ACT Prep Book English- Grammar Questions

Grammar rules, how to think through grammar questions

Every complete sentence needs a

Subject + Verb

Subjects

Typically a noun or pronoun

Verbs

Action verb, can represent state of being

Have to stay consistent with their subjects

Verb Tenses

Verb tense changes with the time of the event: Past Present, Futue

Perfect Tenses

Past Perfect: Make clear chronology of two events at definite time in past, one before the other

Present Perfect: Event began in the past continues into present or event completed at indefinite time before present

Future Perfect: Event that will be completed at a definite later time

Irregular Verbs

Participle: Form the verb takes when paired with helping verb to have to form perfect tense

-For regular verbs, simple past tense and past particle are the same

Consider whether you have a complete sentence with each answer choice if

You see options with subjects and verbs changing

Main verbs in a sentence can NOT be

An -ing or “to” verb

A single punctuation mark can never come between

A subject and its verb

-Two punctuation marks (like non-essential information set-off with two punctuation marks) can come between a subject and its verb

Pronouns

Have to stay consistent with the nouns they replace in number, gender, and the function they perform in a sentence

Modifying Phrases

Includes adjectives, adverbs, and entire phrases

Must be next to what they are modifying

Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives modify nouns, adverbs modify everything else

Most adverbs formed by adding -ly

Comparisons and Superlatives

-er at the end makes a comparison

-est makes a superlative

Some adjectives need instead the word more for a comparison and the word most for a superlative

STOP Punctuation

Period

Semicolon

Question mark

Exclamation mark

Comma + FANBOYS

When you see STOP Punctuation, determine if both ideas on each side are complete (independent)

Using the Vertical Line Test, draw vertical line where the punctuation is

GO Punctuation

Comma or no punctuation at all

Can link anything except two complete ideas (Independent)