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ACT English Test: Punctuation and Usage COMMAS 1. Use commas to separate items in a series Example: My recipe includes flour, sugar, and water. **Watch for final commas! COMMAS To separate two parallel adjectives Example: I can’t believe you’ll sit through this long, dull ACT lecture! 2. ** Watch that you don’t place a comma after the last adjective COMMAS 3. Use commas to set off parenthetical clauses and phrases. Example: Hadleigh, who never misses a practice, is an excellent basketball player. COMMAS 4. Use commas after introductory phrases Example: Having looked forward to cheering in college her whole life, Miranda took her regimented schedule with utter seriousness. COMMAS 5. Use commas to separate independent clauses when using a coordinating conjunction Example: The girls were excited for their senior year, but they knew they had lots of responsibilities to meet. Coordinating Conjunctions And Nor But Yet Or So For Comma Splice Is bad! Don’t do it!!!!!!! A comma splice is two independent clauses joined with only a comma! Example The girls were excited for their senior year, they knew they had lots of responsibilities to meet. DO NOT CREATE A COMMA SPLICE!!! DON’T USE A COMMA: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. AFTER coordinating conjunctions (and, for, or,nor, but, yet, so) AFTER such or like BEFORE than AFTER although BEFORE parentheses *** If in doubt, leave it out! If three answer choices include a comma and one does not, pick the one without the comma. Semicolons Semicolons are used to separate independent clauses. I can’t believe she did that; it is just like her! 2. Semicolons are used to separate two independent clauses that use a conjunctive adverb. I can’t believe she did that; however, it is just like her! 1. Colons The colon is used only as a means of signaling that what follows is a list, definition, explanation, or restatement of what has gone before. However, the clause preceding the colon must be a complete sentence! Correct: The girl knew she had many things to buy at the store: milk, butter, eggs, and bread. Incorrect: Please purchase: milk, butter, eggs, and bread. 1. Dashes 1. Dashes are used to indicate a hesitation or a sudden break in thought. They give a special emphasis Example: I was certain that my teacher – in fact that all my teachers – would let me make up my assignments. Parentheses 1. Very uncommon on ACT. Used primarily for side comments Example: I wanted to go scuba diving (I’ve had the dream since I was little), but the lessons were too expensive. Apostrophes If the noun is singular, just add ‘s. Even if the singular noun ends in s, still add an ‘s 2. If the noun is plural and ends in s, just add the ‘ 3. If the plural noun is irregular, add ‘s 4. With joint ownership, that last word in the series is the possessive/if there is individual ownership, both parts are possessive 1. Quotation Marks 1. Commas and periods ALWAYS belong inside the quotation marks. Semicolons and colons ALWAYS go outside quotation marks. Question marks and exclamation points go INSIDE the quotation marks when they are part of the quotation; otherwise, they go OUTSIDE. SVA Explanation A verb must agree with the noun or pronoun that is its subject A verb agrees in number with its subject A singular subject requires a singular verb; a plural subject, a plural verb. SINGULAR PLURAL The house has three bathrooms Cats are almost always nocturnal Obscurity Don’t let intervening words obscure the relationship between the subject and the verb. Find the subject and make the verb agree with it! Example: A column of wounded prisoners, townspeople, and “column” is the subject struggling over the exhausted soldiers was spotted horizon. Common Singular Issues Singular subjects followed by such words and phrases as along with, as well as, in addition to, together with, or with require singular verbs. Example: The carrier, together with three destroyers and two Singular subject frigates, was dispatched to the Mediterranean Sea. Indefinite Pronouns Indefinite pronouns like anybody, each, either, everyone, neither, and one are always singular, and take a singular verb, regardless of intervening words. Other indefinite pronouns, like all, any, none or some may be either singular or plural. Both, few, many, and several are always plural. Examples: Neither of my children has an interest in music. Indefinite pronoun “neither” always singular Singular verb Few of the golfers were professionals. Indefinite pronoun “few” always takes plural Plural verb Compound Subjects Compound subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb. (An exception is a compound subject that names one person, thing, or idea: Ham and eggs is a favorite breakfast). Example: The Toyota and the Ford are low on gas. Plural verb Compound subject There is/There are In sentences that begin with there is or there are, the subject follows the verb, and the verb must agree with it. Example: There are many reasons for the war in the Middle East. Plural subject FOLLOWS verb Joiners Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb. If one subject is singular and the other plural, the verb should agree with the nearer subject. Example: Either the vegetable or the pan is creating this awful taste. (singular subjects) Either the pan or the vegetables are creating this awful taste. (verb agrees with nearer subject) Collective Nouns Collective nouns (bunch, committee, family, group, herd, jury, number, team) may be either singular or plural, depending upon whether the group is regarded as a unit or as individuals. Example: The number of homeless families increases every year. A number of homeless people were ill enough to require hospitalization. WATCH VERB TENSES! Lay, Laid, Laid 1. Takes an object I lay the book on the table. I laid the silverware on the table yesterday. Lie, Lay, Lain (to recline) 1. NO object I think I will lie down now. Yesterday I lay down. I would have lain down if I had time. **on the beach, you don’t “lay out,” you “lie out.” Fragments Watch out for these! Sentences must have a subject, a verb, and they must express a complete thought! Run Ons Just as unacceptable as an incomplete sentence is a run on. A run on sentence is TWO sentences stuck together without proper punctuation. OR, it can be a clause that is not appropriately separated from a sentence punctuation wise. Pronoun Use Pronouns A pronoun must clearly refer to its antecedent (or referent) in both number and person. The bank turned Harry down when he applied for a loan Singular noun because its credit department discovered he was without a job. The people acted insane, and although no one knew them, Plural noun they were amazed at the behavior! Pronouns First Singular I, my, me, mine Plural we, us ours, our Second you, your, yours same Third he, him, she, her it, one, his, her hers, its, one’s their theirs Pronouns First Nominative Objective Possesive I, we me, us my, mine; our, ours Second you you your, yours Third he, she, it they him, her, it them his, her, hers its, theirs, theirs Relative Pronouns: who, whom, that, that, which, which Pronouns Use the Nominative Case: 1. For the subject of a sentence 2. After a linking verb (“to be” forms) 3. Understood comparisons (Gary is taller than they) Pronouns Use the Objective Case: 1. For the object of a verb 2. For the object of a preposition I/Me Use “I” if the pronoun is part of the subject. (Mary and I are going to room together) Use “me” if the pronouns is part of the object. (Mrs. Smith gave Mary and me an A for our project) **Throw out the other person and the correct answer may become obvious I/Me EXCEPTION If the sentence uses the linking verbs IS or WAS, the pronoun following the verb should be in the subjective case. It is she. It was I who failed. The police officer found out the thief was he. Their/There “Their” is always a possessive pronoun and shows ownership. It is used like “his” or “her.” “There” is usually used as an adverb or an expletive. Its/It’s Its is the possessive form of the pronoun “it” and its should be used similarly to his or her. “Its’” does not exist!!!! It’s is a contraction that combines it and is. Who/Whom ONLY in reference to people. WHO is always the subject (so you substitute “he”) WHOM is always the object (so you substitute “him”) Example: Who/Whom did you call? (change to “did you call he/him?”; you called him, so you need “whom”) MISC… Than/Then “then” is an adverb that shows a relationship involving time. I was younger and more optimistic then than I am now. “than” is a conjunction that shows a relationship between things. Jane is taller than I am. Ice cream is a more fattening dessert than jello. Affect/Effect Affect is a verb (to have an effect or influence) Smoking will affect your health. Effect is a noun (to cause something to happen) The ill effects of smoking will be felt for many years. Can/May AND Farther/Further Can (to be able to) I can speak two languages. May (to be allowed to) May I leave the room? Farther (at a greater distance) I can’t bike any farther. Further (to a greater extent) I can’t study any further tonight Parallel Form In a series or list, make sure items are listed or compared in parallel structure! Furthermore, in comparisons, make sure that there is an exhibition of both parallel structure and logic. Wrong: To visualize success is not the same as achieving it Right: To visualize success is not the same as to achieve it! Appropriate Subordination Backward subordination means that the most important idea in a sentence has been subordinated to a less important one. WRONG: As the tornado struck the house, I was getting dressed. RIGHT: As I was getting dressed, the tornado struck the house. **the most important idea should be expressed an independent clause. The least important idea should be expressed as a modifier, a dependent clause, or a fragment. Misplaced Modifiers Place modifying words, phrases, or clauses next to the words they modify. CONFUSED: While eating at the restaurant, Susan’s beeper went off. CLEAR: While Susan was eating at the restaurant, her beeper went off. Dangling Constructions A dangling modifier hangs in the air because there is no logical word in the sentence for it to modify. INCORRECT: Speeding down the street, several birds were frightened. CORRECT: Speeding down the street, Paul frightened several birds. ACT Transition Cues Addition/Continuation also, and, another, besides, finally, likewise, furthermore, in addition, indeed, moreover, similarly, then, too Cause and Effect accordingly, as, as a result, because, consequently, for this reason, since, then, therefore, thus Concession certainly, granted that, it is true that, no doubt, of course, still, to be sure, while, given this, with concession, to concede Conclusion or Repetition that is, to repeat, to reinforce Contrast or limitation although, but, however, if, in contrast, instead, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, otherwise, provided that, still, yet Example for example, for instance, in particular, likewise, specifically, that is, to illustrate, to make clear this x, for clarity Sequencing immediately, subsequently, consequently, given the aforementioned x, not withstanding, furthermore, certainly, likewise, clearly, in other words, in particular, in short, once again, STYLE 1. 2. 3. Watch for redundancy!!! (“The school was established and founded…”) Watch for relevancy!! Watch for BREVITY! Watch for verbosity!! Again BREVITY… TIPS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. On wordiness questions, always select the shortest answer Always read the “OMIT the underlined portion” option first, omitting the part that has been underlined. If this option is grammatically correct and makes sense, go no further. Questions that include the words “examples” or “illustrates” require an answer with specific examples. On “Add On” questions (“If the author were to add..”) underline key words in the question because the ACT test writers will lead you to the right choice. On YES/NO questions, look at the two NOs first and only go to the YES questions if you can’t eliminate the NOs Immediately circle “LEAST” in Least Acceptable answers. BASIC TIPS: Look out for numbered ([1]) brackets between paragraphs. They signal you’ll be asked at least one question about transitions – pay special attention to topic sentences here. Edit sentences as you read (before looking at choices) BASIC TIPS: Leave rhetorical questions for last if you are running low on time. All things being equal, assume the underlined portion is too wordy You should be around question #38 after 22 minutes; if you aren’t, focus on usage and mechanics questions DO NOT read the entire paragraph before answering questions