ACT English › Compound Subject 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."
NO CHANGE
As the global market is continuing
Since the global market is continuing
Because the global market will continue
The word "continues" must be kept in the present tense in order to stay parallel with the verbs that follow.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Bill and Tiffany's brother buys a round of appetizers for the table.
buy
NO CHANGE
buying
has bought
was buying
This question asks you about subject-verb agreement. When the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must also use a plural form in order to agree. In this case, the compound subject includes two people, "Bill" and "Tiffany's brother," so it is plural. Therefore, the plural form of the verb, "buy," should be used rather than the singular form, "buys."
Adapted from The Discourse on Method by René Descartes (1637; 1899, ed. Eliot)
From my childhood, I have been familiar with letters; and as I was given to believe that by their help a clear and certain knowledge of all that is useful in life might be acquired, I was ardently desirously for instruction in them. But as soon as I had finished the entire course of study, at the close of which it is customarily to be admitted into the order of the learned, I completely changed my opinion. I found myself involved in so many doubts and errors and was convinced that I had not advanced in all my attempts at learning. At every turn, ignorance and unknowing was to be discovered. And yet, I was studying in one of the most celebrated Schools in Europe. I thought there must be learned men in it, at least if such were anywhere to be found. I had been taught all that others learned there. However, not contented with the sciences actually taught us, I had, in addition, read all the books that had fallen into my hands, studying those branches that are judged to be the most curious and rare. I knew the judgment that others had formed of me. I did not find that I was considered inferior to my fellows, although there were among them some whom were already marked out to fill the places of our instructors. And, finally, our era appeared to me as flourishing and fertile with powerful minds as any preceding one. I was thus led to take the liberty of judging of all other men by myself. Furthermore, I concluded that there was no science in existence that was of such a nature as I had previously been given to believe.
Which of the following is the best form of the underlined selection "At every turn, ignorance and unknowing was to be discovered"?
At every turn, ignorance and unknowing were to be discovered
At every turn, ignorance or unknowing was to be discovered
NO CHANGE
At every turn, ignorance and unknowing was discovered
As written, this sentence does not match the plural subject correctly with its main verb. Notice that the subject of the sentence is "ignorance and unknowing." This expression could be replaced with the word "they" to make it clearer: "They was to be discovered." Clearly, this is improper form. Replace "was" with "were," and the sentence will be corrected: "They were to be discovered."
"Our Family Trip to Hawaii" by Jennifer Mings (2013)
Last summer, my mother, sister, brother, and me took a trip to Honolulu, Hawaii. We were excited to see everything, and couldn’t wait to arrive. After our lengthy plane ride, we stepped off of the plane in a daze. There was two flight attendants who immediately greeted us, putting flower wreaths around our necks. We then met up with our tour guide; and he told us that we would be going straight to Pearl Harbor.
On our way to Pearl Harbor, there was a largely immense amount of traffic, something that aggravated my mother. Luckily, the tour guide was a native of the island, and he was able to calm my mother down.
When we finally arrived at Pearl Harbor, there was many tourists and natives of different nationalities. The first thing we did when we arrived was watching a movie about the history of Pearl Harbor, which included the story of the USS Arizona. During the movie, everyone had been excited to see the USS Arizona Memorial and wanted to get on the boat. After, we all got on a boat and we were driven to the USS Arizona Memorial. It was an amazing, beautiful, gorgeous, and great experience for everyone.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE
there were many tourists and natives of different nationalities
there were many tourists, and natives, of different nationalities
there was many tourists, and natives, of different nationalities
This is because there is correct verb usage (the verb must match up with the multiple direct objects) and there is not an overuse of commas.
Passage adapted from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1899) by L. Frank Baum
Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife. Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles. There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which make one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds. Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner, and Dorothy a little bed in another corner. There was no garret at all, and no cellar--except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path. It was reached by a trap door in the middle of the floor, from which a ladder led down into the small, dark hole.
When Dorothy stood in the doorway and looked around, she could see nothing but the great gray prairie on every side. Not a tree nor a house broke the broad sweep of flat country that reached to the edge of the sky in all directions. The sun had baked the plowed land into a gray mass, with little cracks running through it. Even the grass was not green, for the sun had burned the tops of the long blades until they were the same gray color to be seen everywhere. Once the house had been painted, but the sun blistered the paint and the rains washed it away, and now the house was as dull and gray as everything else.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
made
were making
makes
NO CHANGE
"Made" is the correct choice, because it is in the past tense and agrees with the subject (four walls, a floor and a roof).
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Both Mark and his friend Josh is a type of person called introverts.
are a type
are a types
is a type
is a types
is one type
The subject of the sentence, "Mark and his friend Josh," is plural. Therefore, the sentence must use a verb that agrees with a plural subject. So, "are" needs to be used instead of "is." In choosing between "are a type" and "are a types," the phrase "a types" is grammatically incorrect because "a" is an indefinite article used with singular nouns, and "types" is a plural noun. Plus, you can see that the sentence is discussing one type of person "called introverts"—there is no discussion provided of any other type of person, so using the plural "types" would not make sense in the sentence's context. So, "are a type" is the correct answer.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Tom, Dick, and Harry all laments the loss of a previous innocence they possessed as children.
all lament
all laments
laments
all lamenting
each lament
The use of "all" is the key indicator of the correct answer in the sentence. While "Tom, Dick, and Harry" are singular as individuals, they are "all" together sharing their feeling as a plural group; therefore, "all lament" is the correct choice among the answers.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Three horses and a cat is living in Mrs. Smith's barn.
are living
NO CHANGE
living
living is
living are
This sentence contains a compound subject. Although the word "cat" is singular, the compound subject of the sentence, "three horses and a cat," is plural. Therefore, the plural verb form "are living" should be used in order for the subject and verb to agree.
Select the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as is, select "NO CHANGE."
The tracks in the snow and the scat on the ground provides evidence that deer have visited the yard.
provide evidence that
provides evidence for
NO CHANGE
was providing evidence that
were providing evidence that
There is no need to change the tense, only the number. The compound subject ("tracks and scat") needs a plural verb, provide.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
According to the recent census conducted by researchers in 2010, only Panville and Saytown have a greater proportion of men to women.
NO CHANGE
Panville and Saytown has
Panville and Saytown has had
Panville and Saytown having
Panville and Saytown had has
The subject "Panville and Saytown" involves more than one city. Therefore, the subject is plural. Because of a plural subject, the verb must also be plural. "Have" is the plural form of the verb, and so "Panville and Saytown have" is the correct answer.