Sentence Structure & Formation - ACT English

1. What is the role of a relative pronoun?

   To introduce a relative clause and refer to a noun. Links dependent clause to main clause while referring back to a noun.

2. What is a relative clause?

   A clause starting with a relative pronoun like 'who' or 'which'. Provides essential or additional information about nouns.

3. What is the role of a coordinating conjunction?

   To connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank. Links grammatically equal elements like FANBOYS conjunctions.

4. Find and correct the error: 'The data was surprising.'

   Correct: 'The data were surprising.'. 'Data' is plural, so it takes a plural verb.

5. What is a run-on sentence (fused sentence)?

   Two independent clauses joined with no punctuation or conjunction. Creates an error because readers can't tell where one idea ends and another begins.

6. What is the clearest placement rule for an adverb like "only"?

   Place it immediately before the word or phrase it modifies. Proximity to the modified word prevents ambiguity.

7. What is the function of a colon in a sentence?

   To introduce a list, quote, or explanation. Signals that specific examples or details will follow.

8. What is a complex sentence?

   A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. One main clause plus a subordinate clause that depends on it.

9. Which word completes the sentence: 'Not only did she sing ___ dance.'

   but also. Completes the correlative conjunction 'not only...but also'.

10. Which word completes the sentence: 'Neither the cat ___ the dog is here.'

    nor. Completes the correlative conjunction 'neither...nor'.

11. Choose the correct punctuation: "She trained daily ___ she improved quickly."

    Correct: ";". A semicolon alone joins independent clauses without conjunction.

12. Find and correct the error: 'The boy who cry wolf is lying.'

    Correct: 'The boy who cries wolf is lying.'. Verb must agree with the singular subject 'boy'.

13. Identify the error in the sentence: 'Running down the street, the dog barked loudly.'

    Misplaced modifier. 'Running' seems to describe the dog instead of the intended subject.

14. Which word completes the sentence: 'Either the pen ___ the pencil is fine.'

    or. Completes the correlative conjunction 'either...or'.

15. Find and correct the faulty comparison: "Her salary is higher than her assistant."

    Correct: "Her salary is higher than her assistant's salary.". Compare salary to salary, not salary to person.

16. Find and correct the fragment: "Because the storm was severe."

    Correct: "Because the storm was severe, we stayed inside.". Adding an independent clause completes the thought.

17. Choose the correct verb: "The list of supplies (is/are) on the table."

    Correct: "is". The subject 'list' is singular despite the plural 'supplies.'

18. What is an appositive?

    A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun beside it. Provides additional information about the noun it follows.

19. Identify the sentence type: 'What time is it now?'

    Interrogative sentence. Begins with question word 'What' and seeks information.

20. What is an infinitive phrase?

    A phrase beginning with 'to' followed by a verb. Functions as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in sentences.

21. What is a comma splice?

    Two independent clauses incorrectly joined by only a comma. A comma alone cannot join two complete thoughts.

22. Change to active voice: 'The cake was eaten by the children.'

    The children ate the cake. Makes the subject perform the action directly.

23. Which word type commonly begins a dependent clause: "because," "although," "when"?

    A subordinating conjunction (subordinator). These words create dependent clauses that need main clauses to complete them.

24. Identify the error: 'The teacher, she is nice.'

    Redundant subject. The pronoun 'she' unnecessarily repeats the subject 'teacher'.

25. Identify the error: 'The more you practice, the better you will.'

    Incomplete comparison. The comparison needs 'become' or similar to complete the thought.

26. Identify the relative pronoun: 'The book that you lent me was thrilling.'

    that. Connects the relative clause to 'book' in the main clause.

27. Identify the sentence type: 'What a beautiful day!'

    Exclamatory sentence. Expresses enthusiasm about the weather with strong emotion.

28. What is a coordinating conjunction?

    A word connecting two equal parts of a sentence (e.g., 'and'). FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

29. What is a fragment sentence?

    An incomplete sentence that lacks a subject or a verb. Missing essential parts like subject or verb to be complete.

30. Choose the correct comma use: "After the meeting ended ___ we left."

    Correct: comma after introductory clause: ",". Introductory dependent clauses require comma separation.

31. Identify the error: 'Hoping to win, the game was intense.'

    Dangling modifier. The modifier doesn't logically connect to 'game'.

32. What is the rule for joining two independent clauses with FANBOYS?

    Use a comma before the coordinating conjunction. The comma prevents run-on sentences when joining complete thoughts.

33. Choose the parallel option: "The job requires writing clearly and to edit carefully."

    Correct: "The job requires writing clearly and editing carefully.". Both parts after 'requires' use the same form (gerund phrases).

34. Choose the correct verb: "Each of the players (was/were) ready."

    Correct: "was". 'Each' is always singular regardless of the following prepositional phrase.

35. Choose the correct verb: "The scissors (is/are) in the drawer."

    Correct: "are". 'Scissors' is always plural even though it refers to one object.

36. What is an independent clause?

    A clause that can stand alone as a sentence. Has both subject and predicate and expresses a complete thought.

37. Find and correct the error: 'The dog barks loudly, howls.'

    Correct: 'The dog barks loudly and howls.'. Parallel verbs should be connected with 'and', not a comma.

38. What is a dangling modifier?

    An introductory modifier with no clear subject to modify. The modifier has nothing logical to modify in the sentence.

39. Identify the error: 'She wondered, if it would rain.'

    Unnecessary comma. Commas don't separate the verb from its direct object clause.

40. What is the purpose of a semicolon?

    To link two independent clauses without a conjunction. Joins complete sentences when they're closely related.

41. What is a passive voice?

    A sentence where the subject receives the action. The subject is acted upon rather than performing the action.

42. What is the correct comma rule for an independent clause followed by a dependent clause?

    No comma, unless the dependent clause is nonessential. Essential dependent clauses attach directly without comma separation.

43. Identify the appositive in the sentence: 'My brother, a skilled guitarist, plays daily.'

    a skilled guitarist. The phrase that renames and describes 'My brother'.

44. Find and correct the error: 'She only eats pizza on Fridays.'

    Correct: 'She eats pizza only on Fridays.'. 'Only' should modify 'Fridays', not 'eats'.

45. What is a sentence fragment in ACT English terms?

    A group of words missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought. It lacks one of the three essential elements of a complete sentence.

46. Identify the error: 'She runs fast, he is slow.'

    Comma splice. Two independent clauses joined incorrectly with only a comma.

47. What is an exclamatory sentence?

    A sentence that expresses strong emotion. Shows strong feeling and ends with an exclamation point.

48. What is an imperative sentence?

    A sentence that gives a command or request. The subject 'you' is implied but not stated directly.

49. What is a declarative sentence?

    A sentence that makes a statement. Simply states a fact and ends with a period.

50. What is subject-verb agreement?

    The verb form must match the subject in number (singular/plural). Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs.

51. What is the rule for separating items in a series of three or more?

    Use commas between items; include a final comma if clarity requires. The final comma prevents confusion in complex series.

52. Choose the correct punctuation: "He wanted to leave ___ he stayed."

    Correct: comma + "but". The contrast between clauses requires comma plus coordinating conjunction.

53. Choose the correct form: 'Neither of the answers (is/are) correct.'

    is. 'Neither' creates a singular subject requiring singular verb form.

54. What is the correct comma rule for a dependent clause followed by an independent clause?

    Use a comma after the introductory dependent clause. The comma signals where the introductory element ends.

55. What is the clearest fix for a dangling modifier?

    Add the logical subject immediately after the modifier. This placement makes the modification relationship clear.

56. Identify the type: 'Please close the door.'

    Imperative sentence. Uses implied subject 'you' to make a polite request.

57. Which pronouns are singular for agreement: "each," "either," "neither"?

    They are singular and take singular verbs. These indefinite pronouns always refer to one person or thing.

58. What is a simple sentence?

    A sentence with one independent clause and no dependent clauses. Contains one complete thought with subject and predicate.

59. What is a noun clause?

    A clause that functions as a noun in a sentence. Can serve as subjects, objects, or complements.

60. Which construction must be parallel: "not only ... but also ..."?

    The grammatical form after each part must match. Correlative conjunctions require balanced grammatical structures.

61. What is the standard structure for an independent clause?

    Subject + finite verb + complete thought. All three elements must be present for the clause to stand alone.

62. Identify the verb in the sentence: 'She sings beautifully.'

    sings. The action word that tells what the subject does.

63. Which punctuation correctly joins two independent clauses without a conjunction?

    A semicolon. It functions like a period but shows the clauses are closely related.

64. Which phrase completes the sentence: 'She is as tall ___ her brother.'

    as. Completes the comparison structure 'as...as'.

65. Choose the parallel option: "He likes hiking, to swim, and biking."

    Correct: "He likes hiking, swimming, and biking.". All items in the series use the same grammatical form (gerunds).

66. Identify the subordinating conjunction: 'We stayed inside because it was raining.'

    because. Shows the cause-and-effect relationship between staying inside and rain.

67. Identify the error: 'There is many reasons.'

    Subject-verb agreement. 'There' is singular but 'reasons' is plural, creating disagreement.

68. What is the role of a subordinating conjunction?

    It connects a dependent clause to an independent clause. Creates complex sentences by showing relationships between clauses.

69. Find and correct the run-on: "The sun set it grew cold."

    Correct: "The sun set; it grew cold.". The semicolon properly joins related independent clauses.

70. Which punctuation is needed: 'She has three pets a dog, a cat, and a hamster.'

    colon after 'pets'. Introduces the list of three specific pets mentioned.

71. Which word is redundant in the sentence: 'She entered inside the room.'

    inside. 'Entered' already implies going inside, making 'inside' unnecessary.

72. What is a misplaced modifier?

    A modifier placed so it appears to describe the wrong word. Position determines meaning, so modifiers must be placed carefully.

73. In agreement questions, which word controls the verb: the subject or a nearby noun?

    The subject controls the verb. Intervening words between subject and verb don't affect agreement.

74. What is an interrogative sentence?

    A sentence that asks a question. Seeks information and ends with a question mark.

75. Find and correct the fragment: "Such as tulips and roses."

    Correct: "She planted flowers such as tulips and roses.". The phrase needs a complete sentence to attach to.

76. Choose the clearest comparison: "I like coffee more than my sister."

    Correct: "I like coffee more than my sister does.". Adding 'does' clarifies that you're comparing preferences, not people.

77. Find and correct the comma splice: "He was tired, however he kept working."

    Correct: "He was tired; however, he kept working.". Conjunctive adverbs need semicolons before and commas after.

78. What is a prepositional phrase?

    A modifying phrase starting with a preposition. Shows relationships between nouns and other words.

79. Choose the correct form: 'Each of the players ___ a trophy.'

    receives. 'Each' is singular and requires a singular verb.

80. Which punctuation correctly joins two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb?

    Semicolon before; comma after the conjunctive adverb. The conjunctive adverb needs strong punctuation on both sides.

81. What is the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause?

    Independent stands alone; dependent begins with a subordinator and cannot. The subordinator creates dependency by making the clause incomplete.

82. Find and correct the error: 'The book, that is on the table, is mine.'

    Correct: 'The book that is on the table is mine.'. Essential relative clauses don't need commas around them.

83. Choose the correct punctuation: "She trained daily, ___ she improved quickly."

    Correct: "and" (comma + coordinating conjunction). FANBOYS can join independent clauses when preceded by a comma.

84. What is the correct structure for a clear comparison in a sentence?

    Compare like things and keep the grammatical form parallel. Faulty comparisons confuse readers about what is being compared.

85. Identify the sentence type: 'The sky is blue.'

    Declarative sentence. Makes a straightforward statement about the sky's color.

86. Identify the error: 'Walking to the store, the rain started.'

    Dangling modifier. The modifier doesn't logically connect to the subject 'rain'.

87. Choose the best correction: "Walking to school, the backpack was heavy."

    Correct: "Walking to school, I found my backpack heavy.". The logical subject 'I' immediately follows the modifier.

88. Identify the subject in the sentence: 'The dog barked loudly.'

    The dog. The noun performing the action of the verb 'barked'.

89. Identify the conjunction in the sentence: 'He is tired, but he will continue working.'

    but. The coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses.

90. What is a subordinating conjunction?

    A conjunction that introduces a dependent clause. Creates dependent clauses by showing relationships like cause or time.

91. What is a sentence fragment?

    An incomplete sentence missing subject or verb. Lacks essential components to form a complete thought.

92. Identify the modifier problem: "Covered in mud, Maria washed the dog."

    Misplaced modifier (it sounds like Maria was covered in mud). The modifier incorrectly appears to modify Maria instead of the dog.

93. Choose the correct verb: "The team (wins/win) its games with strong defense."

    Correct: "wins". Collective nouns like 'team' are usually treated as singular.

94. What is the most common ACT-approved fix for a run-on sentence?

    Add a period, add a semicolon, or add comma + FANBOYS. These three methods properly separate independent clauses.

95. What is a faulty comparison?

    A comparison that illogically compares unlike things. It compares things that aren't logically comparable.

96. What is a run-on sentence?

    A sentence with two or more independent clauses improperly joined. Multiple complete thoughts connected incorrectly without proper punctuation.

97. Choose the correct conjunction: 'She is hungry, (and/or) she wants to eat.'

    and. 'And' shows addition, connecting her hunger with desire to eat.

98. Find and correct the error: 'The team are winning.'

    Correct: 'The team is winning.'. Collective nouns like 'team' are typically singular.

99. Identify the error: 'She likes cats, she likes dogs.'

    Comma splice. Two complete thoughts joined incorrectly with just a comma.

100. Identify the error type: "I finished my homework, I went to bed."

     Comma splice. A comma cannot join two independent clauses alone.

101. What is a misplaced modifier?

     A modifier placed too far from the word it modifies. Position determines meaning; closer placement clarifies intent.

102. Find and correct the misplaced modifier: "She nearly drove her children to school every day."

     Correct: "She drove her children to school nearly every day.". 'Nearly' should modify 'every day,' not the verb 'drove.'

103. Find and correct the error: 'Him and I went to the store.'

     Correct: 'He and I went to the store.'. 'Him' should be 'He' as the subject of the sentence.

104. What is parallel structure?

     The use of the same pattern of words to show equal importance. Consistent grammatical structure for items in a series or list.

105. What is a compound sentence?

     A sentence with two independent clauses joined by a conjunction. Contains two complete thoughts connected by words like 'and' or 'but'.

106. What is a compound-complex sentence?

     A sentence with at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause. Combines multiple independent and dependent clause structures.

107. Which punctuation is needed: 'It's raining __ I forgot my umbrella.'

     semicolon. Two independent clauses need stronger punctuation than a comma.

108. Find and correct the error: 'The book, which was torn, were on the shelf.'

     Correct: 'The book, which was torn, was on the shelf.'. Verb agrees with 'book', not with words inside commas.

109. Find and correct the error: 'She likes running, to swim, and biking.'

     Correct: 'She likes running, swimming, and biking.'. All items in the series should follow the same grammatical pattern.

110. What is a dependent clause?

     A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence. Lacks either a subject or predicate to form a complete thought.

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