ACT English

When do you use commas in a series?

Separate 3+ items.

Comma after an introductory word/phrase?

Yes, Example: After the movie, we went out.

How do you punctuate nonessential info?

Use commas to set it off

Commas between adjectives?

Use if you can swap adjectives or add and

When to use a semi-colon?

Join two independent clauses. Example: I love pizza; my sister prefers pasta.

When to use a colon?

Introduce a list, explanation, or quotation. Example: She brought three items: pencils, notebooks, markers.

When do you use dashes?

To emphasize info or insert a break. Example: I bought three things — pencils, pens, and markers.

How do you show possession?

Singular: John’s book; Plural: Girls’ team; Contraction: don’t = do not

Do you use apostrophes to make plurals?

No. Example: CDs, apples (not CD’s, apple’s)

Singular/plural subjects with verbs?

Match verb to subject. Example: The team is winning.

How about “and” vs “or” subjects?

“And” = plural verb; “or” = verb matches closest subject.

Tense must stay consistent?

Yes. Example: I walked to the store and bought milk.

Example irregular verbs to watch?

Go → went; have → had; take → took; do → did

Preferred ACT style?

Active voice. Example: The dog chased the cat. (not The cat was chased by the dog)

Pronouns match number/gender?

Yes. Example: Every student must bring his or her notebook.

Can pronouns be ambiguous?

No. Ensure clear antecedent. Example: When Jane called Mary, she was excited → rewrite if unclear.

When to use “myself”, “himself”?

Only when subject & object are same. Incorrect: John and myself went → John and I went.

Modifier placement rules?

Place near word it describes. Example: She almost drove to the store every day.

Example of dangling modifier?

Incorrect: Walking down the street, the tree looked beautiful. → Subject must match modifier

How does ACT prefer sentences?

Clear, concise, avoid redundancy. Example: She is a talented writer (not “She is a writer who is talented”)

Common idioms tested?

Correct preposition: interested in, consistent with, divided into

Correct comparative forms?

Use -er for short adjectives, more for long adjectives. Avoid double comparisons: Incorrect: more better → Correct: better

Example?

Avoid vague words like “thing,” “stuff.” Use specific nouns.

If unsure, which answer?

Usually the most concise, clear choice

How does ACT test punctuation + grammar?

Often tests subtle changes, so read carefully.

What style does ACT prefer?

Parallelism, concise wording, active voice, formal tone

How to punctuate quotes?

Periods and commas inside quotation marks. Example: “I like it,” she said.

What is a sentence fragment?

Missing subject, verb, or complete thought → fix by completing thought

Difference?

Run-on = 2+ independent clauses joined incorrectly. Fix: add semicolon, comma + conjunction, or separate sentences

Example?

Use adjective to modify noun, adverb to modify verb. Example: She runs quickly (correct)

Keep modifiers near word they describe?

Yes. Example: Correct: The girl wearing a red dress is my sister.

Restrictive vs nonrestrictive clauses?

“That” = restrictive (no commas), “Which” = nonrestrictive (commas)

Which to use?

Fewer = countable, Less = uncountable. Example: Fewer apples, less water

Common confusion?

Affect = verb, Effect = noun. Example: The movie affected me. The effect was dramatic.

Correct usage?

Lie = recline, Lay = put something down. Example: I lie down. I lay the book down.

Subject vs Object?

Who = subject, Whom = object. Example: Who went? I met whom?

Example error?

Incorrect: She likes to swim more than running → Correct: She likes swimming more than running

Example?

Try to place adverb after “to” or at end. Example: To boldly go → ACT usually accepts this