Act notes on grammar and usage

English test of the ACT

75 questions45 minutes

2 sections of the English test

Usage and MechanicsRhetoric

Usage and mechanicsPunctuationGrammar and usageSentence structure

Usage and mechanics: 10CommasApostrophesColons and semicolonsParentheses and dashesPeriods and question marks

Grammar and usage: 12 Subject-verb agreeement Pronoun-antecedent agreement Agreement when using adjectives and

adverbs Verb forms Pronoun forms and cases Comparative modifiers Superlative modifiers Idioms

Sentence structure questions (18)

ClausesPlacement of modifiersRun-on sentencesComma splicesFragmentsShifts in verb tense

Rhetorical skillsWriting strategyOrganizationstyle

Writing strategies (12)Judging whether a sentence or essay

is appropriate for a particular purpose or audience

Gauging the effect of adding, revising or deleting supporting material

Making decisions about adding, keeping or deleting material based on its relevance

Organization questions (11)Deciding logical order of sentences or

paragraphsChoosing appropriate conjunctive

adverbs or transitional phrasesDetermining the relevance of

statements in contextChoosing effective opening,

transitional, or closing sentences

Style questions (12)Maintaining a consistent style and tone

in an essayManage sentence elements for

rhetorical effectAvoid ambiguous pronoun