Grammar & Usage Conventions - ACT English
Card 1 of 49
Fix the verb form: "She has went to the store."
Fix the verb form: "She has went to the store."
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She has gone to the store. (past participle of "go" is "gone")
She has gone to the store. (past participle of "go" is "gone")
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Choose: "(Your/You're) assignment is due tomorrow."
Choose: "(Your/You're) assignment is due tomorrow."
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Your (possessive)
Your (possessive)
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Fix the agreement: "Neither the teacher nor the students was prepared."
Fix the agreement: "Neither the teacher nor the students was prepared."
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Neither the teacher nor the students were prepared. (verb agrees with nearest subject "students")
Neither the teacher nor the students were prepared. (verb agrees with nearest subject "students")
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Choose: "The policy will (affect/effect) students."
Choose: "The policy will (affect/effect) students."
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affect (verb = to influence)
affect (verb = to influence)
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Correct: "The phenomena was observed in three trials."
Correct: "The phenomena was observed in three trials."
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The phenomena were observed in three trials. (phenomena = plural; phenomenon = singular)
The phenomena were observed in three trials. (phenomena = plural; phenomenon = singular)
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Fix: "Me and Sarah went to the library."
Fix: "Me and Sarah went to the library."
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Sarah and I went to the library. (I = subject)
Sarah and I went to the library. (I = subject)
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Choose: "The book (that/who) I read was interesting."
Choose: "The book (that/who) I read was interesting."
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that (use "that" or "which" for things; "who" for people)
that (use "that" or "which" for things; "who" for people)
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Fix the tense shift: "She walks to school and bought lunch."
Fix the tense shift: "She walks to school and bought lunch."
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She walked to school and bought lunch. (both past) or "She walks to school and buys lunch." (both present)
She walked to school and bought lunch. (both past) or "She walks to school and buys lunch." (both present)
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Correct: "The criteria for the award is very strict."
Correct: "The criteria for the award is very strict."
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The criteria for the award are very strict. (criteria = plural; criterion = singular)
The criteria for the award are very strict. (criteria = plural; criterion = singular)
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Fix the tense: "Yesterday, I go to the store."
Fix the tense: "Yesterday, I go to the store."
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Yesterday, I went to the store. (past tense for "yesterday")
Yesterday, I went to the store. (past tense for "yesterday")
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Choose: "She is taller than (I/me)."
Choose: "She is taller than (I/me)."
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I (implied: "than I am")
I (implied: "than I am")
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Fix: "Less students attended than expected."
Fix: "Less students attended than expected."
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Fewer students attended than expected. (countable = fewer; uncountable = less)
Fewer students attended than expected. (countable = fewer; uncountable = less)
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Choose: "The essay had a strong (affect/effect) on readers."
Choose: "The essay had a strong (affect/effect) on readers."
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effect (noun = result/impact)
effect (noun = result/impact)
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Correct: "Who's book is this?"
Correct: "Who's book is this?"
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Whose book is this? ("whose" = possessive; "who's" = "who is")
Whose book is this? ("whose" = possessive; "who's" = "who is")
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Fix the agreement error: "Each of the students have their books."
Fix the agreement error: "Each of the students have their books."
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Each of the students has his or her books. (Each = singular)
Each of the students has his or her books. (Each = singular)
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Choose: "The coach insisted that he (practices/practice) daily."
Choose: "The coach insisted that he (practices/practice) daily."
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practice (subjunctive mood after "insisted that")
practice (subjunctive mood after "insisted that")
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Fix: "The media has been covering the story extensively."
Fix: "The media has been covering the story extensively."
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Use "have" (treat media as plural) for ACT consistency. (You'll see singular in journalism, but plural is the safer test choice.)
Use "have" (treat media as plural) for ACT consistency. (You'll see singular in journalism, but plural is the safer test choice.)
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Correct: "The data shows that we was correct."
Correct: "The data shows that we was correct."
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The data show that we were correct. (data = plural; we = plural)
The data show that we were correct. (data = plural; we = plural)
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Choose: "The student (who/whom) won the award is here."
Choose: "The student (who/whom) won the award is here."
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who (subject of the clause "who won")
who (subject of the clause "who won")
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Choose: "She (lay/laid) down for a nap."
Choose: "She (lay/laid) down for a nap."
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lay (past tense of "lie" = to recline; "laid" is past tense of "lay" = to place)
lay (past tense of "lie" = to recline; "laid" is past tense of "lay" = to place)
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