ACT Preparation / Unit 1 ACT 0001 short lesson, about 20 seconds
What a Sentence Needs
Captions available
The idea
A complete sentence contains at least one independent clause: a subject, a verb and a complete thought, able to stand alone.
In practice
"The bus stopped" stands alone. "The bus stopping at noon" does not, because stopping is not a working verb.
Where people slip
Some books say main clause for the same thing. Length decides nothing: thirty words can still lack a verb.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
- Nothing. This is a starting point.
Unlocks
- 0002Subordinate Clause
- 0003The Stand-Alone Test
- 0004Simple Sentence
- 0011Sentence Fragment
- 0017Mixed Construction
- 0018Parallel Structure
- 0021Misplaced Modifier
- 0103Nonessential Information
- 0111No Comma Between Subject and Verb
- 0121Colon After a Complete Clause
- 0201A Verb Agrees With Its Subject
- 0219Pronoun Case in Compounds
- 0310Active Voice
- 0313The End Carries the Emphasis
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