ACT English Grammar Rules

Understanding ACT English grammar rules is crucial for success on the exam. These rules cover everything from subject-verb agreement to punctuation, ensuring your writing is clear and effective. Mastering these concepts can boost your score and enhance your communication skills.

1. Subject-verb agreement

   • Subjects and verbs must agree in number (singular or plural).
   • Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on context.
   • Indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, each) are usually singular.
   • Be cautious with phrases that separate the subject and verb; the verb should still agree with the main subject.

2. Pronoun-antecedent agreement

   • Pronouns must agree in number and gender with their antecedents.
   • Use singular pronouns for singular antecedents and plural pronouns for plural antecedents.
   • Be aware of compound antecedents; they may require a plural pronoun.
   • Indefinite pronouns can create confusion; ensure clarity in agreement.

3. Verb tense consistency

   • Maintain the same verb tense throughout a sentence or related sentences.
   • Use past tense for completed actions and present tense for ongoing actions.
   • Be cautious with shifts in time; clarify when changing tenses is necessary.
   • Consistency helps avoid confusion and maintains clarity in writing.

4. Parallel structure

   • Use the same grammatical form for items in a list or series.
   • Ensure that verbs, nouns, and phrases are structured similarly for clarity.
   • Parallelism enhances readability and flow in writing.
   • Look for conjunctions (and, or) that connect parallel elements.

5. Comma usage

   • Use commas to separate items in a list, after introductory phrases, and before conjunctions in compound sentences.
   • Use commas to set off non-essential clauses and appositives.
   • Avoid comma splices; connect independent clauses properly.
   • Be mindful of using commas with coordinating adjectives.

6. Semicolon and colon usage

   • Use semicolons to connect closely related independent clauses without a conjunction.
   • Colons introduce lists, explanations, or quotations.
   • Ensure the clause before a colon is a complete sentence.
   • Avoid overusing semicolons; they should enhance clarity, not complicate it.

7. Apostrophe usage

   • Use apostrophes to indicate possession (e.g., the dog's bone).
   • Use apostrophes in contractions to show omitted letters (e.g., don't for do not).
   • Be cautious with plural nouns; apostrophes are not needed for pluralization.
   • Distinguish between its (possessive) and it’s (contraction for it is).

8. Sentence fragments and run-ons

   • A sentence fragment lacks a subject, verb, or complete thought; ensure all sentences are complete.
   • Run-on sentences occur when two independent clauses are improperly joined; use punctuation or conjunctions to separate them.
   • Revise fragments and run-ons for clarity and coherence.
   • Aim for varied sentence structure to enhance writing quality.

9. Modifier placement

   • Place modifiers close to the words they modify to avoid confusion.
   • Misplaced modifiers can lead to ambiguous or humorous interpretations.
   • Use clear and precise language to ensure the intended meaning is conveyed.
   • Avoid dangling modifiers that leave the subject unclear.

10. Concision and redundancy

    • Eliminate unnecessary words to make writing more concise.
    • Avoid redundancy by not repeating the same idea in different words.
    • Use precise language to convey meaning effectively.
    • Aim for clarity without sacrificing detail.

11. Idioms and prepositions

    • Use idiomatic expressions correctly; they often do not follow literal meanings.
    • Be aware of common prepositional phrases and their correct usage.
    • Avoid mixing idioms or using them incorrectly in context.
    • Familiarize yourself with common idiomatic expressions for clarity.

12. Comparative and superlative adjectives

    • Use comparative adjectives to compare two items (e.g., taller, smarter).
    • Use superlative adjectives to compare three or more items (e.g., tallest, smartest).
    • Be mindful of irregular forms (e.g., good, better, best).
    • Ensure clarity in comparisons to avoid confusion.

13. Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions

    • Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) connect equal parts of a sentence.
    • Subordinating conjunctions (although, because, since) introduce dependent clauses.
    • Use conjunctions to create complex sentences and enhance writing flow.
    • Ensure proper punctuation when using conjunctions to connect clauses.

14. Active vs. passive voice

    • Use active voice for clarity and directness (e.g., The dog chased the cat).
    • Passive voice can obscure the subject and make sentences less engaging (e.g., The cat was chased by the dog).
    • Prefer active voice in most writing, but passive voice can be useful in specific contexts.
    • Be aware of the impact of voice on sentence structure and meaning.

15. Commonly confused words

    • Be familiar with pairs of words that are often misused (e.g., affect/effect, their/there/they're).
    • Understand the meanings and correct usage of these words to avoid errors.
    • Context is key; ensure the right word fits the intended meaning.
    • Review commonly confused words regularly to reinforce understanding.