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Playlist ACT® English: Grammar and Usage 20 videos
ACT English: Grammar and Usage Drill 3, Problem 1. Which tense is correct for the underlined word?
ACT English: Grammar and Usage Drill 3, Problem 2. Which tense of "sell" fits best in this sentence?
ACT English: Grammar and Usage Drill 3, Problem 3. Which choice uses the appropriate tense for this sentence?
ACT English 3.3 Grammar and Usage 354 Views
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ACT English: Grammar and Usage Drill 3, Problem 3. Which choice uses the appropriate tense for this sentence?
Transcript
- 00:03
Here's your Shmoop du jour, brought to you by anti-venom.
- 00:07
A much more popular product than pro-venom.
- 00:11
What should replace the underlined words below?
- 00:13
Prompt treatment with an anti-venom had done much to ensure that you survive a snake bite.
- 00:27
Hint number one: "to ensure that you survive" signals that this sentence describes how to
Full Transcript
- 00:32
treat a snake bite in general.
- 00:34
Advice, instructions, and other tips are usually in the present tense so that the information
- 00:39
feels relevant to the situation at hand.
- 00:42
With that in mind, all we have to do is troll through the answer choices and find the one in present tense.
- 00:48
Therefore we can eliminate (A) because the helping verb, "had," lets us know it's in
- 00:52
the past perfect tense instead of the present.
- 00:54
While we're at it, we might as well go ahead and get rid of (C) as well, since the helping
- 00:58
verb "has" is a dead giveaway that it's in the present perfect.
- 01:03
Man, these helping verbs really aren't doing our answer choices any favors.
- 01:06
(B) tries to impress us by whipping out the future perfect tense.
- 01:09
Sure, it's flashy, but we're sticking to our guns, and holding out for a present tense
- 01:15
option. Choice (D) rewards our efforts. "Can do much"
- 01:20
is in the present tense, making it the correct answer.
- 01:23
Hint number two: the best way to not die from a snake bite is not to get bitten in the first place.
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