ACT English author goal and purpose review

Subject vs. Object Pronouns

Subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they. Object pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them.

True or False: 'Its' indicates possession.

True - 'Its' shows ownership, while 'it's' means 'it is.'

Choose the correct form: Every student _____ (have, has) a book.

Correct answer: 'has' - Singular subject requires singular verb.

Comma usage before conjunctions?

Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when connecting independent clauses.

Identify the error: She go to the store.

Error: 'go' should be 'went' or 'goes' for correct tense.

Differentiate: 'fewer' vs. 'less'.

'Fewer' is for countable nouns, 'less' is for uncountable nouns.

Fill in the blank: Neither the cat _____ the dog is sleeping.

Correct answer: 'nor' - Use 'nor' after 'neither' for negative pairs.

What is a dangling modifier?

A phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence, leading to confusion.

Active vs. Passive Voice

Active: Subject performs action (e.g., 'The dog bit the man'). Passive: Subject receives action (e.g., 'The man was bitten by the dog').

True or False: Commas are needed in a list of three items.

True - Use commas to separate items in a list, including before the conjunction (Oxford comma).

Identify the correct form: Each of the players _____ (were, was) excited.

Correct answer: 'was' - 'Each' is singular, so it takes a singular verb.

What is subject-verb agreement?

The subject and verb must agree in number (singular/plural) for grammatical accuracy.

Choose the correct form: The team _____ (are, is) winning.

Correct answer: 'is' - Collective nouns like 'team' are usually singular.

How to fix a run-on sentence?

Use a period, semicolon, or conjunction to separate independent clauses.

Identify the error: Everyone should bring their own lunch.

Error: Use 'his or her' instead of 'their' for grammatical consistency.

What is an Oxford comma?

A comma placed before the conjunction in a list of three or more items, enhancing clarity.

Comma usage in lists?

Use commas to separate items in a series. Example: apples, oranges, and bananas.

Rule for comma before conjunction?

Place a comma before conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) when joining independent clauses.

True or False: Periods can end any sentence.

True - Periods mark the end of declarative sentences.

Semicolon usage?

Use semicolons to connect closely related independent clauses without conjunctions. Example: I like coffee; she prefers tea.

When to use apostrophes?

Use apostrophes for possessive forms (e.g., John's book) and to form contractions (e.g., don't).

Fill in the blank: Use a ____ before a direct quote.

comma - Example: She said, 'Let's go to the park.'

Colon use?

Colons introduce lists, quotes, or explanations. Example: He had three hobbies: reading, writing, and jogging.

Difference between em dash and en dash?

Em dash (—) indicates a break in thought; en dash (–) indicates a range (e.g., 1990–2020).

Question: Can parentheses be used for additional information?

Yes - Parentheses enclose non-essential information. Example: The conference (held in June) was informative.

True or False: A comma can replace a conjunction.

False - A comma cannot replace a conjunction in compound sentences.

Usage of quotation marks?

Use quotation marks for direct speech, titles of short works, and to indicate irony. Example: 'I love pizza,' he said.

When to use italics?

Italics are used for titles of long works (books, movies) and for emphasis in text.

True or False: Exclamation points show strong emotion.

True - Use exclamation points to convey excitement or strong feelings.

Example of correct comma placement?

Correct: After dinner, we went for a walk. Incorrect: After dinner we went for a walk.

How to punctuate an appositive?

Use commas to enclose appositives. Example: My brother, a mechanic, is visiting.

Use of brackets?

Brackets are used for clarifications or additions within quoted material. Example: He [the teacher] was late.

Simple sentence definition

A simple sentence contains one independent clause. Example: 'The dog barks.'

True or False: Compound sentences contain only one clause.

False. Compound sentences have at least two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.

What is a complex sentence?

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Example: 'Although it was raining, we went for a walk.'

Identify the sentence type: 'She loves to dance, and he enjoys singing.'

Compound sentence - it has two independent clauses.

Fill in the blank: A __________ sentence has one independent clause.

simple

Compound vs. Complex sentences: Key difference?

Compound: multiple independent clauses. Complex: one independent and one or more dependent clauses.

What is a compound-complex sentence?

A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause. Example: 'She likes tea, but he prefers coffee when he visits.'

Cause → Effect: Why use a dependent clause?

To provide additional information and context. Example: 'Because it was cold, we stayed indoors.'

Identify the structure: 'When the rain stopped, we went outside.'

Complex sentence - starts with a dependent clause.

Simple sentence example

Example: 'She runs every morning.'

True or False: A dependent clause can stand alone.

False. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.

What conjunctions typically join independent clauses?

FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Difference between independent and dependent clauses?

Independent clauses can stand alone; dependent clauses cannot stand alone.

Example of a compound sentence

Example: 'I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.'

Fill in the blank: A __________ clause adds information to an independent clause.

dependent

Identify the type: 'She enjoys reading, and he likes to write.'

Compound sentence due to two independent clauses.

Define 'Style' in writing.

The unique way an author expresses ideas, including word choice, sentence structure, and tone.

True or False: Tone and mood are the same.

False - Tone reflects the author's attitude; mood refers to the reader's emotional response.

What affects the tone of a piece?

Word choice, sentence length, punctuation, and imagery contribute to tone.

Fill in the blank: _____ is the overall vibe of a passage.

Mood

Comparing formal vs. informal tone.

- Formal: academic, precise. - Informal: conversational, relaxed.

Identify the style: 'The car zoomed down the road.'

Descriptive - uses vivid imagery to enhance the reader's experience.

What should be avoided in formal writing?

Colloquialisms and slang - they undermine professionalism.

True or False: Passive voice enhances clarity.

False - Active voice generally creates clearer and more direct sentences.

Cause → Effect: What is the effect of a sarcastic tone?

It can create humor or indicate criticism.

Define 'Voice' in writing.

The distinctive style or personality of the author that conveys their perspective.

How does audience affect tone?

Tone should match the audience's expectations and understanding for effective communication.

What is an example of an academic tone?

Using complex vocabulary and structured arguments to present research findings.

True or False: Varying sentence length can enhance style.

True - It keeps the writing engaging and dynamic.

List two features of persuasive tone.

- Strong assertions - Emotional appeals

Fill in the blank: _____ refers to the emotional quality of the language.

Diction

What is the purpose of a consistent tone?

To maintain coherence and clarity throughout the writing.