ACT English : Usage Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #721 : Usage Errors

As the class entered the museum, Ms. Johnson noticed that two of her students had fallen behind the group. After all of the tickets had been secured, she approached the two girls, saying: “what on Earth is causing you to go so slow?” The taller girl, whose name was Ashley, was the first to respond:

“Veronica and I were just discussing something very private. Nobody can hear what her and I are discussing.”

“Well, Ashley, I think that our tour guide, Dr. Mitchell, will be offended by your behavior. You and Veronica should find separate places in the group and you should pay attention to him and me.”

The two girls reluctantly joined the rest of the class. Ms. Johnson looked to see if another student was out of their place, but everything seemed to be in order. The tour guide, Dr. Mitchell, introduced himself to the class: 

“Hello everyone! My name is Dr. Mitchell. I’m so glad that you have all come to the Museum of Natural History today; I think you’ll really enjoy our exhibits, which have been curated with the utmost care. The museum has three distinct types of exhibitions. Permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibitions, and space shows. The permanent exhibition and the space show is always available for viewing, but the temporary exhibition changes seasonally.“

Having finished his introduction, the permanent exhibition was the first thing that Dr. Mitchell showed to the class.

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

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

who's name was Ashley

which was named Ashley

none of the other answers

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

The original text is correct. The name belongs to Ashley, so the relative pronoun "whose" is correct. "Who's" is short for "who is," which is a possesive pronoun. When expanded, it creates the following, "The taller girl, who is name was Ashley."

We can immediately identify this sentence as incorrect. What is required to link Ashley and her name is a relative, not a possesive pronoun. The word "which" is incorrect here, because we are referring to a person and should therefore use a pronoun that refers to a person, not an object.

Example Question #722 : Usage Errors

As the class entered the museum, Ms. Johnson noticed that two of her students had fallen behind the group. After all of the tickets had been secured, she approached the two girls, saying: “what on Earth is causing you to go so slow?” The taller girl, whose name was Ashley, was the first to respond:

“Veronica and I were just discussing something very private. Nobody can hear what her and I are discussing.”

“Well, Ashley, I think that our tour guide, Dr. Mitchell, will be offended by your behavior. You and Veronica should find separate places in the group and you should pay attention to him and me.”

The two girls reluctantly joined the rest of the class. Ms. Johnson looked to see if another student was out of their place, but everything seemed to be in order. The tour guide, Dr. Mitchell, introduced himself to the class: 

“Hello everyone! My name is Dr. Mitchell. I’m so glad that you have all come to the Museum of Natural History today; I think you’ll really enjoy our exhibits, which have been curated with the utmost care. The museum has three distinct types of exhibitions. Permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibitions, and space shows. The permanent exhibition and the space show is always available for viewing, but the temporary exhibition changes seasonally.“

Having finished his introduction, the permanent exhibition was the first thing that Dr. Mitchell showed to the class.

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

Possible Answers:

our exhibits, who have been curated

NO CHANGE

our exhibits which have been curated

our exhibits, that have been curated

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

The element need to connect "our exhibits" and "have been curated" is a relative pronoun. While "that" may work as a relative pronoun here (i.e. our exhibits that have been curated"), it would alter the meaning of the sentence slightly, suggesting that only some exhibits have been curated with the utmost care and that those are the ones the students will enjoy; furthermore, that does not require a comma and therefore the answer including the relative pronoun "that" incorrect. "Which," on the other hand, always require a comma before it, which is why the original text is correct and requires no change.

Example Question #2574 : Act English

Adapted from The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1774; trans. Boylan 1854)

That the life of man is but a dream, many a man has surmised heretofore. I, too, am everywhere pursued by this feeling. When I consider the narrow limits within which our active and inquiring faculties are confined, I am silent. Likewise, when I see how all our energies are wasted in providing for mere necessities, which again has no further end than to prolong a wretched existence, I find myself to be silenced. Indeed, discovering that all our satisfaction concerning certain subjects of investigation ends in nothing better than a passive resignation, while we amuse ourselves painting our prison-walls with bright figures and brilliant landscapes—when I consider all this Wilhelm—I am silent. I examine my own being, and find there a world, but a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power. Then, everything swims before my senses, and I smile and dream while pursuing my way through the world.

All learned professors and doctors are agreed that children do not comprehend the cause of their desires; however, nobody is willing to acknowledge that the grown-ups should wander about this earth like children, without knowing whence they come or whither they go, influenced as little by fixed motives but, instead, guided like them by biscuits, sugar-plums, and the rod.

I know what you will say in reply. Indeed, I am ready to admit that they are happiest, who, like children, amuse themselves with their playthings, dress and undress their dolls.  They are happiest, who attentively watch the cupboard, where mamma has locked up her sweet things, and, when at last they get a delicious morsel, eat it greedily, and exclaim, "More!" These are certainly happy beings; but others also are objects of envy, who dignify their paltry employments (and sometimes even their passions) with pompous titles, representing them to mankind as gigantic achievements performed for their welfare and glory. However, the man who humbly acknowledges the vanity of all this, who observes with what pleasure the thriving citizen converts his little garden into a paradise, and how patiently even the poor man pursues his weary way under his burden, and how all wish equally to behold the light of the sun a little longer—yes, such a man is at peace, and creates his own world within himself. Indeed, he is also happy precisely because he is a man. And then, however limited his sphere, he still preserves in his bosom the sweet feeling of liberty and knows that he can quit his prison whenever he likes.

What is the antecedent of the bolded relative pronoun “who”?

Possible Answers:

others

envy

objects

These

Correct answer:

others

Explanation:

A reordering of the sentence can help to make this answer more obvious.  It would make just as much sense to say, "But others, who dignify their paltry employments...with pompous titles..., are objects of envy."  It is the subject that is being qualified by the relative pronoun.

Example Question #2575 : Act English

Adapted from The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1774; trans. Boylan 1854)

That the life of man is but a dream, many a man has surmised heretofore. I, too, am everywhere pursued by this feeling. When I consider the narrow limits within which our active and inquiring faculties are confined, I am silent. Likewise, when I see how all our energies are wasted in providing for mere necessities, which again has no further end than to prolong a wretched existence, I find myself to be silenced. Indeed, discovering that all our satisfaction concerning certain subjects of investigation ends in nothing better than a passive resignation, while we amuse ourselves painting our prison-walls with bright figures and brilliant landscapes—when I consider all this Wilhelm—I am silent. I examine my own being, and find there a world, but a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power. Then, everything swims before my senses, and I smile and dream while pursuing my way through the world.

All learned professors and doctors are agreed that children do not comprehend the cause of their desires; however, nobody is willing to acknowledge that the grown-ups should wander about this earth like children, without knowing whence they come or whither they go, influenced as little by fixed motives but, instead, guided like them by biscuits, sugar-plums, and the rod.

I know what you will say in reply. Indeed, I am ready to admit that they are happiest, who, like children, amuse themselves with their playthings, dress and undress their dolls.  They are happiest, who attentively watch the cupboard, where mamma has locked up her sweet things, and, when at last they get a delicious morsel, eat it greedily, and exclaim, "More!" These are certainly happy beings; but others also are objects of envy, who dignify their paltry employments (and sometimes even their passions) with pompous titles, representing them to mankind as gigantic achievements performed for their welfare and glory. However, the man who humbly acknowledges the vanity of all this, who observes with what pleasure the thriving citizen converts his little garden into a paradise, and how patiently even the poor man pursues his weary way under his burden, and how all wish equally to behold the light of the sun a little longer—yes, such a man is at peace, and creates his own world within himself. Indeed, he is also happy precisely because he is a man. And then, however limited his sphere, he still preserves in his bosom the sweet feeling of liberty and knows that he can quit his prison whenever he likes.

What is the antecedent of the bolded relative pronoun “who”?

Possible Answers:

this

pleasure

man

vanity

Correct answer:

man

Explanation:

The author is using a kind of parallelism.  This could be represented:

The man...

(1) "Who humbly acknowledges the vanity of all this"

(2) "Who observes with what pleasure the thriving citizen converts his little garden into a paradise"

Therefore, the "who" qualifies "man."

Example Question #723 : Usage Errors

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

Jane Gooddall is a primatologist and anthropologist whom studied the social interactions of chimpanzees in Tanzania for over five decades.

Possible Answers:

and studied

NO CHANGE

that studied

who studied

which studied

Correct answer:

who studied

Explanation:

This sentence needs a relative pronoun to link the independent clause "Jane Gooddall is a primatologist and anthropologist" to the phrase "studied the social interactions of chimpanzees in Tanzania for over five decades" in order to make that phrase a relative clause. "Whom" is not correct in this sentence because it does not call for an objective pronoun. Instead, the pronoun "who" should be used because it is referring to the subject of the sentence and is personal (unlike "that" or "which").

Example Question #2575 : Act English

Adapted from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Laurie ran to meet and present them to his friends in the most cordial manner. The lawn was the reception room, and for several minutes a lively scene was enacted there. Meg was grateful to see that Miss Kate, though twenty, was dressed with a simplicity which American girls would do well to imitate, and who was much flattered by Mr. Ned's assurances that he came especially to see her. Jo understood why Laurie "primmed up his mouth" when speaking of Kate, for that young lady had a standoff-don't-touch-me air, which contrasted strongly with the free and easy demeanor of the other girlsAmy found Grace a well-mannered, merry little person, and after staring dumbly at one another for a few minutes, they suddenly became very good friends.

Tents, lunch, and croquet utensils having been sent on beforehand, the party was soon embarked, and the two boats pushed off together, leaving Mr. Laurence waving his hat on the shore. Laurie and Jo rowed one boat, Mr. Brooke and Ned the other, while Fred Vaughn, the riotous twin, did his best to upset both by paddling about in a wherry like a disturbed water bug. Jo's funny hat deserved a vote of thanks, for it was of general utility. It broke the ice in the beginning by producing a laugh, it created quite a refreshing breeze, flapping to and fro as she rowed, and would make an excellent umbrella for the whole party, if a shower came up, she said.

Meg, in the other boat, was delightfully situated, face to face with the rowers, which both admired her and feathered their oars with uncommon skill and dexterity.

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:

who

NO CHANGE

in which

with whom

whom

Correct answer:

who

Explanation:

"Which" refers to groups of things while "who" and sometimes "that" are used in reference to people. Since the word "both" refers to the rowers in the sentence, we understand that the author is referring to people. The pronoun "whom" is in objective case, while "who" is properly used here in its subjective case. 

Example Question #16 : Relative Pronoun Usage Errors

Select the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as is, select "NO CHANGE."

The concerto contest is an annual event where students compete to perform a solo with the city philharmonic.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

an annual event that

an annual event which

an annual event who

an annual event in which

Correct answer:

an annual event in which

Explanation:

The word "where" refers to a place and should be functioning as a relative pronoun in the sentence. The sentence is trying to describe what the concerto competition is, not where it takes place. It also needs to be a prepositional phrase ("in which").

Example Question #17 : Relative Pronoun Usage Errors

Passage adapted from Theodore Roosevelt, "Dante and the Bowery," in History as Literature and Other Essays (1913)

It is the conventional thing to praise Dante because he purposely "used the language of the marketplace," so as to be understood by the common people; but we do not in practice either admire or understand a man which writes in the language of our own marketplace. It must be the Florentine marketplace of the thirteenth century—not Fulton Market of today. What infinite use Dante would have made of the Bowery! Of course, he could have done it only because not merely he himself, the great poet, but his audience also, would have accepted it as natural. The nineteenth century was more apt than the thirteenth to boast of itself as being the greatest of the centuries; but, except in regard to purely material objects, ranging from locomotives to bank buildings, it did not wholly believe in its boasting. A nineteenth-century poet, when trying to illustrate some point he was making, obviously felt uncomfortable in mentioning nineteenth-century heroes if he also referred to those of classic times, lest he should be suspected of instituting comparisons between them. A thirteenth-century poet was not in the least troubled by any such misgivings, and quite simply illustrated his point by allusions to any character in history or romance, ancient or contemporary, that happened to occur to him.

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:

understand a man, that writes in the language of our own marketplace

NO CHANGE

understand a man whom writes in the language of our own marketplace

understand a man who writes in the language of our own marketplace

Correct answer:

understand a man who writes in the language of our own marketplace

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the passage includes a restrictive relative clause which modifies the noun "man" by giving you more essential information about what he, as the subject of the relative clause, does. You should not place commas around restrictive relative clauses, which are part of identifying--not just describing--a noun or pronoun.

The subject relative pronouns for humans are "who" and "that," but in this case, the answer choice with "that" has a comma incorrectly inserted before the relative clause.  

Example Question #255 : Pronoun Usage Errors

“Mathematics and Learning”

What subject should be learned first?  The question rightly troubles anyone who’s interest is in education.  Of course, young children often must learn in a very basic and rote fashion, applying their apt memorization skills to simple tasks that will serve them very well in later years when they go one to apply such knowledge to more complex topics.  However, when the time comes to designing curricula, an important question must be answered for older students, namely “What is most important first topic in these students’s education?”

 An argument can be made for the use of mathematics as a tool for teaching students how to reason more clearly.  This is not because mathematics is the basis of all knowledge.  Indeed not.  There are many important subjects including not only the humanities like poetry and history but sciences like biology and physiology too.   These topics are not strictly speaking mathematical in nature, even though mathematics can be used in it in many ways.

Our minds are best geared for learning things that we can sense, things that are visible and tangible.  Although mathematics is abstract, it can begin with this kind of sense derived experience.  Beginning with simple everyday examples, children can be taught the more abstract and difficult skills that must be learned for the sake of the development of mathematical skills.  In the process of learning these topics, the children will begin to learn important rules about reasoning.  He or she will learn how several propositions can serve as the basis for conclusions.  They will learn how certain properties are related to various geometric figures and arithmetical rules.  Although much of this will be memorized at first, with time, they will have the opportunity to see that human reasoning in mathematical subjects is orderly and logical.  On the basis of such “logical experience,” young learners can then begin to be taught the rules of logic that they have been using all along.  As the medievals used to say, they could go from logica utens, logic used in other subjects, to logica docens logic taught, as a unique, and separate subject.

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

Possible Answers:

The question rightly troubles anyone, whose interest is in education.

The question, rightly, troubles anyone who’s interest is in education.

NO CHANGE

The question rightly troubles anyone whose interest is in education.

The question rightly troubles anyone, who’s interest is in education.

Correct answer:

The question rightly troubles anyone whose interest is in education.

Explanation:

As written, the sentence misuses the relative pronoun form "who's." As a possessive relative pronoun, the proper form is "whose." No comma is necessary for this kind of relative clause. Likewise, do not be fooled because of how other possessives work. Yes, the 's is needed in other cases. For the relative pronoun "who," the possessive form is "whose."

Example Question #132 : Other Pronoun Errors

“Intellectual Virtues”

Whenever someone talks about being “virtuous,” we immediately think of someone whose very moral.  Perhaps we even think of people who are a bit boring for virtuous people can appear to have no fun at least in the popular imagination.  Whatever the case might be, almost any reader would be surprised to see the expression “intellectual virtues.”  What could this expression mean to designate!  At best, most people would say, “Such virtues must describe people for who knowledge is combined with devotion and rigorous discipline.”  That is; they would seem to describe the person who has a disciplined character in addition to being intelligent.

However, in ancient and medieval philosophy, certain intellectual capacities were considered virtues.  These character traits were not quite the same as moral character traits or virtues.  To understand this idea, it can be helpful to consider two example people, one whose skills are the fruit of a so-called intellectual virtue and the other whose skills are not.

It is easier to start with the person who does not have a given intellectual virtue.  We all know someone who is not very good at math, that is, someone for who math is difficult even though he or she might be quite skilled at many other tasks   It makes sense to say that this person doesn’t have an intellectual virtue.  Likewise, think of the person who is only able to memorize formulas.  Such a person is often very good at working through many problems with deft skill.  This person seems to be a “wiz” at geometry and algebra, quickly solving equations and proofs. 

However, this latter person might suddenly be presented with a difficult, new problem.  When we notice that he or she does not have the creative skill and insight to solve the problem, we realize that he or she does’nt have a so-called “intellectual virtue.”  This person merely has a habit—a particular skill that is helpful but does not indicate true and complete mathematical knowledge.  The person who is able to understand the mathematics and creatively apply this knowledge to solve new problems.  This person has a true intellectual virtue.  They have a particular ability for intellectual insight, able to probe the difficult domain of this topic.  This is much more noble as the mere habit of being able to balance equations and repeat facts about geometric figures!

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

Possible Answers:

someone who's very moral

NO CHANGE

someone who was very moral

someone, who's very moral

someone, whose very moral

Correct answer:

someone who's very moral

Explanation:

Clearly, the author of this passage wishes to say that we think of someone who is very moral. Of course, using "who's" can be a bit informal. The only non-contracted option is "who was." This does not make much sense in context. Therefore, the best option is the contraction "who's." This does not require a comma. (Thus, note that the possessive relative pronoun whose is not the same as the possessive contraction of the relative pronoun who with is.)

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