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ACT English Cheat Sheet

This document provides a cheat sheet for grammar rules tested on the ACT English section. It lists and defines grammar concepts like verbs, commas, semicolons, colons, pronouns, redundancy, conciseness, apostrophes, word choice, parallelism, dashes, word pairs, and relevance. For each concept, it gives 1-2 brief rules or tips to follow regarding usage on the ACT.

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Elza Amir Fawzy
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© © All Rights Reserved
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954 views2 pages

ACT English Cheat Sheet

This document provides a cheat sheet for grammar rules tested on the ACT English section. It lists and defines grammar concepts like verbs, commas, semicolons, colons, pronouns, redundancy, conciseness, apostrophes, word choice, parallelism, dashes, word pairs, and relevance. For each concept, it gives 1-2 brief rules or tips to follow regarding usage on the ACT.

Uploaded by

Elza Amir Fawzy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ACT English Cheat sheet

VERBS 3. If not, is the noun possessive or not?


1. Match Verb w/ subject
2. Match Verb Tense w/ the paragraph/passage

COMMAS
SEMI-­­COLON (;) & COLON (:)
1. Dependent Clause , Independent Clause
1. Semi-­­Colon (;) Joins two INDEP. clauses
Ex. If I study for the ACT , I can raise my score.
2. Colon before a LIST, explanation, or one
(DEP) (IND S+V)
word/phrase at end.
2. Appositive phrase or non-­­restrictive
ADJECTIVE / ADVERB
phrase EXTRA info in sentence
1. Adjectives describe nouns
(comma/s to separate)
2. Adverbs modify verbs
3. good = adjective well = adverb
3. Use Comma before “and” or “but” to join
two IND clauses (compound sentence) INDEP/DEP CLAUSES
Ex. The ACT is difficult, but it is predictable. 1. IND = Sentence / DEP = NOT a Sentence
(IND S+V+O) (IND S+V+O) 2. Join two INDs—use a (.) (;) or “, conj”
(use a period, semi-­­colon or comma/conj.)
4. Comma can replace the word “and”
Ex. Dr. Carlin is a boring, talkative instructor ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE
1. Always choose ACTIVE voice (most direct)
5. NO COMMAS (most common
ACTIVE: The class studied the ACT rules.
PASSIVE: The ACT rules were studied by the class.
answer) PRONOUNS
1. Find the noun the pronoun is replacing.
ADD or DELETE a SENTENCE
2. Is the noun (antecedent) singular or plural?
1. Focus on keywords in sentence
3. Should it be possessive? (show ownership?)
2. Don’t be distracted by irrelevant choices

REDUNDANCY
TRANSITIONS
1. Avoid words that repeat the same meaning.
 Should introduce sentence or paragraph
2. Avoid definitions of a word after it’s used.
 Should connect from previous sent/parag.
Ex. Each year, we annually attend the event.
1. Read the sentence before and after the Transition
without the transition
CONCISE
2. Determine relationship (=, ≠, or Cause and effect)
1. Look for the shortest way to say something
3. Eliminate the wrong choices
2. If two phrases mean the same thing, briefer is
4. Choose the grammatically right choice.
better, typically.
MEANING
APOSTROPHE (‘)
1. Focus on keywords in the question
1. See if the sentence is in need of a verb or not
2. Answer it first, then match up closest choice
2. If not, is the noun singular or plural?
3. Choose the most SPECIFIC one
WH- family
WORD CHOICE 1. Who = people
1. It’s = it is Who + Verb
Its = possession of It 2. Whom= People
Whom + noun
Its’ = doesn’t exist
3. Whome= possession of who
2. They’re = they are
4. Which = Things/Objects
Their = possession of They
5. Where= places
There = place 6. That = NO COMMA Before or after
3. Who’s = Who is

Whose = possession of who


Diction & Register
4. Then = next
1. You … You
5. Than = comparison
One…… One
6. Have = verb I… My… I
Of = preposition 2. Use semi-Formal tone, DO NOT USE INFORMAL
WORDS (stuff, pretty cool, dope, anywho, things…
RELEVANCE ect.)
1. OMIT is always an option if phrase is 3. Use the correct preposition with the correct word
unnecessary pair (noun or verb, see list below)
2. Focus on what is specific to the context of
paragraph.
3. What is important to the point or meaning? IS IT RELEVANT? ADDING OR DELETING A SENTENCE
1. Read before and After
2. Get Main idea
PARALLELISM 3. Get the main idea of the sentence in Question
1. Keep things consistent! (same tense) esp. in a 4. Compare both main ideas
LIST
Ex. Studying ACT, practicing often, & acing the SENTENCE ORDER:
test. 1. Read the sentence in Question
2. Look for context clues
DASHES 3. Read the paragraph without the sentence and
1. Set of non-essential clause look for the clues you got from the sentence
2. Before explanation 4. Choose the right answer.
3. Before a LIST
SUPPOSE THE WRITER’S GOAL
Word Pairs 1. Get the M.I of the Passage
1. (N)either...(n)or 2. Compare it with the M.I in the question
2. Not only...but (also) 3. If yes, then eliminate “No” choices or vise versa
3. As...as
4. Choose the most correct answer
4. The most/adj.+(est)
5. More/adj. (er)+ than
6. Many/Few = countable
7. Much/Less = Uncountable

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