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ACT English: Punctuation Drill 2, Problem 3. Where does the semicolon fit best?
ACT English: Punctuation Drill 3, Problem 4. Which choice best formats this list of items?
ACT English Punctuation Drill 3, Problem 3. Where should we place the apostrophe to properly indicate possession?
ACT English 5.4 Sentence Structure 213 Views
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Description:
ACT English: Sentence Structure Drill 5, Problem 4. Which choice uses the proper tense for this sentence?
Transcript
- 00:03
Here's your Shmoop du jour, brought to you by mice. So please forgive us if it's a little cheesy.
- 00:13
What should replace the underlined portion below, if anything?
- 00:16
Although mice don't normally bother humans,
- 00:19
most people still considering them a nuisance and avoided them.
- 00:32
Consistency demands that the verbs in this sentence all be in the present tense.
Full Transcript
- 00:36
Because "don't" and "bother" get the ball rolling in the present tense at the start
- 00:41
of the sentence.
- 00:42
This means that we can immediately eliminate choice (A), because "avoided" is in the past
- 00:47
tense.
- 00:47
While we're at it, we might as well go ahead and eliminate (B) for the same reason.
- 00:51
"Considered" is in the past tense as well.
- 00:56
Just like that, boom. Down to a 50/50 shot. (C) is a bit harder to get rid of than (A)
- 01:02
and (B).
- 01:03
Both "avoid" and "considering" are in the present tense. However, the "ing" ending of
- 01:10
"considering" places it in the present progressive tense.
- 01:14
"Considering" sticks out like a sore thumb, because none of the other present tense verbs
- 01:17
are progressive.
- 01:18
It's kinda like somebody who is super left-wing accidentally showing up at a Tea Party rally.
- 01:24
Anyway, jamming one present progressive verb in the middle of a bunch of simple present
- 01:30
tense verbs upsets the parallel construction of the sentence.
- 01:33
So (C) is out of the running. Choice (D) is correct because both "consider"
- 01:38
and "avoid" are in the simple present tense. The verb tense is consistent and the construction
- 01:43
is parallel.
- 01:46
It's okay, this question is over, you can get down from the chair now.
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