ACT English Grammar Fundamentals Quiz Quiz

Challenge your understanding of ACT English grammar rules with this quiz designed to target key fundamentals like punctuation, subject-verb agreement, pronoun use, and parallel structure. Strengthen your test preparation by tackling questions aligned with the core concepts assessed on the ACT English section.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

   Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement? For example: 'Each of the students __ ready to begin.'

   1. B. Each of the students is ready to begin.
   2. A. Each of the students are ready to begin.
   3. C. Each of the students were ready to begin.
   4. D. Each of the students be ready to begin.

   Explanation: The correct subject-verb agreement is 'Each...is,' because 'each' is a singular indefinite pronoun requiring a singular verb. Option A and C incorrectly use plural verbs 'are' and 'were.' Option D uses 'be,' which is not correct in standard English for this context. Option B matches singular subject with singular verb.

2. Punctuation – Comma Usage

   Choose the sentence with correct comma usage: 'Before heading to the store __ I made a list.'

   1. A. Before heading to the store, I made a list.
   2. B. Before heading to the store I made a list.
   3. D. Before, heading to the store I made a list.
   4. C. Before heading, to the store I made a list.

   Explanation: Introductory clauses like 'Before heading to the store' should be followed by a comma, as shown in option A. Option B omits the necessary comma, making it incorrect. Options C and D incorrectly place commas within or at the start of the phrase, which disrupts sentence flow. Option A is the only grammatically correct choice.

3. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

   Identify the correctly revised sentence: 'Each employee should submit ___ report by Friday.'

   1. D. Each employee should submit its report by Friday.
   2. C. Each employee should submit they're report by Friday.
   3. A. Each employee should submit his or her report by Friday.
   4. B. Each employee should submit their report by Friday.

   Explanation: 'Each employee' is singular, so the pronoun must also be singular: 'his or her.' Option B uses 'their,' which is plural and can be informal, but not preferred in standard grammar. Option C uses 'they're,' a contraction that does not fit here. Option D uses 'its,' which refers to non-human subjects. Hence, A is correct.

4. Verb Tense Consistency

   Select the sentence that maintains verb tense consistency: 'Yesterday, I finished my homework and then ___ television.'

   1. D. Yesterday, I finishing my homework and then watched television.
   2. A. Yesterday, I finished my homework and then watch television.
   3. C. Yesterday, I finished my homework and then watched television.
   4. B. Yesterday, I finish my homework and then watched television.

   Explanation: Because the actions both happened in the past, past tense verbs are required: 'finished' and 'watched.' Option C correctly uses both past tense verbs. Option A uses the present tense 'watch,' which is inconsistent. Option B begins with 'finish,' present tense, and ends with 'watched,' past tense, creating a tense shift. Option D uses a participle 'finishing,' which is incorrect here.

5. Parallel Structure

   Which sentence shows correct parallel structure? 'My favorite activities are hiking, swimming, and to read.'

   1. C. My favorite activities are to hike, swim, and reading.
   2. A. My favorite activities are hiking, swimming, and to read.
   3. D. My favorite activities are to hike, swimming, and read.
   4. B. My favorite activities are hiking, swimming, and reading.

   Explanation: Parallel structure requires all list items to follow the same format. Option B uses gerunds ('hiking,' 'swimming,' 'reading'), which is correct. Option A breaks the parallelism with 'to read.' Option C and D mix infinitives with gerunds or plain verbs, failing to maintain consistency. Therefore, B is the correct answer.