Knowledge of Language

Knowledge of Language, particularly in the context of the ACT Exam, involves a thorough understanding and application of language rules and conventions, including grammar, usage, and sentence structure. The ACT English section specifically assesses these skills, requiring students to demonstrate their ability to use language effectively in various contexts. This includes recognizing and correcting errors, understanding the nuances of word choice, and applying grammatical rules to enhance clarity and coherence in writing. Mastering Knowledge of Language for the ACT Exam is crucial for achieving a high score and ensuring clear, effective communication in both academic and professional settings.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of language rules and conventions, apply proper grammar and usage, and refine their sentence structure for clarity and effectiveness in various writing contexts.

Understanding Grammar

Grammar forms the backbone of effective communication. It includes the rules that govern the structure of sentences. Key grammatical concepts include:

Parts of Speech

• Nouns: Words that name a person, place, thing, or idea.
• Pronouns: Words that replace nouns to avoid repetition.
• Verbs: Words that express actions or states of being.
• Adjectives: Words that describe nouns or pronouns.
• Adverbs: Words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
• Prepositions: Words that show the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence.
• Conjunctions: Words that connect words, phrases, or clauses.
• Interjections: Words that express strong emotions or sudden bursts of feeling.

Sentence Structure

• Simple Sentences: Consist of a single independent clause.
• Compound Sentences: Consist of two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction or a semicolon.
• Complex Sentences: Consist of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
• Compound-Complex Sentences: Consist of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Usage and Mechanics

Usage and mechanics are crucial components of Knowledge of Language, focusing on the correct and effective use of language rules and conventions to ensure clear and accurate communication. In the context of the ACT Exam, proficiency in usage and mechanics is essential for demonstrating mastery over the subtleties of English grammar and punctuation.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is fundamental to sentence correctness. This rule requires that subjects and verbs match in number (singular or plural). Incorrect agreement can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

• Correct: The dog runs.
• Incorrect: The dog run.

In this example, “cat” is singular, so the verb “jumps” must also be singular.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in both number and gender. An antecedent is the noun that the pronoun replaces.

• Correct: Each of the students has his or her book.
• Incorrect: Each of the students has their book.

Here, “each” is singular, so the pronouns “his or her” should also be singular.

Verb Tense Consistency

Maintaining consistent verb tense within sentences and paragraphs ensures clarity and helps the reader follow the sequence of events. Switching tenses can confuse the reader and disrupt the flow of writing.

• Correct: She was running when she saw a friend.
• Incorrect: She was running when she sees a friend.

Consistency in verb tense (“was running” and “saw”) helps convey a clear timeline of events.

Punctuation

Punctuation marks play a vital role in clarifying the meaning of sentences by indicating pauses, stops, and the relationships between ideas. Proper punctuation ensures that writing is easily understood and effectively communicates the intended message.

• Commas: Indicate a pause between parts of a sentence or separate items in a list.
• Periods: End declarative sentences and statements.
• Question Marks: End interrogative sentences.
• Exclamation Points: Indicate strong emotions or emphasis.
• Colons: Introduce lists, quotes, or explanations.
• Semicolons: Link closely related independent clauses or separate items in a complex list.
• Apostrophes: Indicate possession or form contractions.

Sentence Clarity and Style

Effective communication requires sentences to be clear and well-structured. This involves choosing precise words and organizing sentences logically. Clarity and style contribute to the overall readability and impact of writing.

Active vs. Passive Voice

Using the active voice makes sentences more direct and dynamic. In active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb, while in passive voice, the subject receives the action.

• Active: The cat chased the mouse.
• Passive: The mouse was chased by the cat.

Parallel Structure

Using parallel structure in sentences ensures balance and clarity. Parallelism makes sentences easier to read and understand by keeping the elements in a list or series consistent. For Example:

• Correct: She likes reading, writing, and jogging.
• Incorrect: She likes reading, to write, and jogging.

Modifier Placement

Modifiers are words or phrases that provide additional information about other words in a sentence. Proper placement of modifiers is crucial to ensure that the intended meaning is clear and unambiguous. Misplaced or dangling modifiers can lead to confusion or a completely different meaning than intended. For Example:

• Correct: She only eats vegetables.
• Incorrect: Only she eats vegetables.

Practice and Application

To master Knowledge of Language, regular practice and application are essential. This includes:

Reading

Regularly engage with diverse materials to see correct grammar and usage in context. This helps you understand how language rules are applied in various forms of writing.

• Examples: Books, articles, essays, and reports.
• Focus: Pay attention to sentence structures, punctuation, and word usage.

Writing

Practice writing frequently, focusing on applying grammatical rules and improving sentence structure. Regular writing helps reinforce your understanding and skills.

• Types of Writing: Essays, journal entries, creative writing, and summaries.
• Goals: Apply grammar rules, experiment with different styles, and aim for clarity and coherence.

Editing

Review and edit your own writing to identify and correct errors. This process helps you refine your writing and ensures it adheres to language conventions.

• Steps: Take a break before editing, read your work aloud, and check for common errors.
• Tools: Use grammar checkers and style guides, but also rely on your knowledge of language rules.

Examples

Example 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Incorrect: The team are winning the game.
Correct: The team is winning the game.

Example 2: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Incorrect: Every student must submit their assignment on time.
Correct: Every student must submit his or her assignment on time.

Example 3: Verb Tense Consistency

Incorrect: She was walking to the store and buys a soda.
Correct: She was walking to the store and bought a soda.

Example 4: Active vs. Passive Voice

Passive: The cake was baked by the chef.
Active: The chef baked the cake.

Example 5: Parallel Structure

Incorrect: She likes dancing, to swim, and riding bikes.
Correct: She likes dancing, swimming, and riding bikes.

Practice Questions

Practice Question 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Question: Choose the correct sentence. a) The group of students are planning a trip.
b) The group of students is planning a trip.
c) The group of students were planning a trip.
d) The group of students be planning a trip.

Answer: B

Explanation: The subject “group” is singular, so it should be followed by the singular verb “is”.

Practice Question 2: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Question: Select the sentence with correct pronoun-antecedent agreement. a) Every athlete must bring their own equipment.
b) Each of the players must bring their own equipment.
c) Every athlete must bring his or her own equipment.
d) Each of the players must bring his or her own equipment.

Answer: C

Explanation: The pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent. “Every athlete” and “Each of the players” are singular and should be matched with “his or her”.

Practice Question 3: Active vs. Passive Voice

Question: Rewrite the following sentence in active voice: “The novel was read by the entire class.”

Answer: The entire class read the novel.

Explanation: To convert a sentence from passive to active voice, make the subject perform the action. The subject “the entire class” performs the action “read” on the object “the novel”. Therefore, the correct active voice sentence is The entire class read the novel.