ACT English: Sentence Structure Errors
Error #1: Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause (DC) that does not have a second half
When Tom broke the vase.
OR
- An independent (IC) and a dependent clause that need to be connected.
Sid ran to tell their aunt Sally. When Tom broke the vase.
How to fix it: You can remove the “when”(the conjunction), to make it IC.
OR, in the second sentence, you can make it IC, DC.
Error #2: Run-ons
- Two ICs are jammed together into one sentence with only a comma to hold them together.
Aunt Sally ran into the room, Tom was already gone.
OR
-Two independent clauses are jammed together into one sentence without a comma.
Aunt Sally swept up the shards of glass she was furious.
How to fix it: You can make it IC. IC. You can make it IC; IC.
You can put a conjunction between them: IC, but IC.
Error #3: Misplaced Modifiers
A phrase which modifies something is too far away from the thing it modifies.
Sweeping up the shards of glass, the missing key to the jewelry box was found by Aunt Sally.
Ecstatic and happy, Aunt Sally's key opened the jewelery box.
To fix this: Switch the words around!
Sweeping up the shards of glass, Aunt Sally found the missing key to the jewelry box.
Ecstatic and happy, Aunt Sally used her key to open the jewelry box.
Error #4: Non-Parallel Construction
Parallel construction means that a list of items must all be the same verb tense, or must all be nouns.
Aunt Sally kissed him, hugged him and gives him his favorite dessert.
To fix this: Change the odd one!
-Aunt Sally kissed him, hugged him, and gave him his favorite dessert.
-His reasons were a desire to do his homework, a sense that he needed to work, and dislikes his brother Tom.
Sometimes there are only two items in the list.
To see the beauty of a sunset is experiencing perfection.
To see the beauty of a sunset is to experience perfection.
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