FORLULATED GRAMMAR
GOOD GRAMMAR IS ESSENTIAL FOR TAKING THE IELTS EXAM.
Grammar is not tested directly in this exam, so you might be surprised to hear this.
But it is true: Proper English grammar is very important for getting a high IELTS score! Even though there is no part of the IELTS that focuses only on grammar, you will need to study grammar to get on the path to exam success.
Grammar helps you make progress in all the four skills, reading, writing, listening and speaking.
You’ll be able to feel your progress in speaking and writing mainly, because this is where you will actively use grammar structures to express your ideas. However, knowing grammar will also help you understand language, both in reading and in listening, because you’ll become more familiar with grammar structures and will understand what others want to say right away.
The best way to improve your grammar is to study each rule one by one, read some examples, make your own examples and then practice each rule by doing exercises.
We selected some important grammar rules for you to learn so that you feel more confident in the IELTS exam. Each rule is followed by examples and a sho
We use the simple aspect to talk about general, permanent or repeated actions.
Here, the present simple is used to refer to a general, habitual action:
I often read business magazines online.
In the above example, it is implied that you read these magazines online all the time. This is something you do regularly.
We use the continuous aspect to focus on progressive actions that usually happen around the moment of speaking.
Here, the present continuous is used to refer to an action that is happening at the moment of speaking:
I am reading an interesting book
The same rule applies to all the verb tenses, past, present and future. If you want to focus on the continuity of the action, use the continuous aspect. If you are more interested in the result of the action, then use the simple aspect
WHY IS THIS USEFUL FOR IELTS?
In IELTS Speaking Part 1 you have to answer questions about yourself. You will need to make sure you use the right verb tense and the right aspect—simple or continuous—depending on what you want to say. If you want to talk about general things that you do regularly, then you need the present simple. If, however, you want to refer to actions that are temporary and happen around the moment of speaking, then you need the present continuous.
You may also need this grammar rule in Writing Part 1 when describing trends shown in graphs or charts. You are probably going to use the past simple quite a lot because in this part you report on situations that happened in the past.
When using the past tense, we see these past actions as having no connection with the present. They belong to the past, so we use the past tense to express them.
I ate my breakfast with Tony and then we saw a movie.
The action above happened in the past. There is no connection with the present, so we use the simple past.
If, however, the action happened in the past but it has some kind of impact on the present, or if it continues into the present, we need to use the present perfect.
I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, I’m starving.
The above is present perfect because it is a past action but it has an obvious impact on the present, the speaker is now hungry.
I have been waiting here since 10 AM.
The above is present perfect because the action started in the past but is continuing into the present, when the speaker is still waiting
WHY IS THIS USEFUL FOR IELTS?
In the IELTS speaking test you may have to talk about different events from the past, either about yourself or about other matters. Decide if the actions are still relevant in the present, if they still have an impact or not.
You have more time to make this decision when you are writing than when speaking, but if you practice this rule you’ll be able to think faster
The passive voice can be used whenever you want to sound more formal and impersonal.You form the passive voice by using the verb “to be” in the tense you want, plus the past participle (the third form of the verb; for example, for the verb “write” you would use “written”).
WHY IS THIS USEFUL FOR IELTS?
You can use the passive voice in both writing tasks in the IELTS exam, particularly in reports where a more formal tone is needed.
You can use modal verbs when you want to express different nuances like degrees of certainty.
- Could, Might And May Are Modal Verbs And Can Be Used To Refer To Possible But Uncertain Actions In The Future, With Might Being Slightly Less Certain Than May.
- Could Have, Might Have And May Have Are Used To Express Possible Actions In The Present Or Past—You Are Suggesting That These Actions Are Or Were Possible, Or That They Are Or Were Completed
- Can Is Used To Make General Possible Statements About The Present, While Could Is Used As The Past Of Can With This Meaning.
- Can’t (Cannot) Is Used To Express Impossibility
- Must Is Used When We Are Sure Something Is True And Must Have Is Used With The Same Meaning For The Past.
WHY IS THIS USEFUL FOR IELTS?
In the IELTS exam, you may find modal verbs in reading and in listening and if you get their meaning right you stand a better chance of getting that part of the test right.
In speaking you may want to use them in Part 3 when extending the discussion from yourself to other aspects the examiner might ask you about. Modal verbs can be used to express probability when making generalizations and talking more abstractly.
The definite article (the), as the name suggests, is used for talking about people or things that are known to the speaker, already mentioned earlier, described in some detail or unique.
The can also be used with superlatives, ordinal numbers, countries that have plurals in them or that include the words “republic” or “kingdom.”
WHY IS THIS USEFUL FOR IELTS?
In the IELTS Writing exam, leave a few minutes at the end to proofread for grammar mistakes. If you’re still having doubts whether you are using the correctly, try practicing in writing first and then in speaking, as you have more thinking time to decide if you should use the or not. It’s easy to erase it in case you decide that the person or thing is in fact undefined, new or not specified.
You should use adjectives as often as you can to describe people or things because they prove you have a wide range of vocabulary in speaking and writing. You may need to compare them using comparatives or superlatives, depending on what you are trying to say. There are a few rules you need to keep in mind:
Most one syllable adjectives take -er and -est at the end to form the comparative and the superlative.
Two-syllable adjectives can form the comparative and superlative either by adding -er and -est or by using more and the most. In most cases, both forms can be used.
Adjectives of three or more syllables use more and the most to form the comparative and the superlative.
Adjectives ending in consonant + y: The y changes to an i when adding -er or -est.
Adjectives ending in e: The e is dropped when adding -er or -est.
Adjectives ending in a consonant with a single vowel preceding it, double the consonant when adding -er or -est.
Here’s a list of frequent spelling mistakes students make. Make sure you understand the rule behind each mistake so that in the IELTS Writing exam you don’t make these mistakes!
- Double In Adverbs. Normally, You Can Add –Ly To Many Adjectives And Turn Them Into Adverbs. For Example, Interesting Becomes The Adverb Interestingly. However, If The Adjective Ends In L Already, Then Its Adverb Will Have A Double L: (Beautiful ⇒ Beautifully)
- Adding -Ing And -Ed To Verbs. If The Verb Ends In An -E, Then The -E Is Dropped Before You Add -Ing Or -Ed:(Live ⇒ Living ⇒ Lived)
- If The Verb Ends In A Consonant + Vowel + Consonant Pattern Of Letters, Then We Double The Final Consonant When Adding -Ing Or -Ed: (Plan ⇒ Planning ⇒ Planned)
- • If The Verb Ends In -Ie, We Change It To –Ying When Adding -Ing:
These are just a few basic grammar rules you need to know to get a higher IELTS score. Remember that just doing IELTS tests is usually not enough. You need to improve your general level of English to notice progress.
The best part about learning grammar is that you feel more confident in all the four skills—reading, writing, listening and speaking.
