ACT Test 2 Mini Lessons
Is there something wrong? If there is something wrong fix it, if there isn’t, then say it is correct.
1.Yesterday, I clean my room.
2.To who did you give the money?
3.Analyzing data is important.
4.When I was a kid, I always go to the park.
5.He was sleepy and didn’t feel like doing anything, then he didn’t do his homework.
6.The singers’ voices were subdued.
7.I don’t know whether she has a roommate or lives by herself.
8.Even though the broccoli was covered in cheddar cheese Emily refused to eat it.
Passage I : “A Blessing in Disguise”
1. Simple Past (1 example)
RULE: Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past.
Wrong: Yesterday, I clean my room.
Correct: Yesterday, I cleaned my room.
Wrong: Last year, I do not study very hard
Correct: Last year, I didn’t study very hard.
2. Who or Whom.(2 examples)
Rule: Who is always nominative (subject or subject complement)
Subject: Who left the door open?
Subject: Who did you see.
Rule: Whom is always objective. (direct object, indirect object, object of preposition)
Object of the preposition: Of whom did she speak.
Object of the preposition: To whom did you give the money?
Object of the preposition From whom did the United States purchase Alaska?
Direct object: I don’t know whom you ask to the prom.
3. Gerund (1 example)
Rule: Every gerund, without exception, ends in ing.
Rule: Gerunds function as nouns. Thus, gerunds will be subjects, subject complements, direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
Rule: Present participles, on the other hand, complete progressive verbs or act as modifiers.
Example: Since Francisco was five years old, swimming has been his passion.
Swimming = subject of the verb has been.
Example: Francisco's first love is swimming.
Swimming = subject complement of the verb is.
Example: Francisco enjoys swimming more than spending time with his girlfriend Diana.
Swimming = direct object of the verb enjoys.
Example: Francisco gives swimming all of his energy and time.
Swimming = indirect object of the verb gives.
Example: When Francisco wore dive fins to class, everyone knew that he was devoted to swimming.
Swimming = object of the preposition to.
Rule:A sentence may begin with a gerund.
Example: To win is fun.
Example: Winning is fun.
Example: To analyze data is important.
Example: Analyzing data is important.
4. Verb Tense: Routine Action in the Past (1 example)
Rule:Use the word “would” to indicate a routine action in the past.
Example: When I was a kid, I would always go to the park.
Example: When she was young, she would always clean her room.
Example: When I was a child, I wouldn’t go into the water by myself.
Example: In my last job, I would always double check my work.
Example:From the time forward, I would look both ways before crossing the street.
5. Transitions: Since, therefore, Then(1 example)
Rule:Since- cause-and-effect. He hasn’t done his homework since his dog died.
Rule:Therefore- cause-and-effect. He was sleepy and didn’t feel like doing anything, therefore he didn’t do his homework.
Rule:So- cause-and-effect. He was sleepy, so he didn’t do his homework.
Rule:Then- Used to connect two separate ideas.
6. Possessive(1 example)
Rule: Singular possessiveThe possessive form of a singular noun is an apostrophe followed by the letter "s."
Kramer's hair
Daphne's patience
the car's engine
Rule: Words ending with s, z or x generally omit the "s."
Dr. Seuss' sense of humor
Rule: Plural possessive In order to place the apostrophe correctly in plural nouns, you must first be certain of the plural form. For plural nouns ending in "s," add only an apostrophe:
Singers' voices
The cousins' favorite uncle
Rule: For plural nouns not ending in "s," add an apostrophe and "s."
Men's clothing
Children's books
Examples
Incorrect: Even if the reason for the clients’ changing attorneys is a good one-let’s say a personality clash between the client and the prior attorney-it makes the new lawyer’s task of reaching a fair settlement with the other party strategically difficult.
Correct: Even if the reason for the client’s changing attorneys is a good one-let’s say a personality clash between the client and the prior attorney-it makes the new lawyer’s task of reaching a fair settlement with the other party strategically difficult.
Incorrect: Peggy and known Goode for years; he was a good friend of her son, Chuck, and had been living in his car parked outside the Frobushe’s home.
Correct: Peggy and known Goode for years; he was a good friend of her son, Chuck, and had been living in his car parked outside the Frobushes’home.
Incorrect: If the suing partys’ claim is larger, the plaintiff may either speak to an attorney about taking the case to a higher court, or may accept the $2500 and give up any claim to the rest.
Correct: If the suing party’s claim is larger, the plaintiff may either speak to an attorney about taking the case to a higher court, or may accept the $2500 and give up any claim to the rest.
7. Wordy or Relevance (1 example)
Rule: Choose the most concise and relevant information.
8. Use of the word Whether (1 example)
Rule: The term whether only requires one side of a two-sided situation.
Incorrect: I don’t know whether she has a roommate or lives by herself.
Correct: I don’t know whether she has a roommate.
Incorrect: I haven't settled the question of whether I'll go back home or stay here over the weekend.
Correct: I haven't settled the question of whether I'll go back home.
Incorrect: There was a big argument about whether we should move to a new house or stay in our apartment.
Correct: There was a big argument about whether we should move to a new house.
9. Clauses: Set off by a coordinating conjunction. (1 example)
Rule: Clauses introduced by a subordinating conjunction are offset from the first clause of the sentence with a comma.
List of Subordinating Conjunctions
after / how / till ( or 'til)although / if / unless
as / inasmuch / until
as if / in order that / when
as long as / lest / whenever
as much as / now that / where
as soon as / provided (that) / wherever
as though / since / while
because / so that
before / than
even if / that
even though / though
Incorrect: Even though the broccoli was covered in cheddar cheese Emily refused to eat it.
Correct: Even though the broccoli was covered in cheddar cheese, Emily refused to eat it.
Incorrect: Unless Christine finishes her calculus homework she will have to suffer Mr. Nguyen's wrath in class tomorrow.
Correct: Unless Christine finishes her calculus homework, she will have to suffer Mr. Nguyen's wrath in class tomorrow.
Incorrect: While Bailey slept on the sofa in front of the televisionSamson, the family dog, gnawed on the leg of the coffee table.
Incorrect: While Bailey slept on the sofa in front of the television, Samson, the family dog, gnawed on the leg of the coffee table.
10. Comma Splice: Separating two independent clauses.(1 example)
Rule:A comma splice occurs when a comma is used to separate two independent clauses.
Rule: An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a sentence.
Rule: 3 Ways to Separate an Independent Clause
- Make them two sentences.
- FABOYS
b. Join two with a comma and coordinating conjunction. And, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet
c. Join them with a semicolon
Incorrect: Conversely, few if any knickknacks remain whole in a home with small children, the only plants left are those hanging, brown and wilted, from a very high ceiling.
Correct: Use a Period-Conversely, few if any knickknacks remain whole in a home with small children. The only plants left are those hanging, brown and wilted, from a very high ceiling.
Correct: Comma and coordinating conjunction-Conversely, few if any knickknacks remain whole in a home with small children, and the only plants left are those hanging, brown and wilted, from a very high ceiling.
Correct: Semicolon-Conversely, few if any knickknacks remain whole in a home with small children; the only plants left are those hanging, brown and wilted, from a very high ceiling.
Incorrect: This independence is inherently a healthy sign of the pluralistic nature of modern international politics, we need to be reluctant about working for the advancement of our own interests, but we should not despair when we sometimes fail to achieve all that we desire.
Correct: This independence is inherently a healthy sign of the pluralistic nature of modern international politics. We need to be reluctant about working for the advancement of our own interests, but we should not despair when we sometimes fail to achieve all that we desire.
Passage II : “My Favorite Lunch Spot”
Is there something wrong? If there is something wrong fix it, if there isn’t, then say it is correct.
1.Yesterday, the mailman delivers the package.
2.I can see the person, in the window.
3.There’s a recycling center in an area near your neighborhood.
4.The end result of the game was a tie.
5.Lisa kicked, Shelly in the shin.
6.Albertwith his friendsexpect to receive an A for effort.
7.The filthy Chum Bucket, and the clean Krusty Krab are popular eateries under the sea. Alec and Summer play volleyball.
1. Parallelism (1 example)
Rule: If a paragraph is written in the present tense make sure the verbs are all in the present tense.
2. Comma: Prepositional Phrase (1 example)
Rule: Don’t divide prepositional phrases with a comma.
Incorrect:I can see the person, in the window.
Correct: I can see the person in the window.
3. Wordy / Redundant (1 example)
Rule: Avoid repeating the same word meanings in a sentence.
Incorrect:There’s a recycling center in an area near your neighborhood.
Correct: There’s a recycling center in an area near you.
4. Wordy/ Redundant (1 example)
Rule: A common redundant phrase is "the end result" ("the end" and "result" mean a conclusion, so they are the same thing. You are simply repeating an idea immediately after you just said it.)
5. Comma: Nouns and Gerunds. (1 example)
Rule: Don’t place a comma between a noun and a gerund.
6. Comma: Transitive Verb and Direct Object. (1 example)
Rule: Don’t place a comma between a transitive verb and a direct object.
Incorrect: Lisa kicked, Shelly in the shin.
Correct: Lisa kicked Shelly in the shin.
7. Subject Verb Agreement. (1 example)
Rule: If a subject is singular then it gets a singular verb.
Rule: If it is as plural subject it gets a plural verb.
Incorrect:Albert with his friends expectto receive an A for effort.
Correct: Albert with his friends expects to receive an A for effort.
Incorrect: A shelfof bookshave broken during the night.
Correct: A shelf of books has broken during the night.
Incorrect: The men has left.
Correct: The men have left.
Incorrect: The boxof crayons were purchased for my cousin.
Correct: The box of crayons was purchased for my cousin.
8. Comma: Noun Phrase (1 example)
Rule:A noun phrase is a noun and its modifiers. Think of a noun phrase as a noun with lots of other words—usually in the form of adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases—stuck onto it.
The quiet and serene path.
The gold and shiny coin.
I found the owner of the car.
Rule: No punctuation between two noun phrases conjoined with and.
Incorrect: The filthy Chum Bucket, and the clean Krusty Krab are popular eateries under the sea.
Correct: The filthy Chum Bucket and the clean Krusty Krabare popular eateries under the sea.
Incorrect: The filthy Chum Bucket; and the clean Krusty Krab are popular eateries under the sea.
Correct: The filthy Chum Bucketand the clean Krusty Krab are popular eateries under the sea.
Passage III : “Slowly Spanning the Straits”
Is there something wrong? If there is something wrong fix it, if there isn’t, then say it is correct.
1.Early settlers know how to raise their own food.
Knew, past
2.Early settlers fished, and farmed along the coast.
No comma between two items.
3.Politicians refused to take action for the project.
Idiom, “take action on”
4.I was going to the party and my parents wouldn’t let me go.
but
5.I was going to the party but my parents wouldn’t let me go.
correct
6.In this case, however you seem to have made the wrong choice.
However surrounded by quotes.
7.It’s been good to know you.
It has Correct
8.The bird broke it’s wing.
Its
1. Verb Tense: Past (2 examples)
Rule: If something is spoken about in the past then use the past tense.
Incorrect: Early settlers know how to raise their own food.
Correct: Early settlers knew how to raise their own food.
2. Comma: List of two items. (1 example)
Rule: If there is a list of two items do not use a comma to separate them.
Incorrect: Early settlers fished, and farmed along the coast.
Correct: Early settlers fished and farmed along the coast.
3. Wordy or Relevance (2 examples)
Rule: Choose the most concise and relevant information.
4. Idiom: Take Action On (1 example)
Rule: It is always “take action on”
Incorrect: Politicians refused to take actionfor the project.
Correct: Politicians refused to take action on the project.
Incorrect: Politicians refused to take action by the project.
Correct: Politicians refused to take action on the project.
5. Transitions: So, But, And (2 examples)
Rule: But is used to show opposition to the previous point.
Incorrect: I was going to the party and my parents wouldn’t let me go.
Correct: I was going to the party but my parents wouldn’t let me go.
Rule: So is used to link two ideas.
Incorrect: I was going to the party but I put on my favorite shirt.
Correct: I was going to the party so I put on my favorite shirt.
Rule: And is used to link two ideas.
Incorrect: I was going to the party but I put on my favorite shirt.
Correct: I was going to the party and I put on my favorite shirt.
6. However (1 example)
Rule: When however is used in the middle of sentence it needs to be set off by commas.
Incorrect: In this case, however you seem to have made the wrong choice.
Correct: In this case, however, you seem to have made the wrong choice.
7. It’s vs. Its(1 example)
Rule: It's is a contraction for it is or it has.
Rule: Its is a possessive pronoun meaning, more or less, of it or belonging to it.
Rule: And there is absolutely, positively, no such word as its'.
A simple test
If you can replace it[']s in your sentence with it is orit has, then your word is it's; otherwise, your word is its.
Another test
Its is the neuter version of his and her. Try plugging her into your sentence where you think its belongs. If the sentence still works grammatically (if not logically) then your word is indeed its.
Examples
It's been good to know you. Contraction: it has
It's a bird! It's a plane! Contraction: it is
The dodo bird is known for its inability to fly. Possessive pronoun: its inability = the dodo bird's inability
raction forit isor it has.
Its is a possessive pronoun meaning, more or less, of it or belonging to it.
And there is absolutely, positively, no such word as its'.
Passage IV : “Care with Cards”
1. Wordy or Relevance (3 examples)
Rule: Choose the most concise and relevant information.
2. Verb Tense: Past (2 examples)
Rule: If something is spoken about in the past then use the past tense.
Incorrect: Early settlers know how to raise their own food.
Correct: Early settlers knew how to raise their own food.
3. Comma: Between a noun phrase and a gerund. (1 example)
Rule: Do not place a comma between a noun phrase and a gerund.
Incorrect: Mary ran into the house, sweating from head to toe.
Correct: Mary ran into the house sweating from head to toe.
4. Parallelism (1 example)
Rule: If a paragraph is written in the past make sure all the verbs are in the past.
5. Transitions: And, But (1 example)
Rule: But is used to show opposition to the previous point.
Incorrect: I was going to the party and my parents wouldn’t let me go.
Correct: I was going to the party but my parents wouldn’t let me go.
Rule: And is used to link two ideas.
Incorrect: I was going to the party but I put on my favorite shirt.
Correct: I was going to the party and I put on my favorite shirt.
6. Comma: Adverbial Too (1 example)
Rule: Adverbials like tooare separated from the main clause by a comma.