ACT English

Grammar Rules, things to memorize, etc.

What is a dependent clause? What is an independent clause?

Dependent clause: An incomplete thought

Independent clause: A phrase that has a subject, a verb, and is a complete thought

What is a subordinating conjunction?

Forms an incomplete thought unless paired with an independent clause

Contains words like: Since, while, because, therefore

What are run-on sentences? Can they be used?

• Run on sentences have more than one independent clause

• They CANNOT be used, they cannot be separated by only a comma

How can you separate two independent clauses?

• Period

• Semicolon

• Colon IF there's a list or the second sentence is related to and expands on the first

• Make one sentence into a subordinating conjunction

• Comma PLUS FANBOYS

• Em dash

What is a parenthetical element? How do you insert one grammatically?

• Commas, dashes, or parenthesis can be used

• If the parenthetical phrase is at the beginning of the sentence, ONLY a comma can be used

• The phrase MUST be next to the term being explained

What can ONLY commas do?

• List items

• Add introductory phrases (for example, in addition, etc.)

What can both commas AND dashes do?

• Separate an independent and dependent clause

• Separate parenthetical elements

What do colons and dashes do?

• Both are used to explain something that breaks sentence flow

• They introduce quotations or lists

• They introduce related ideas

How do you separate a dependent and an independent clause?

• Use a comma

How do you separate two Independent clauses?

• Comma + FANBOYS

• Use a period to separate the sentences

• A semicolon

• Semicolon + adverb + comma

• A colon (but only when the two sentences are related

• Em Dashes CAN BE USED for STYLISTIC PURPOSES ONLY

How do you separate an independent and dependent clause?

You can ONLY use a comma

• Put the independent clause at the beginning - don’t a comma

• Put the dependent clause at the begining - comma

• Put the dependent clause in the middle - 2 commas

What is the difference between subjective vs objective pronouns?

• Pronouns talking about the SUBJECT of the sentence (person doing the action)

• Pronouns talking about the OBJECT of the sentence (person who is having the action done to them)

What is the difference between WHO vs WHOM? How do you know the difference?

• WHO is objective (WHO are you?)

• WHOM is subjective (for WHOM is this?)

• You can know by asking yourself if you answer with HE or HIM

• WHO are you? Who is he?) (For WHOM have you come? Have you come for HIM?)

What are modifiers? What are their rules?

• Modifiers are words or phrases that change the meaning of a noun or a verb

  • Adjectives- nouns (quick)

  • Adverbs- verbs (quickly)

• They have to be as close to the thing they’re modifying as they can possibly be

  • She handed out paints to the students in individual tubs ❌

  • She handed paints in individual tubs out to the students ✅out paints in individual tubs

What are comparative and superlative adjectives?

• Adjectives that compare how good TWO things are- comparative (Better)

• Adjectives that compare how good THREE OR MORE things are (Best)