Free ACT English: Punctuation for Clauses and Phrases Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which sentence correctly punctuates the nonrestrictive clause?
(A) My sister who lives in Boston is a doctor.
(B) My sister, who lives in Boston, is a doctor.
(C) My sister, who lives in Boston is a doctor.
(D) My sister who lives in Boston, is a doctor.

Accepted Answer

(B) My sister, who lives in Boston, is a doctor.

Answer

A nonrestrictive clause adds extra information but is not essential to identify the noun. 'Who lives in Boston' is additional information — it does not identify which sister (presumably only one). Nonrestrictive clauses must be set off with commas on both sides. Option B correctly uses commas before and after the clause.

Question 2

Which option correctly punctuates the introductory participial phrase?
(A) Running down the street the dog barked loudly.
(B) Running down the street, the dog barked loudly.
(C) Running, down the street the dog barked loudly.
(D) Running down the street the dog, barked loudly.

Accepted Answer

(B) Running down the street, the dog barked loudly.

Answer

Introductory participial phrases (phrases beginning with a verb form that modifies the subject) must be followed by a comma before the main clause. The phrase 'Running down the street' modifies 'the dog' and must be set off with a comma. Option B is correct.

Question 3

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:
(A) The concert which lasted three hours was exhausting.
(B) The concert, which lasted three hours was exhausting.
(C) The concert, which lasted three hours, was exhausting.
(D) The concert which lasted, three hours, was exhausting.

Accepted Answer

(C) The concert, which lasted three hours, was exhausting.

Answer

'Which lasted three hours' is a nonrestrictive clause — it adds extra information about the concert but is not necessary to identify which concert is being discussed. Nonrestrictive 'which' clauses always require commas on both sides. Option C is correct.

Question 4

Which sentence correctly punctuates an appositive phrase?
(A) My best friend, Sarah is an excellent pianist.
(B) My best friend Sarah, is an excellent pianist.
(C) My best friend, Sarah, is an excellent pianist.
(D) My best friend Sarah is an excellent pianist.

Accepted Answer

(C) My best friend, Sarah, is an excellent pianist.

Answer

An appositive is a noun phrase that renames the noun it follows. If the appositive is nonrestrictive (the noun has only one referent or the appositive is not needed to identify it), commas are required on both sides. 'Sarah' renames 'my best friend' and needs commas before and after. Option C is correct.

Question 5

In the sentence 'Students who study regularly tend to perform better on exams,' the clause 'who study regularly' is:
(A) A nonrestrictive clause requiring commas
(B) A restrictive clause that should NOT have commas
(C) An introductory phrase requiring a comma after it
(D) An appositive requiring commas on both sides

Accepted Answer

(B) A restrictive clause that should NOT have commas

Answer

A restrictive clause is essential to identifying which noun is being discussed. Here, 'who study regularly' specifies which students — it restricts the noun to a specific group. Restrictive clauses do NOT use commas because removing them would change the meaning. Option B is correct.

ACT Practice Test

ACT Practice Test

Free ACT English: Punctuation for Clauses and Phrases Questions and Answers