Scribd
Upload
45 views3 pages

ACT Grammar Cheat Sheet

dsds

Uploaded by

Yosef Ahmd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
45 views3 pages

ACT Grammar Cheat Sheet

dsds

Uploaded by

Yosef Ahmd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

ACT English Cheat Sheet

Commas Colons

1. Use a comma to separate two adjectives 1. Use a colon after an independent clause
when the adjectives are interchangeable. and before a list.

It was a vibrant, massive painting. I have several favorite candy bars: Snickers,
Twix, and Almond Joy.
2. When starting a sentence with a
dependent clause, use a comma after it. 1. Use a colon between two clauses when
the second explains or illustrates the first,
When Jim studied in the library for his chemistry or if you want to emphasize the second
quiz, it was very quiet clause. The first clause has to be an
. independent clause.
3. Use commas to set off nonessential parts
of the sentence. I have very little time to learn the language:
my new job starts in five weeks.
The woman, knowing it was late, hurried home.

Semicolons Dashes

1. Use a semicolon to join 2 related 1. Place dashes around nonessential


independent clauses. information to add emphasis.

I’m not sure how to get there; we should ask Upon discovering the errors—all 124 of them
for directions. —the publisher immediately recalled the
books.
2. Use a semicolon to join 2 independent
clauses when the second clause begins 2. Dashes can be used at the beginning, in
with a conjunctive adverb (however, the middle, or at the end of a sentence for
therefore, etc.) or a transition (in fact, for emphasis.
example, etc.).
After months of deliberation, the jurors
The basement is scary; therefore, I don’t want reached a unanimous verdict—guilty.
to go down there alone.
ACT English Cheat Sheet

That v. Who Apostrophes

This concept is simple: who is the pronoun for a 1. Its vs. It’s
person or people, and that is the pronoun for It's is short for it is or it has.
everything else. It's too late.

Error: The coach is the person that is in charge Its shows possession, like his and her.
of the team's schedule. These are its footprints.
Corrected: The coach is the person who is in
charge of the team's schedule. To form possessives of nouns:

Laura's hat
Error: The elephant is the animal who asks for
the most treats. The kids' toys
Corrected: The elephant is the animal that asks
for the most treats. The tree's leaves

Note that the singular possessive Laura's has


Error: The corporation is who owns this land. the apostrophe before the s, while the plural
Corrected: The corporation is what owns this possessive kids' has the apostrophe after the s.
land.
Comparisons Parallel Structure

Comparisons between two things are formed by Parallel structure is when we present a list of
the construction "x is more/less things all in the same way. For example, if two
[adjective]/[adjective]-er than y." things in a list are adverbs, the third should also
be an adverb. If two things in a list are "to [verb],"
Bill is more friendly than Louis. then the other should also be in the form "to
[verb]." To fix it, we just phrase all of the items in
Comparisons between three or more the list the same way.
things, however, are formed by the construction
"x is the most [adjective]/[adjective]-est of the Error: The couple bought the concert tickets,
[things]." arrived at the theater, and went about finding
their seats.
The cheetah is the fastest land animal.
Corrected: The couple bought the concert tickets,
The ACT tests this skill by mismatching the types arrived at the theater, and found their seats.
of comparison:

Error: Between butterflies and spiders, humans Error: The deer moved carefully, quietly and in a
admire butterflies the most. way that was slow.
Corrected: Between butterflies and spiders, Corrected: The deer moved carefully, quietly
humans admire butterflies more. and slowly.

Error: Cheetahs are the faster of all land


mammals. Error: Peeling hazelnuts requires skill, patience,
Corrected: Cheetahs are the fastest of all land and the ability to persevere.
mammals. Corrected: Peeling hazelnuts requires skill,
patience, and perseverance.
ACT English Cheat Sheet

You might also like