Free ACT English: Punctuation for Clauses and Phrases Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence is punctuated correctly with a restrictive relative clause?
- Students who study consistently tend to perform better on standardized tests. (Correct answer)
- Students, who study consistently, tend to perform better on standardized tests.
- Students who, study consistently, tend to perform better on standardized tests.
- Students; who study consistently tend to perform better on standardized tests.
Correct answer: Students who study consistently tend to perform better on standardized tests.
Restrictive relative clauses (essential to the meaning) are NOT set off by commas. Removing "who study consistently" changes the meaning — it identifies which students, so no commas are used.
Question 2: How should this sentence be punctuated? "The professor explained the assignment then she answered questions from the class."
- The professor explained the assignment; then she answered questions from the class. (Correct answer)
- The professor explained the assignment, then she answered questions from the class.
- The professor explained the assignment then, she answered questions from the class.
- The professor explained the assignment: then she answered questions from the class.
Correct answer: The professor explained the assignment; then she answered questions from the class.
"Then" is a conjunctive adverb, not a coordinating conjunction. Two independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb require a semicolon before and a comma after the adverb.
Question 3: Select the correctly punctuated sentence with an absolute phrase.
- Her homework finished, Maya went for a run in the park. (Correct answer)
- Her homework finished; Maya went for a run in the park.
- Her homework, finished Maya went for a run in the park.
- Her homework finished Maya went for a run in the park.
Correct answer: Her homework finished, Maya went for a run in the park.
An absolute phrase ("Her homework finished") is a noun + participle that modifies the whole main clause. It is separated from the main clause by a comma.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses parentheses?
- The explorer navigated three rivers (the Amazon, the Orinoco, and the Casiquiare) before reaching her destination. (Correct answer)
- The explorer navigated (three rivers) the Amazon, the Orinoco, and the Casiquiare before reaching her destination.
- The explorer navigated three rivers the Amazon, the Orinoco (and the Casiquiare) before reaching her destination.
- The explorer navigated three rivers (the Amazon, the Orinoco, and the Casiquiare,) before reaching her destination.
Correct answer: The explorer navigated three rivers (the Amazon, the Orinoco, and the Casiquiare) before reaching her destination.
Parentheses enclose supplementary or clarifying information. The closing parenthesis comes before the period or comma outside the parenthetical phrase. No comma is placed inside before the closing parenthesis.
Question 5: Choose the correct punctuation: "The championship game [BLANK] which had been anticipated all season [BLANK] ended in a dramatic overtime victory."
- commas: "The championship game, which had been anticipated all season, ended in a dramatic overtime victory." (Correct answer)
- no punctuation: "The championship game which had been anticipated all season ended."
- dashes with a comma: "The championship game — which had been anticipated all season, ended."
- semicolons: "The championship game; which had been anticipated all season; ended."
Correct answer: commas: "The championship game, which had been anticipated all season, ended in a dramatic overtime victory."
"Which had been anticipated all season" is a nonrestrictive clause (extra information about the game, not essential to identify it) and must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 6: What is wrong with this sentence? "Before leaving the house she always checked: that the stove was off, the doors were locked, and the windows were closed."
- The colon after "checked" is incorrect — no colon should follow a verb that directly introduces its object or complement (Correct answer)
- The comma after "house" is missing
- "She always" should be "she, always,"
- The list items should be separated by semicolons
Correct answer: The colon after "checked" is incorrect — no colon should follow a verb that directly introduces its object or complement
A colon must follow a complete independent clause. "She always checked" connects directly to its object (the list), so no colon is needed. Correct: "Before leaving the house, she always checked that the stove was off, the doors were locked, and the windows were closed."
Free ACT English: Punctuation for Clauses and Phrases Questions and Answers 3
Which sentence is punctuated correctly with a restrictive relative clause?