AccelePrep for the ACT Test 2nd Edition Student Text

42 • S URGE TO S UCCESS ! E NGLISH T EST P REP

PROBLEMS OF COORDINATION AND SUBORDINATION On the ACT English Test, items may contain incorrect coordinating or subordinating conjunctions that join together two or more clauses. Always check to see whether the conjunction creates a logical connection. TEST SPECS We’ve covered the highest value topics in this Sentence Structure review. Less frequently tested topics include: 1. Run-On Sentences 2. Incomplete Split Constructions 3. ‹•’Žƒ…‡† ‘†‹ϐ‹‡”• 4. Unintended Meanings The car skidded across the street, but the ground was icy. 8 The car skidded across the street because the ground was icy. 9 In the example above, the coordinating conjunction “but” creates a nonsensical sentence. The intended meaning of the sentence is properly presented in the second version. The car skidded as a result of the icy ground (not in spite of the icy ground). Example:

Kari was just about to mail in her deposit for her second-choice school and that was when the letter arrived notifying her of her ƒ……‡’–ƒ…‡ ƒ– Š‡” ϐ‹”•–…Š‘‹…‡Ǥ 8 Kari was just about to mail in her deposit for her second-choice school when she learned ‘ˆ Š‡” ƒ……‡’–ƒ…‡ ƒ– Š‡” ϐ‹”•–…Š‘‹…‡Ǥ 9  –Š‹• ‡šƒ’Ž‡ǡ –Š‡ Dzƒ†dz •‡‡• –‘ Œ‘‹ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•–…Žƒ—•‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ •‡–‡…‡ to an idea of equal importance, but the writer intends the second idea to „‡ †‡’‡†‡– ‘ –Š‡ –‹‹‰ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ‹†‡ƒǤ Š‡…‘””‡…–‹‘ ƒ‡• –Š‹• clear by creating a dependent clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction “when.” 1. The original construction is a sentence fragment. None of the verbs in this construction can function as the main verb because they all belong to a subordinate clause. (D) is the correct answer choice because “opposed” functions as the main verb of the sentence (“most of the delegates . . . opposed any plans”). 2. The three verb forms should be parallel, so change “traveling” to “travel.” Therefore, (G) is the correct answer. 3. The original is a comma splice. This problem can be solved by adding a conjunction that correctly expresses the relationship between the two ideas. In this case, the conjunction “so” indicates the cause and effect relationship between the quality of the weather and the postponement of the baseball game. Therefore, (C) is the correct answer.

Example:

Answers:

Return to the pages below to review each item:

1. p. 40 2. p. 41 3. p. 41