You might wonder, if grammar is not tested directly in your IELTS exam, why are experts stressing on it? IELTS is keen to analyze your English skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Even though IELTS does not have a special marking system for English grammar, all skills hinge on it, making it essential for reaching the ideal band score, say 7. There are hidden marks for the grammar in each of your reading, writing, speaking and listening sections.
Good grammar costs nothing, but surely poor grammar costs your IELTS bands. We have picked up some important rules for you to learn and feel more confident while taking your IELTS exam. Here are the 7 most learnable tricky grammar rules for your 7+ band score.
1. Avoid fumbling up, use the simple tense!
In speaking section part 1, you will be asked to talk about yourself. Here using the right verb tense from English grammar drives the whole thing. When you talk about things you do every day, you will use the present simple tense.
For example, I go for dance practice every day, I read when I’m traveling in the bus.
While mentioning things that usually happen at the time you tell, you should adapt to the present continuous.
For example, I am currently working as a nurse, and I am learning German too.
2. Eliminate the Dilemma between Past and Present Perfect!
One of the basic grammar rules is knowing the key difference between past and present perfect. It’s a mere connection to present. When I say ‘Internet has been changing a lot since the nineties’, I slightly refer to its relationship with the present. Therefore, the sentence is present perfect. However, when I say ‘Internet revolutionized the world since the nineties’, I pushed the whole event in the past, making it simple past tense.
3. Key To Be Formal
English grammar in IELTS writing task 1, especially in reports and letters, requires a more formal approach. While in IELTS writing task 2, you have to address issues earnestly and informally.
Sometimes, you’re at a crossroads where you have to express an informal point formally, and at such instances use passive voice.
Passive voice includes using a verb like ‘to be’, e.g. Appropriate actions need to be taken against illegal drug markets.
If you notice, in the above sentence, the word ‘taken’ is used. Almost always, passive voice incorporates words in their past participle form, i.e., taken, chosen, found, drunken, done, and so on. You can use them to convert any of your sentences to a formal one.
4. Get used to Modal Verbs
You will come across modal verbs in all sections. It will be almost impossible to ace the speaking section without using one of them. Can, could, might, may, must are some modal verbs. Here are a few ways to use them in a sentence,
I. Roads are wet, it must have been raining all night.
II. Writing can be a great way to talk to yourself.
III. Internet might have been one of the reasons why people find it hard to be content.
5. When to use ‘THE’?
English Grammar rules mention ‘The’ as a definite article used to refer to things known in the conversation or mentioned previously in the conversation. In other words, you can say ‘the’ is used before mentioning unique words, including nouns in the concerned context.
Examples: Can you hand me the pen? Sorry I was in the washroom. (Mentioned pen and washroom are known to both parties)
‘The’ is also used before names of:
I. Countries: My preference would be to immigrate to the United States.
II. Ordinal numbers: For the first time I enjoyed a horror movie
III. Superlatives: Google is the most widely used search engine.
6. Learn to Compare
Comparing can be done in many different forms and one of the most widely used would be:
- Using syllable adjective ‘-er’: Calling is easier than texting, long drives are safer than trekking
- Using syllable adjective ‘-est’: My bag is the heaviest of you all
- Using more: Travelling via bus is more convenient for me
- Using most: You are the most wonderful person I have ever met.
7. Keep an Eye For Spellings
The most common misconception about spellings can only be eliminated with practice. For example, past participle of study is studied and not studied, as a non-native might think.
Many of such words form different spellings when used in plural or past. Reading and noting down these differences is the key to avoid spell errors or typo errors.
Study each of these selected English grammar rules one by one, gather and go through a few more examples, structure your own examples and then practice each rule daily. This is one of the best ways to improvise your grammar skills and make you IELTS exam ready. A professional hand is always there to help you achieve your IELTS dream. Contact our experienced yet friendly experts at PTE today!