) viewed as a deepest sense of foreign language study, as it encompasses all facets of culture rather than just language. If these positive correlations are accurately established (3), the United State's education system and (4) its lack of priority given to foreign language studies must be reevaluated. Vastly extending foreign language requirements would allow individuals not only the obvious benefit of communicating in more than one language, (5) but also from greater academic success in high school, college, and the workplace, as well as less multicultural tension in social and professional arenas. (6) As the global market continues to be vital to the economic prosperity of nations, and immigration trends change their cultural make-up, (7) both linguistic and cultural understanding and awareness is essential.

Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded and underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

Possible Answers:

; then the United States' education system

NO CHANGE

, then the United State's education system

, then the United States' education system

Correct answer:

, then the United States' education system

Explanation:

First, "then" is needed after the comma in order to complete the "if...then" statement. Second, given that the "United States" is plural, the apostrophe must be placed outside of the "s" to indication possession.

Example Question #681 : Correcting Grammatical Errors

Second language acquisition has already been positively correlated to increased cognitive flexibility (1): what has yet to be investigated is the correlation between cultural literacy—as a potential result of second language acquisition—and the facilitation of social relationships on the individual and community levels, academic and career success, and personal cultural enrichment. Cultural literacy may be (2) viewed as a deepest sense of foreign language study, as it encompasses all facets of culture rather than just language. If these positive correlations are accurately established (3) , the United State's education system and (4) its lack of priority given to foreign language studies must be reevaluated. Vastly extending foreign language requirements would allow individuals not only the obvious benefit of communicating in more than one language, (5) but also from greater academic\ success in high school, college, and the workplace, as well as less multicultural tension in social and professional arenas. (6) As the global market continues to be vital to the economic prosperity of nations, and immigration trends change their cultural make-up, (7) both linguistic and cultural understanding and awareness is essential.

Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded and underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

Possible Answers:

its lack of priority being given 

it's lack of priority given

it's lack of priority

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

"Its" does not require an apostrophe when indicating possession. "It's" signifies "it is", which is a subject and verb as opposed to a possessive. Also, "given" must correspond to the same tense as "established."

Example Question #102 : Apostrophe Errors

Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

Becky's cat's favorite toy was a feather attached to a string, which he liked to carry around in his mouth.

Possible Answers:

Becky's cat

Becky cat's

Becky's cats'

Beckys' cat's

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

The sentence is correct as written because the toy belongs to the cat, and the cat belongs to Becky, so both should be in the possessive form. Since Becky is just one person, it is correct to use the singular plural, "Becky's." We also know from the second part of the sentence, "which he liked to carry around in his mouth," that Becky only has one cat, so the singular plural form, "cat's," is correct here. 

Example Question #103 : Apostrophe Errors

Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

My three sister's joint gift to my parents was a new vacuum cleaner.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

My three sisters' joint gift to my parents' was a new vacuum cleaner.

My three sisters' joint gift to my parents was a new vacuum cleaner.

My three sister's joint gift to my parent's was a new vacuum cleaner.

My three sister's joint gift to my parents was a new vacuum cleaner.

Correct answer:

My three sisters' joint gift to my parents was a new vacuum cleaner.

Explanation:

In this sentence, we know that, "sisters" is both plural (because the author specifies there are three sisters) and possessive (because it is their joint gift). Therefore, the apostrophe must come after the final "s" in order to indicate both plurality and possession.

Example Question #104 : Apostrophe Errors

Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

"Whose purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's her's," replied Susan.

Possible Answers:

"Who's purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's hers," replied Susan.

"Who's purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's her's," replied Susan.

"Whose purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's hers," replied Susan.

NO CHANGE

"Whose purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's her's," replied Susan.

Correct answer:

"Whose purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's hers," replied Susan.

Explanation:

Both the word "whose" and "hers" are exceptions to the traditional apostrophe rules surrounding possessive nouns. These words are written without apostrophes.

Example Question #105 : Apostrophe Errors

Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)

Charles Dickens in a note now lying before me (1) alluding to an examination I once made of the mechanism of [the novel] Barnaby Rudge (2), says (3) "By the way, are you aware that Godwin wrote his 'Caleb Williams' backwards? He first involved his hero in a web of difficulties, forming the second volume, and then, for the first, cast about him for some mode of accounting for what had been done" (4)

I cannot think this the exacting (5) mode of procedure on the part of Godwin — and indeed what he himself acknowledges, is not altogether in accordance with Mr. Dickens idea (6) — but the author of “Caleb Williams” was too good an artist not to perceive the advantage derivative (7) from at least a somewhat similar process. Nothing is more clear than that every plot, worth the name, must be elaborated to its dénouement before any thing be attempted with the pen. It is only with the dénouement constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable (8) air of consequence, or causation, by making the incidents (9) and especially the tone at all points, tend to the development of the intention.

There is a radical error I think (10) in the usual mode of constructing a story. Either history affords a thesis — or one is suggested by an incident of the day — or, at best, the author sets himself to work in the combination of striking events to form merely the basis of his narrative — designing, generally, to fill in with description, dialogue, or autorial (11) comment, whatever crevices of fact, or action, may from page to page (12) render themselves apparent.

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."

Possible Answers:

Mr. Dickens idea

Mr. Dicken's idea

Mr. Dickens' idea

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

Mr. Dickens' idea

Explanation:

While some outdated grammar guides still suggest adding an apostrophe and -s onto words or names that end in -s already, the best way to show possession with such a name is to add the apostrophe only. The author's name is "Dickens" and not "Dicken," so choosing to put the apostrophe before the -s is also incorrect.

Example Question #106 : Apostrophe 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 league office is responsible for compiling all of the 32 team's statistics throughout the season and for reporting them to the national media

Possible Answers:

teams' statistics

statistics of the teams

NO CHANGE

team statistics

statistics teams

Correct answer:

teams' statistics

Explanation:

"Teams" is plural and since the statistics belong to all of the teams, the genitive form "teams'" is correct here.

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