ACT English grammar rules

Apostrophe rule #1: an apostrophe indicates possession.

's = singular possession Ex: Danny's hat says "Duke" on it. s' = plural + possession Ex: Both of my parents' siblings live in Rochester, New York.

Dash rule: Use dashes to "hug" a major break or interruption in thought. You need one on both sides of the break.

-Complete Sentence/Nonessential Clause- Ex: Skiing at Vali is expensive--it cost me one hundred forty-five bucks last time I went--but the back bowls are worth every penny. Dashes can also be used to place a list within a sentence: Ex: Three of my most difficult classes--history, physics, and English--are all first thing in the morning.

Clause

A group of words that contains a subject (or an object) and a verb. Ex: "I love The Beatles." "I" is the Subject, "love" is the verb, and "The Beatles." is the object.

Accept vs. Except

Accept means to receive. Except means to exclude. Ex: I recently accepted a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Munich. Ex: Except for Harley's, I hate motorcycles.

Effect vs. Affect

Effect = result Affect = influence Ex: The results of the homecoming vote affected the freshman class enormously. Ex: I don't really trust that Rogaine will have the desired effect, so I'm going for the come-over.

"Each Is One Body": looks plural, acts singular Remember the phrase "each is one body" to help you remember that the pronoun each, as well as pronouns that en in "one" and "body" (such as everyone, everybody, anybody, no one, someone.) are singular and require a singular verb such as is.

Ex: Each of the boys dance well enough to be on a music video. F. No change G. boy's H. boys, dance J. boys dances *Remove "of the boys" and try the sentence, remembering that the pronoun each belongs to the singles club: (J) Each dances well enough to be on a music video.

Words that indicate an amount--none, part, majority, some, all, and remainder-- must be followed by the word "of".

Ex: None of my friends want to see the new Tom Cruise movie with me. Ex: A fraction of my friends work retail in the mall during the summer. Ex: Seventy percent of the student body works during the summer.

Farther v. Further.

Farther indicated a physical distance. Further indicated degree or level. Ex: Littleton, Colorado is farther from Beijing than it is from Tokyo. Ex: When it comes to manipulating perspective, Picasso goes further than Cezanne.

Fewer vs. Less

Fewer refers to a number that you can actually count. Less refers to an amount of something. Ex: I liked the presidential candidate a little less after he said he would solve global warming and joblessness by hiring people to build windmills. Ex: Fewer people voted in 2000 than in 2008.

Comma rule #4: A comma separates words in a list or series.

If you can say the word "and" between the adjectives that modify a noun, then it needs a comma in between the adjectives. Ex: I found an expensive, long, turquoise prom dress on the discount rack. *notice how the turquoise has to go with prom* to understand this rule, insert and between each adjective and then read dress. Turquoise and prom dress does not sound correct.

I vs. Me

If you can take out the other person, and it still sounds correct, it is what the sentence started with (I or Me). Incorrect: At the Conference, give Paul and I your I.D. numbers. --------> take out Paul and you are left with: At the Conference, give I your I.D. numbers. Correct: At the conference, give Paul and me your I.D. numbers. Hint for linking verbs such as "to be": reverse the ordering. IF a verb is implied like am or is, I is generally correct Ex: Tim is happier than he. You would say "He is happier than Tim, not Him is happier than Tim"

Tense agreement: keep it consistent When a passage starts in one tense, it needs to stay in one tense, unless it is obvious that the tense has changed.

Incorrect: Joe ran the race and wins. Correct: Joe ran the race and won. Tense change Ex: Bruce _asked_ Georgia to go to the independent movie today and _will ask_ Chuck to go to the action thriller with him tomorrow.

Reflexive pronouns: Reflexive pronouns like myself, herself, themselves, and ourselves, reflect back on the subject of the sentence; they are not used as the subject of the sentence. ACT uses reflexive pronouns as a trap because some people use them incorrectly to "sound" more proper or formal.

Incorrect: Tammy and _myself_ spent the day at the go-cart track. Correct: Tammy and I spent the day at the go-cart track. *make sure the subject and reflexive pronouns agree in number* Ex: Freida and Garry sent _themselves_ postcards while on their trip to Dubai.

Semicolon rule #1: A semicolon separates two independent clauses when you DO NOT See one of the following words: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Independent; Independent Ex: I'll take the #2 with a Coke; it's got the most trans fat, which is what I'm shooting for.

Semicolon rule #2: If you see Therefor, However, Also, Moreover, Otherwise, or another conjunctive adverb between two independent clauses, "hug" it with a semicolon and a comma.

Independent; however, Independent Ex: I like gigantic pick-up trucks; however, they're not practical in New York City. "So" and "otherwise" do NOT need a comma after the semicolon

Comma rule #1: A comma separates introductory words from the main part of the sentence.

Introductory Phrase = Comma Ex: After seven hours of studying, I raised my ACT score by five points.

It's vs. Its

It's means it is. Its is possessive. (Theirs, ours, or yours also show possession) Ex: After battling its rival, the lion licked its wounds. Ex: It's unrealistic to think things will turn out well every time you do something, but you should still assume you'll succeed.

Comma rule #2: Use a pair of commas to "hug" words or phrases that are nonessential to the integrity of the sentence.

Nonessential? Give it a Hug. Ex: My brother Ron, an optometrist, owns his own practice.

Could have/Would have/Should have/Might have vs. Could of/Would of/Should of/Might of

Of is NEVER correct. Incorrect: I might of taken the EMT class, but I didn't have enough time in the evenings. Correct: I might have taken the EMT class, but I didn't have enough time in the evenings.

Comma rule #3: A comma separates two independent clauses if one of the following words come in between them: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Rule 1: Independent, (FANBOYS) Independent Rule 2: Independent (FANBOYS) Dependent = no commas Ex #1: I'll take the #2 with a Coke, and I'll have a shake, too. Ex #2: I'll take the #2 with a Coke but will pass on the shake.

Colon rule: A colon follows an independent clause and introduces an example, explanation, short phrase, or list. The word, phrase, or clause that follows the colon does not have to be an independent clause.

Sentence: detail, list, or explanation Ex: There's only one city where I'd ever live: Boulder, Colorado. Ex: The grumpy teacher had only three rules in her class: be on time, sit quietly, and check your creativity at the door.

Who vs. Whom

Substitute "who" for a subject (he, she, they, we). Substitute "whom" for an object (him, her, them, us). Incorrect: Whom is the favorite to win Wimbledon? Correct: Who is the favorite to win Wimbledon? Incorrect: Who do you want to win Wimbledon? Correct: Whom do you want to win Wimbledon? Hint: "Who --> verb" and "Whom ---> noun/pronoun". Who stands in for a subject, so a verb will often follow it. Likewise, whom will usually precede a noun or pronoun.

That vs. Which

That adds specific information to a subject or object and does NOT need a comma before it. Which is used as part of a by the way (BTW) phrase and needs a comma "hug". Ex: The waterfall that empties into Phelps Lake starts above the tree line. Ex: The waterfall, which empties into Phelps Lake, starts above the tree line.

That/Which vs. Who

That/Which are used with inanimate objects. Who is used with humans. Incorrect: The security guard *that* works at Target is actually Marilyn Monroe's cousin. Correct: The security guard *who* works at Target is actually Marilyn Monroe's cousin. Incorrect: The pet store owner, *which* loves Milky Ways, was waiting on a shipment of toucans. Correct: The pet store owner, *who* loves Milky ways, was waiting on a shipment of toucans.

Comma rule #5:A comma is used to separate an "ing" verbal phrase at the end of a sentence when the phrase refers to the entire sentence before it.

The 'ing' thing: test for this rule by changing the order of the two halves of the sentence. If the meaning of the sentence does not change, you need a comma. Ex: Barbara did well, considering she hadn't studied at all. Ex: Considering she hadn't studied at all, Barbara did well.

Apostrophe rule #2: An apostrophe indicates a contraction.

The only ones you are likely to see are: it's = it is there's = there is they're = they are who's = who is you're = you are

Their vs. They're vs. There

Their indicated possession. They're is a contraction of they are. There refers to location, as in over there. Ex: Their SUV now costs $120 to full up. Ex: They're considering buying a Prius. Ex: The Prius dealership over there by Starbuck's.

Then vs. Than

Then refers to time. Than indicates a comparison between two things. Ex: I did crunches, and then I blasted my pecs. Ex: It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

To vs. Too vs. Two

To is a preposition. Too means also. Two is the spelled-out version of 2. Ex: Charlie got a two on his AP chemistry test, at which point he decided to major in English. Ex: Going to the beach is Lance's favorite pastime. Ex: Kelly likes the beach, too.

Is vs. are

is = singular are = plural Ex: Paul _is_ playing the piano = singular Ex: Paul and Lisa _are_ playing the piano = plural