ACT Conventions of Standard English Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• Which statement describes punctuation when parentheses are used?
• What are the present, past, and past participle forms of 'come'?
• Which relative pronoun is typically used to identify people?
• Which option correctly demonstrates a sentence that uses a FANBOYS conjunction with proper punctuation to join two independent clauses?
• Which sentence uses the correct verb form after 'would rather'?
• Which sentence uses a colon to introduce a quotation?
• Which sentence correctly uses nonessential appositive commas?
• Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun agreement with the indefinite pronoun "everybody" referring to a singular person?
• Which sentence uses principal correctly to mean head or first?
• The results differ ____ the expectations.
• Identify the sentence that contains a double negative.
• Which sentence uses "it's" correctly?
• The design uses bold shapes that ____ the soft background.
• Which sentence correctly places a comma after an introductory dependent clause?
• Which sentence uses the plural possessive apostrophe correctly?
• Which sentence uses its vs it's correctly?
• Which sentence places a question mark within quotation marks?
• Which sentence correctly uses commas to set off a nonrestrictive clause?
• Which sentence uses "then" correctly?
• In the sentence 'The city that never sleeps,' which word is the relative pronoun?
• The choice is between physics and chemistry.
• She is ____ the new software; she has used it many times.
• Identify the sentence that is a fragment.
• Choose the sentence that uses efficient at correctly.
• The new policy stands ____ the old one.
• Which sentence uses lay/lie correctly?
• Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon to separate items in a complex list?
• In a metaphorical comparison, you would compare X to Y.
• Which option is most concise while preserving meaning: 'He used a flashlight to see better.'?
• Use among when referring to more than two items.
• Which option correctly uses a comma before 'but' joining two independent clauses?
• Which sentence correctly uses a dash to interrupt a compound subject?
• Which option fixes the run-on: "The movie was long it was boring."
• Identify the sentence that is not redundant in standard usage.
• Which sentence contains a comma splice?
• Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure in a list?
• Which sentence correctly uses NOR to join two negative subjects?
• Choose the sentence with correctly placed introductory participial phrase (another example).
• Which option preserves parallel structure in the list of actions in infinitives?
• Identify the sentence that is a fragment.
• The device is ____ small parts but can perform big tasks.
• Which sentence uses "there is/there are" correctly?
• Which sentence demonstrates correct placement of the modifier?
• Which sentence uses affect as a verb correctly?
• Which sentence uses their/there/they're correctly?
• Which sentence correctly uses a nonrestrictive clause with commas?
• Choose the sentence with the correct possessive form.
• Which sentence uses accept/except correctly?
• Which revision fixes the misplaced modifier in the sentence "She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates"?
• The manager expressed ____ the team's ability to deliver on time.
• Choose the sentence that uses lay correctly as a transitive verb.
• Which sentence uses who/whom correctly?
• Which sentence uses parentheses to insert nonessential information?
• What is the past tense of 'bear'?
• Which sentence correctly uses a comma after an introductory dependent clause?
• Which sentence introduces a nonrestrictive clause with correct punctuation?
• Which option preserves parallel structure? "The manager's goals are to increase sales, to improve customer satisfaction, and to reduce costs."
• Which revision best follows standard English conventions?
• What is the past tense form of the verb 'fling'?
• Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce a quotation?
• Which sentence uses past perfect tense?
• Which sentence correctly uses a nominative pronoun as the subject?
• Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce an explanation?
• Identify the fragment sentence.
• Choose the sentence that shows proper pronoun-antecedent agreement.
• Choose the sentence that correctly uses a restrictive relative clause without commas.
• Which sentence shows correct parallel structure with 'either/or' and 'neither/nor'?
• Which sentence shows the correct use of an objective pronoun as the object of a preposition?
• Which sentence uses simple past tense?
• Which sentence shows no comma between two adjectives whose order is not reversible?
• Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a plural subject?
• In the sentence "When the girl spoke to Anna, she was nervous," who does 'she' most likely refer to?
• Which prepositional phrase correctly completes the sentence: The manager attempted to coerce the team ____ taking action.
• Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
• Which sentence uses a possessive pronoun correctly without an apostrophe?
• What is the present participle form of the verb 'bear'?
• Choose the sentence that uses the idiom ‘abide by’ correctly.
• Which sentence uses correct order of coordinate adjectives?
• Choose the sentence that uses ‘absolve’ correctly.
• Which sentence correctly uses that to introduce an essential clause?
• Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement involving a collective noun:
• Choose the sentence with the correct use of a year-based introductory phrase with a comma.
• What is the past tense of 'lay'?
• Choose the sentence with correctly presented pronoun case in a prepositional phrase:
• Which sentence uses a nonrestrictive clause with commas correctly?
• The student felt ____ when asked to explain the answer.
• Which preposition correctly follows comply when referencing a rule or law?
• Which set lists the forms for the verb 'read' in present, past, and past participle?
• Which sentence uses a nonrestrictive clause with commas to set off the clause?
• What are the present, past, and past participle forms of 'read'?
• Identify the error in the sentence "Walking to the store, the rain started."
• Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement with a plural subject at the start of a sentence?
• Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce an explanation?
• There is a basic principle that guides many rules. Which sentence uses 'principle' correctly to mean a fundamental truth?
• Which word is an objective pronoun?
• In which sentence is the dash used to create emphasis correctly?
• Which sentence correctly uses no comma between a compound subject joined by 'and'?
• Which sentence shows the correct plural possessive form after 'class of 2024'?
• Which version is most concise while preserving meaning? Original: It is important to the safety of the people that the fire exit be left unobstructed.
• She is ____ the software interface after using it for weeks.
• What is the present participle form of the verb 'lay'?
• Which sentence uses the idiom point to correctly?
• The audience stood in awe ____ the magician's feats.
• Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement with a plural noun joined by 'nor'?
• Which form correctly shows the plural of the letter I?
• Which sentence correctly uses a nonessential clause separated by commas?
• Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun?
• Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a semicolon to fix a run-on?
• Which sentence correctly uses an emphatic pronoun without a preceding comma?
• Which sentence correctly capitalizes the proper noun?
• Choose the correct word: "There are _____ cars in the parking lot."
• Which form is the present tense form of the verb whose past tense is 'sought'?
• Which sentence uses commas correctly in a list?
• The contemporary of Jane Austen is someone who lived during the same time period.
• Which word is a coordinating conjunction from the FANBOYS set?
• The two reports ____ each other.
• Identify the corrected version of the run-on sentence.
• Which sentence uses commas to set off a nonessential clause correctly?
• Which sentence shows the correct possessive form of a plural noun?
• Which sentence correctly avoids using a comma before or after a preposition?
• Which sentence demonstrates correct capitalization of a proper adjective describing nationality?
• Choose the sentence that uses ‘accustomed to’ correctly.
• Which sentence demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement with a plural subject?
• Which is correct for pluralizing initials?
• Which sentence shows proper subject-verb agreement when the subject is plural and the pronoun after it refers back to the plural subject?
• Which word is a nominative pronoun?
• Identify the sentence with inconsistent verb tense.
• Which sentence correctly fixes a dangling modifier?
• Which sentence uses the correct form for whose vs who’s?
• Which word completes 'The change had a noticeable ____ on the schedule'?
• What is the past tense of 'seek'?
• Which sentence properly uses a semicolon to join two independent clauses without a conjunction?
• Where should the apostrophe go to form the plural possessive for a plural noun ending in s?
• What is the past participle form of 'bear'?
• Which sentence correctly capitalizes days of the week?
• Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
• Which preposition follows depend in standard usage?
• Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement when a plural noun appears in a prepositional phrase after the subject?
• Which sentence uses their as a possessive pronoun correctly?
• What are the present, past, and past participle forms of 'shrink'?
• Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce a list?
• Which sentence correctly uses a dash to set off a nonessential clause?
• Which sentence correctly shows that no comma should appear between a subject and its verb?
• Which sentence uses the contraction for 'it is' correctly?
• Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
• Which sentence is a fragment?
• Which sentence uses the simple present to describe routine?
• What is the past participle of the verb 'spin'?
• Which sentence uses you're correctly?
• A festival was contemporary with the launch.
• Which word is used to introduce a non-essential clause, typically set off by commas (or dashes)?
• Which sentence uses complement correctly to mean something that completes another?
• Which sentence uses the idiom ‘abide with’ correctly?
• Which capitalization is correct for a title used in a header?
• Which sentence uses a colon to introduce a list?
• Which sentence demonstrates present perfect usage?
• The writer was a contemporary of Hemingway.
• Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon with a transitional adverb?
• Which sentence shows correct punctuation with "however" after a semicolon?
• Choose the sentence that correctly uses a nonrestrictive clause with commas:
• What is the present participle form of the verb 'fling'?
• The musician tried to ____ the loss by playing louder for the audience.
• What is the past participle form of the verb 'wake'?
• Which form is the correct plural possessive of 'the girls' hats'?
• Which sentence uses a dash correctly for emphasis?
• Which option correctly uses a colon to introduce a list? You will need three things, a map, a flashlight, and a compass.
• Which sentence uses their/there/they're correctly?
• Which sentence uses they're correctly?
• Which sentence uses too many with countable items?
• What is the present tense form of the verb whose past tense is 'sought'?
• Which sentence correctly places no comma between an adjective and a noun?
• Which sentence correctly uses a comma between two adjectives with reversible order?
• In American English, where should the period go with quotation marks?
• The supervisor expressed ____ the new hire's abilities.
• Which is correct: "Between you and I" or "Between you and me"?
• Which form correctly shows the singular possessive for 'the boy'?
• Which sentence properly capitalizes all appropriate words?
• Which sentence correctly uses a colon to introduce a list after a complete sentence?
• Choose the sentence that uses correct pronoun case.
• Which verb means to convince or reassure?
• What is the present tense form of the verb whose past participle is 'spun'?
• Which sentence uses present perfect tense?
• Which sentence uses the possessive form of nouns with an apostrophe?
• Which sentence shows proper transition between sentences using "however" as a conjunctive adverb after a semicolon?
• Which sentence correctly uses a nonessential clause set off by commas?
• Which sentence correctly uses a comma after an introductory clause?
• Which verb means to guard against loss?
• What best describes simple present tense?
• Which sentence demonstrates proper parallel structure in a list?
• Which sentence shows pronoun consistency after the phrase 'each student'?
• Which sentence uses that to introduce an essential clause?
• Which sentence demonstrates correct capitalization of multiple proper nouns in a list?
• What are the present, past, and past participle forms of 'swim'?
• Which statement correctly describes the use of "that" in relative clauses?
• He is ____ solving complex puzzles.
• Which sentence uses fewer with countable items?
• The nurse tried to ____ the patient's concerns.
• Choose the sentence that uses indifferent to correctly.
• What is the past participle of the verb 'lie' (down)?
• Which sentence correctly uses a nonrestrictive phrase?
• Choose the sentence that uses who/whom correctly in a dependent clause.
• What are the present, past, and past participle forms of 'run'?
• Choose the sentence with properly placed introductory participial phrase.