ACT Grammar Flashcard

Front

What is the correct punctuation for a clause that follows an introductory phrase?

Back

Use a comma to separate the introductory phrase from the main clause. Example: 'After the meeting, we went for lunch.'

Front

When should you use 'began' instead of 'begins'?

Back

'Began' is the simple past tense, used for actions completed in the past. 'Begins' is present tense, used for ongoing actions.

Front

What is subject-verb agreement?

Back

Subject-verb agreement means the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. Example: 'The dog barks' (singular) vs. 'The dogs bark' (plural).

Front

How do you determine the correct verb form for collective nouns?

Back

Collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or as individuals. Example: 'The team wins' (singular) vs. 'The team are arguing' (plural).

Front

What is a run-on sentence?

Back

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions. Example: 'I love to read I have many books.'

Front

What is the purpose of a semicolon?

Back

A semicolon connects closely related independent clauses. Example: 'I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.'

Front

When should you use a colon?

Back

Use a colon to introduce a list, quote, or explanation. Example: 'She has three hobbies: reading, writing, and painting.'

Front

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

Back

'Its' is a possessive pronoun, while 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has.' Example: 'The dog wagged its tail.' vs. 'It's going to rain.'

Front

What is an example of a misplaced modifier?

Back

A misplaced modifier is a word or phrase that is improperly separated from the word it modifies. Example: 'She almost drove her kids to school every day.' (It suggests she didn't actually do it.)

Front

What is the function of an adverb?

Back

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb, often ending in -ly. Example: 'She runs quickly.'