ACT English Sentence Structure Subordinate Clauses Placement and Punctuation

What This Is and Why It Matters for the ACT

Sentence Structure — Subordinate Clauses: Placement and Punctuation is a crucial topic in the English section of the ACT. It appears on every English test and is a common source of errors. You'll need to understand how to identify and use subordinate clauses correctly to boost your score.

Key Concepts (What You Must Know)

• A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but can't stand alone as a complete sentence.
• A subordinate clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, although, since).
• Subordinate clauses can be used to add more information to a sentence, but they must be properly punctuated.

Step-by-Step Strategy for This Topic

1. Read the sentence carefully to identify the underlined portion.
2. Determine if the underlined portion is a subordinate clause.
3. Check if the subordinate clause is properly punctuated (e.g., comma, semicolon).
4. Eliminate any answer choices that don't correctly punctuate the subordinate clause.
5. Verify that the remaining answer choices make sense in the context of the sentence.

⚠️ Don't assume a comma is always correct punctuation for a subordinate clause.

How It's Tested on the ACT

In the English section, you'll see sentences with underlined portions that contain subordinate clauses. You'll need to decide if the punctuation is correct and choose the best answer.

Common Mistakes & Exam Traps

• The mistake: Placing a comma after a subordinate clause without a coordinating conjunction.
• Why it happens: Misunderstanding the rules of punctuation or rushing through the question.
• How to avoid it: Read the sentence carefully and verify that the punctuation is correct.
• Exam board insight: The ACT examiners penalize incorrect punctuation, so make sure to get it right.
• The mistake: Using a semicolon instead of a comma to separate two independent clauses.
• Why it happens: Misunderstanding the difference between independent and subordinate clauses.
• How to avoid it: Identify the type of clause and use the correct punctuation.
• Exam board insight: The ACT examiners expect you to know the difference between independent and subordinate clauses.

Practice Questions (3-5 questions)

Question 1

The new policy will take effect because the company wants to improve customer satisfaction.

A) The new policy will take effect because the company wants to improve customer satisfaction.
B) The new policy will take effect; the company wants to improve customer satisfaction.
C) The new policy will take effect, the company wants to improve customer satisfaction.
D) The new policy will take effect, because the company wants to improve customer satisfaction.
E) The new policy will take effect; because the company wants to improve customer satisfaction.

Answer: A Explanation: The subordinate clause "because the company wants to improve customer satisfaction" is properly punctuated with a comma.

Question 2

The manager was surprised although the sales figures looked promising.

A) The manager was surprised although the sales figures looked promising.
B) The manager was surprised; although the sales figures looked promising.
C) The manager was surprised, although the sales figures looked promising.
D) The manager was surprised, although the sales figures looked promising,.
E) The manager was surprised; the sales figures looked promising.

Answer: C Explanation: The subordinate clause "although the sales figures looked promising" is properly punctuated with a comma.

Question 3

The new product will be launched since it has been in development for two years.

A) The new product will be launched since it has been in development for two years.
B) The new product will be launched; since it has been in development for two years.
C) The new product will be launched, since it has been in development for two years.
D) The new product will be launched, since it has been in development for two years,.
E) The new product will be launched; it has been in development for two years.

Answer: C Explanation: The subordinate clause "since it has been in development for two years" is properly punctuated with a comma.

Quick Reference Card (60-Second Summary)

• A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but can't stand alone as a complete sentence.
• A subordinate clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, although, since).
• Subordinate clauses can be used to add more information to a sentence, but they must be properly punctuated.
• Use a comma to separate a subordinate clause from the main clause.
• Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses.

If You Get Stuck on Test Day

• If you don't know the answer, eliminate any answer choices that are obviously incorrect and make an educated guess.
• If you're running low on time, focus on the most important questions and skip the rest.
• If you're stuck on a question, move on and come back to it later.

Related ACT Topics

• Parallel Structure: The use of similar grammatical structures in a sentence to create a sense of balance and clarity.
• Subject-Verb Agreement: The correct use of verbs to agree with the subject of a sentence.
• Punctuation: The use of punctuation marks to separate and clarify the meaning of a sentence.